Remove quotation marks

[Peterh]

I'm importing data from another db which occasionally has quotation marks in some fields. These cause problems when I export out of FileMaker using AppleScript. I've tried Find & Replace, PatternCount and AppleScript to remove the quotation marks with very inconsistent results.

Is there a reliable way of removing quotation marks from fields?

Thanks, Peter.

[Nelly]

Hi Peter

Try using Substitute ( text ; searchString ; replaceString )

Where 'text' is your field name, searchString is " and replace string is whatever you want to put in place of the "

So it might look something like this

Substitute ( MyField ; " ; # )

Let me know if this works out for you.

[Ender]

I don't think you can use a " as a value in a function; it will think you're trying to start a text string. But maybe put a " mark in a global field and substitute for that:

Substitute( MyField ; gQuote ; "")

Use this in a Replace to remove the quotes from a field or in a separate calc field that's specifically for your Applescript.

[Lee Smith]

Hi PeterH,

Ender is correct, the easiest way to handle this is to create a global field and put a " in it and the use that in your search string. You can also use the four quotes like this:

Substitute( YourTextField , """" , "" )

If you are using v7, than it needs to be like this:

Substitute( YourTextField ; """" ; "")

HTH

Lee

[-Queue-]

Substitute( YourTextField; """; "" ) also works. is the escape character implemented in version 7.

[Lee Smith]

This post is totally unnecessary except it will help to build my count.

I forgot that v7 allows the use of some RegEx in it - finally.

Lee

[Ugo DI LUCA]

In fact """" is automatically converted !

[Ender]

Hey, learn't something new.

Thanks guys!

[Nick Newlin]

I'm having the same problem.

I imported tab delineated text into Filemaker and all my fields

are in quotation marks.

But I'm such a newbie that I can't figure out the above posts.

Could somebody do me the favor of walking me through the process.

I basically have a database with quotation marks around all the values.

Is there a way to import the data without the quotation marks?

I don't really understand: Do I just create a global field with a " in it?

Seems like when I create a new fields called "quotation marks", it gets

inserted into the database.

Thanks for the help! I'm pretty new to this.

Nick Newlin

[QuinTech]

Hi, Nick, and welcome to FM Forums! For the easiest solution, refer to the 4th post here (the first one from Lee Smith) and follow his directions about the four quotes. The global is an alternative method, but not strictly necessary; i find the solution with the quotes easiest.

HTH.

Jerry

[Lee Smith]

Hi Nick,

Jerry has pointed you to one way of dealing with this problem (i.e. after it is in FileMaker).

From your post, I get the impression that you have some control over the file before it gets imported?

The quotations surrounding the data indicates a Comma Separated file. If you are able to change the file type prior to trying to import it, try using a Tab Separated file, and see if quotation mark problem doesn't go away.

If you receive this file from someone else, and you don't have a choice, then consider doing the change before you import it. On a Mac, I have found the best way to setup a file for import, is to manipulation in BBEdit or TextWrangler. Both are products of Bare Bones Software, and have multiple text handling capabilities such as Grep Pattern Find and Replace, using Regular Expressions, Perl, and POSIX.

Although, finding a " can be easily accomplished in Word, you can't beat these two programs for harder pattern things.

HTH

Lee