So I created a pretty cool object management system in FMP7 for PC's, but Mac's obviously can't view objects, or even insert objects. They can only insert files and then export the file out.

Is there any way to open that file up with it's associate program, like word, excel, etc.?

Double clicking doesn't work, you can't drag it to the program, it just doesn't seem to work unless you export the field contents out.

Thanks!

"Insert Object" in Windows uses a Microsoft technology I believe. So it is not available on Macs. If you Insert File in Windows, then it is a similar process to a Mac, in that you'd have to export the file out, then open it.

Once the field contents has be exported, it will open with its associate program, if it has one. The association is based on either the file type and creator (if created by a Mac application that uses those), or by its extension (just like Windows).

It can be opened from FileMaker by a Perform AppleScript step:

tell application "Finder"

open file "full Mac file path here"

end tell

(Or OpenURL with the url-type file path)

But that's not much use unless you've exported it to a known location/name, where the user has access, then used a AppleScript to move/rename it to somewhere convenient (like the user's desktop).

Another possibility is to export it directly to the "temporary items" folder, then open it. That would be if you just wanted to look at it, print it maybe, but did not want to keep it out as a separate file. It would be deleted by the system.

In order to get the images out of the containerfield more automated than drag'n'drop - you could utilize this:

http://www.catalystworkflow.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=33

--sd