Import arrows

[KirstyB]

when trying to import matching fields you have to set the symbol between the source field and target field to an arrow. Is there an easy way to set all of these to an arrow at present i am having to go through each field and maually click on the symbol to change it to an arrow..any suggestions?

Kirsty

[LaRetta]

Hi Kirsty,

As great as FileMaker is, I'm afraid it's Import mapping box leaves little to be desired. It's all a manual thing. Keep in mind that once done, it can be stored within a script but that helps you little at this point. The same problem occurs when needing to unselect them all when there are 100 fields.

Wish my news was better.

LaRetta

[KirstyB]

thanks...could you give me a hint as how to script this for the future as my research nurse is threatening to go on strike!

kirsty

[QuinTech]

Hi, Kirsty. LaRetta is right -- the Import dialog is horrible. One trick you might use, though: Line up all your fields as you want them, then scroll to the first mapping. Make sure it is set to 0; click and hold to change it to -> and then (still holding the mouse button down) drag all the way to the end of the list. This will "copy" the -> to all the mappings you drag through.

As soon as you have done this import, create the script with the "Import" step. That will preserve the mappings you have just created.

HTH,

Jerry

[Fenton]

The click and hold doesn't seem to work on Macs. However what does work is to hit Cmd-A (Select All). Then click one to turn them all on, or off. I never knew that. I've told people they had to turn them all off manually :-|

The trouble is, you may not want them all on. It also lines up calculation fields, with red X's on them, because they can't be imported into, everything. But it works fine; it's not an error.

What may be more useful is the "Matching names" option, which will match up field names that are the same in both files (tables).

Also, to move fields, you click on one (right side), then hold the Cmd key, and use the arrow keys to move it up or down. Dragging is almost impossible; it goes too fast.

It's too bad that on a Mac, you can't drag to turn blocks on or off. No modifier keys seem to work for this. Of course, since we can't even scroll with a wheel, one doesn't expect much. Most things work really well, but some not at all. Someday, sigh.

[QuinTech]

Also, to move fields, you click on one (right side), then hold the Cmd key, and use the arrow keys to move it up or down. Dragging is almost impossible; it goes too fast.

On Windows, hold the Ctrl key.

Fenton, on the Mac, does it sometimes happen that Cmd-Arrow will cause one side of the list to scroll but not the other? I've had this happen to me on Windows several times and it's confusing as all heck.

[Fenton]

No, they always move together. And, I shouldn't have said that it scrolls too fast. In version 7 anyway the scroll speed is just about right. One of the rare instances where faster is not better.

[LaRetta]

Jerry, Fenton - thanks for the great information.

I just ended a 4-month data migration, manually importing from various sources (over 450 manual imports - each different). Many had 200+ fields to wade through. In most instances there were no field names. My eyes still hurt from the experience. It is obvious that whoever designed those routines have never had to really use them as we Developers do. I knew about most of your shortcuts not but all of them.

It would be nice if these shortcuts were at least documented. I have notified FM of my opinion on this subject several times over the past two years (this is the third large migration I've undertaken in that period of time).

And it would be really nice if FileMaker improved the import/export process by turning it into a graphical representation like the relationship graphs - where groups can be drag-selected and specified; for easy view and manipulation. Oh well, one can dream. And I have confidence that this process will be improved upon in the future.

LaRetta