Relative path to an image in a container field

[Steven B]

When one stores an image in a container field with the option to store a 'reference only', it appears that the 'reference' is the full path on that particular computer.

My question is, can we make it store only the relative path reference similarly to what can be done with 'file references'?

I am having a problem moving a solution between computers with images stored as 'reference only' and the actual files stored in a folder that accompanies the FMP solution on its travels. When the solution is moved, FileMaker can no longer find the images because, apparently, it has stored the full path starting with the drive on the original machine.

If the 'reference only' was to a relative path, this would not be a problem.

Thanks

[Fenton]

I think the answer is to use the new ability to reference an image file by calculation. It's new, a little non-intuitive, and undocumented, except for here. Do a search on Containers and my name, Fenton. Several posts (perhaps too many).

Basically, use the format:

image:folder path/image file name.jpg

in a calculation field, with the result, Container (not Text; though you can do a duplicate with the result text for troubleshooting.

If the file is on another mounted volume, like on your iDisk (if you have one, handy for testing), or an external hard drive, the syntax is:

image:/volume name/folder path/image file name.jpg

That way you can replace the volume name and folder path independently of the image itself, and still see it.

To see/get the path you've got now, create a calculation:

GetAsText (Container field)

result Text. You'll get 3 lines; the 3rd line is the path.

[Steven B]

Fenton,

Thank you. Even with FileMaker 7, it is still up to us to figure out, and share, the work arounds and tricks.

This is the part that I was missing to get a container field to recognize a relative path;

Basically, use the format:

image:folder path/image file name.jpg

in a calculation field, with the result, Container (not Text;

Thanks again!

_steven

PS. One downside to this is that in order to use the relative path to an image to display that image in the calc/container field, one needs to insert (with 'reference only') the image into another field from which to 'capture' the full path; in order to get the image name. Is there another way to get the image file's name?