Accessing Word documents via a table field

[Jones]

As I am setting up a contacts section of a database, I'd like to store Word documents associated with individual contacts. (Each contact has a distinct Word document associated with them.) Furthermore, I'd like to be able to click on these documents to have them automatically open in Microsoft Word.

I've read another post on this, but apparently even need the obvious spelled out for me . This database will not be on the web or networked outside of this one computer, if that matters.

I appreciate any help.

Sincerely,

Jones

[Jones]

As I am setting up a contacts section of a database, I'd like to store Word documents associated with individual contacts. (Each contact has a distinct Word document associated with them.) Furthermore, I'd like to be able to click on these documents to have them automatically open in Microsoft Word.

I've read another post on this, but apparently even need the obvious spelled out for me . This database will not be on the web or networked outside of this one computer, if that matters.

I appreciate any help.

Sincerely,

Jones

[Jones]

As I am setting up a contacts section of a database, I'd like to store Word documents associated with individual contacts. (Each contact has a distinct Word document associated with them.) Furthermore, I'd like to be able to click on these documents to have them automatically open in Microsoft Word.

I've read another post on this, but apparently even need the obvious spelled out for me . This database will not be on the web or networked outside of this one computer, if that matters.

I appreciate any help.

Sincerely,

Jones

[laker_42]

You could use a container field. You can then paste either the document into the field or just the link to the document. The latter is probably a better idea. We do this same kind of thing with pdfs in our MSDS database.

HTH,

John

[laker_42]

You could use a container field. You can then paste either the document into the field or just the link to the document. The latter is probably a better idea. We do this same kind of thing with pdfs in our MSDS database.

HTH,

John

[laker_42]

You could use a container field. You can then paste either the document into the field or just the link to the document. The latter is probably a better idea. We do this same kind of thing with pdfs in our MSDS database.

HTH,

John

[Jones]

Thanks for the response, John. I was able to do the container field part before, but think I didn't have the right commands set up so that upon clicking on the document it would open. Little be little, I think I'm moving toward the high rank of novice with this stuff. But, I'll leave the beginner tag by my name for now.

I appreciate the help.

Jones

[Jones]

Thanks for the response, John. I was able to do the container field part before, but think I didn't have the right commands set up so that upon clicking on the document it would open. Little be little, I think I'm moving toward the high rank of novice with this stuff. But, I'll leave the beginner tag by my name for now.

I appreciate the help.

Jones

[Jones]

Thanks for the response, John. I was able to do the container field part before, but think I didn't have the right commands set up so that upon clicking on the document it would open. Little be little, I think I'm moving toward the high rank of novice with this stuff. But, I'll leave the beginner tag by my name for now.

I appreciate the help.

Jones

[Fenton]

If the file is either inserted as a reference, or referenced as a calculation it will open. That is, if the file is a file it will open.

If the file was embedded in the container, ie., not as a reference, then it will not; because it is not yet a file, it is an object in a container field.

[it's confusing because it will open on Windows I believe, if inserted as "Object"; that's a different, 3rd technology, which I can't describe completely as I'm on a Mac, as are you :-]

On a Mac, with an embedded file, you can Export Field Contents. Then it is a file, and can be opened. If you want this to happen seamlessly you can use a few lines of AppleScript to open it, once you decide where you want the file to be.

[Fenton]

If the file is either inserted as a reference, or referenced as a calculation it will open. That is, if the file is a file it will open.

If the file was embedded in the container, ie., not as a reference, then it will not; because it is not yet a file, it is an object in a container field.

[it's confusing because it will open on Windows I believe, if inserted as "Object"; that's a different, 3rd technology, which I can't describe completely as I'm on a Mac, as are you :-]

On a Mac, with an embedded file, you can Export Field Contents. Then it is a file, and can be opened. If you want this to happen seamlessly you can use a few lines of AppleScript to open it, once you decide where you want the file to be.

[Fenton]

If the file is either inserted as a reference, or referenced as a calculation it will open. That is, if the file is a file it will open.

If the file was embedded in the container, ie., not as a reference, then it will not; because it is not yet a file, it is an object in a container field.

[it's confusing because it will open on Windows I believe, if inserted as "Object"; that's a different, 3rd technology, which I can't describe completely as I'm on a Mac, as are you :-]

On a Mac, with an embedded file, you can Export Field Contents. Then it is a file, and can be opened. If you want this to happen seamlessly you can use a few lines of AppleScript to open it, once you decide where you want the file to be.

[jessieleah]

This is my first post, so bare with me...I read in the tech section of FileMaker that FileMaker doesn't open files from other applications. My boss wants to create a database of electronic files for all our projects and the individual files would be PDFs. So, can FileMaker open individual files from other applications such as Adobe? Now I am confused. I am not Advanced in FileMaker, but I am not a beginner either.

[jessieleah]

This is my first post, so bare with me...I read in the tech section of FileMaker that FileMaker doesn't open files from other applications. My boss wants to create a database of electronic files for all our projects and the individual files would be PDFs. So, can FileMaker open individual files from other applications such as Adobe? Now I am confused. I am not Advanced in FileMaker, but I am not a beginner either.

[jessieleah]

This is my first post, so bare with me...I read in the tech section of FileMaker that FileMaker doesn't open files from other applications. My boss wants to create a database of electronic files for all our projects and the individual files would be PDFs. So, can FileMaker open individual files from other applications such as Adobe? Now I am confused. I am not Advanced in FileMaker, but I am not a beginner either.

[Fenton]

First, it would be good to know what platform this is for. You're on Mac, but what are they using? Because Windows can Insert Object (which is different from Insert File, I believe), and Mac can use AppleScript.

FileMaker doesn't "open" the file. It just tells the operating system to open it, which is more or less the same as you going to the file and double-clicking it yourself. Whatever application "owns" that kind of document opens it.

Another question is whether to "embed" the files completely in FileMaker, or reference them. Because, as I said earlier, each uses a slightly different method for entering files, or opening then later.

It is impossible to say what is the best method for this kind of document storage system without knowing what operating system, whether it's a networked solution, what the documents are used for, and the "flow" of the documents; how they wish to enter them, then get them out later. And even then, there are pros and cons.

[Fenton]

First, it would be good to know what platform this is for. You're on Mac, but what are they using? Because Windows can Insert Object (which is different from Insert File, I believe), and Mac can use AppleScript.

FileMaker doesn't "open" the file. It just tells the operating system to open it, which is more or less the same as you going to the file and double-clicking it yourself. Whatever application "owns" that kind of document opens it.

Another question is whether to "embed" the files completely in FileMaker, or reference them. Because, as I said earlier, each uses a slightly different method for entering files, or opening then later.

It is impossible to say what is the best method for this kind of document storage system without knowing what operating system, whether it's a networked solution, what the documents are used for, and the "flow" of the documents; how they wish to enter them, then get them out later. And even then, there are pros and cons.

[Fenton]

First, it would be good to know what platform this is for. You're on Mac, but what are they using? Because Windows can Insert Object (which is different from Insert File, I believe), and Mac can use AppleScript.

FileMaker doesn't "open" the file. It just tells the operating system to open it, which is more or less the same as you going to the file and double-clicking it yourself. Whatever application "owns" that kind of document opens it.

Another question is whether to "embed" the files completely in FileMaker, or reference them. Because, as I said earlier, each uses a slightly different method for entering files, or opening then later.

It is impossible to say what is the best method for this kind of document storage system without knowing what operating system, whether it's a networked solution, what the documents are used for, and the "flow" of the documents; how they wish to enter them, then get them out later. And even then, there are pros and cons.

[jessieleah]

Sorry about that, we have FileMaker Server 7, then everyone has FileMaker 7 in their computers. We are all Macs OS X (10.3.7 and 8).

I know that FileMaker doesn't "open" the file, how do I tell FileMaker to tell the OS to tell the App to open the File? don't need to know specifically, but I have been through the script menu, I have inserted documents into container field and double clicked tp open, nothing happens.

So inserting an Adobe Acrobat file into a container field isn't enough to be able to open it from FileMaker. Would I have to write scripts (Applescripts) for each field that would hold a PDF? I know the difference between embedding and referencing, which would work better to be able to open files?

I am trying to get my head wrapped around this, but I have heard so much conflicting information that I am completely confused. Sorry about all the questions, but you are pretty helpful!

[jessieleah]

Sorry about that, we have FileMaker Server 7, then everyone has FileMaker 7 in their computers. We are all Macs OS X (10.3.7 and 8).

I know that FileMaker doesn't "open" the file, how do I tell FileMaker to tell the OS to tell the App to open the File? don't need to know specifically, but I have been through the script menu, I have inserted documents into container field and double clicked tp open, nothing happens.

So inserting an Adobe Acrobat file into a container field isn't enough to be able to open it from FileMaker. Would I have to write scripts (Applescripts) for each field that would hold a PDF? I know the difference between embedding and referencing, which would work better to be able to open files?

I am trying to get my head wrapped around this, but I have heard so much conflicting information that I am completely confused. Sorry about all the questions, but you are pretty helpful!

[jessieleah]

Sorry about that, we have FileMaker Server 7, then everyone has FileMaker 7 in their computers. We are all Macs OS X (10.3.7 and 8).

I know that FileMaker doesn't "open" the file, how do I tell FileMaker to tell the OS to tell the App to open the File? don't need to know specifically, but I have been through the script menu, I have inserted documents into container field and double clicked tp open, nothing happens.

So inserting an Adobe Acrobat file into a container field isn't enough to be able to open it from FileMaker. Would I have to write scripts (Applescripts) for each field that would hold a PDF? I know the difference between embedding and referencing, which would work better to be able to open files?

I am trying to get my head wrapped around this, but I have heard so much conflicting information that I am completely confused. Sorry about all the questions, but you are pretty helpful!

[jessieleah]

m/ Sweet, I got it. I am so dang happy! laker_42 tipped it for me!

I inserted a file into a container and simply checked the "Store only a referenceto the file", clicked OK. then double clicked the file I inserted, and it opened! I went to the same record from another computer and it worked. Yipee!

Jessica

[jessieleah]

m/ Sweet, I got it. I am so dang happy! laker_42 tipped it for me!

I inserted a file into a container and simply checked the "Store only a referenceto the file", clicked OK. then double clicked the file I inserted, and it opened! I went to the same record from another computer and it worked. Yipee!

Jessica

[jessieleah]

m/ Sweet, I got it. I am so dang happy! laker_42 tipped it for me!

I inserted a file into a container and simply checked the "Store only a referenceto the file", clicked OK. then double clicked the file I inserted, and it opened! I went to the same record from another computer and it worked. Yipee!

Jessica