Selecting data to export

[Mike Hyde]

I am still fairly new to FileMaker.

Now if that did not scare everyone off...

I need to be able to list all data in the database, select certain entries, then export that info into a CVS file that then needs to be imported into a shipping program (both UPS and Canada Post). What would I need to do do achieve this? Is there something I can read up on or a sample file to play with that does something like this?

Thanks

Mike

[J__]

when you say "database' do you mean in a table or multiple tables?

Filemaker has an export option, which you can find on the File menu in Filemaker (down near the bottom).

Steps are:

1. go to the layout, which has on it the table you would like to export. Filemaker will see that that layout has the table in it and assume you want to use that table to export.

2. go to the file menu in filemaker, pick export records

3. A file dialog should appear. There should be a types drop down list (near the bottom). Click on that list. Pick Comma Separated Text

4. enter the name of the file.

5. click ok. The result should be that filemaker creates .csv file with data which was in that table on that layout.

then you can hand that file over to the shipping program, which can import the .csv file andn voila' that should do it.

Additionally, if you have a layout with say Customers on it, maybe a table view of your customers? You can do a search ( Ctrl+F or on mac it's cmd+F ) to find a set of records in your customers table. For example, maybe you would like to find only customers in a specific area code? You can search for that area code. Once you have that list on the layout displaying, then you can pick export and Filemaker will export only those 'found records'.

lots of possibilities.

hope that helps,

sincerely,

J__

[broadly]

I am also new to Filemaker. I would like to perform the same operation but I need to export an ascii file so that this data can be uploaded to a CT4 database. Is it possible to export a table in ASCII format? I don't see this option on the export menu.

Many thanks in advance.

Lynn Broadfoot

[Lee Smith]

Hi Lynn, Welcome to the Forum.

A good Text Editor, such as BBEdit for the Mac, has a tool that can convert a file to ASCII.

You can also store a Text field as ASCII. This is an option in "Storage" available in Define Fields Menu, for each "Field". Once you hit the Storage Button, a second window will appear that will, among other things, allow for you to change the language from your default, mine is English) to ASCII. The Default is a drop down menu, and ASCII is the last item on the list.

HTH

Lee

[Mike Hyde]

Would there be a way to automate this, or do I have to stay with the multiple steps? Problem with the search is that we will be picking a group to send to. Really can't do a search to filter it out, that is why I was wondering about picking which rows to export.

[Lee Smith]

Hi Mike,

There are two separate ways suggested.

One was to run the file through a Text Editor, such as BBEdit, and convert the file to ASCII before you sent it out, or whatever you needed the file for. Not easy to automate.

The other was change the field Storage from English to ASCII.

If you have users doing this, you would want to simply it as best you can. My approach would be to create a few fields for the text fields you are concerned about, and make them the export fields. I would also create a layout for them. The new fields could be a calculation that = the original fields, or you could script it using Insert or Set Fields, and make the stored result of these fields ASCII. That way, you can preserve your original fields if you want.

Does this help?

You can then automate it by using the "Export" script step.

If this doesn't do it, or you need further help, let us know.

Lee