I have many Excel tables I'd like to import into an existing Filemaker 7 database, but I'd like to be able to bring in the Header row or field names from the first row of the Excel tables. I can't see any obvious way to do this, and it seems like I'll be forced to retype the name of each of 30+ field names for each table to create a blank table into which I can import the Excel file.

Any ideas on this? Seems like it should be a pretty simple/obvious thing to do in FMP!

Thanks in advance.

FileMaker will open an Excel file directly.

Lee

Just drop the Excel file onto the FileMaker application or alias and FileMaker should convert it to a FileMaker file. When it dows, it should ask which worksheet to convert and whether the first record will be data or the header information.

Yes, I figured out how to do that- to open an Excel file directly- but then the table is in a FM file by itself, so how can I get that table whole hog (with field names and all) copied over into an existing FM file with many tables?

Thanks

Import? I guess we didn't understand your post...

[color:"blue"] One way to do this is.

Perform a manual import using the Merge format. This means that you have to save a copy of your Excel file as a Merge File, this format will include your field labels ). you will need to line up the fields to match what you want in each. Afterwards, immediately create a Script that includes the Import Script Step in it. If your Excel file remains consistent, you can just run your script the next time.

[color:"blue"] A second way would be to:

Open the file in FileMaker as describe before, and then import that into your existing file. Same process is involved with mapping the fields and Script Step.

HTH

Lee

Thanks Lee.

That sounds like a good way to go, but I'm not sure I understand exactly all the steps necessary to do that. I tried saving the Excel table (called import.xls) I want to import into the other FM file as a Merge file, no problem (import.mer).

But then when I try to import it into the FM file (tables.fp7), it just wants to stick it in an existing table and pick how to map the fields. How exactly do I use the scripts to make it create a new table in tables.fp7, with all the fields of import.xls or import.mer?

Thanks.

Anyone have any good ideas on how to do this moving of a table between two databases in FM 7 easily?

Thanks

You do not create a new table via script or Import. You open the Excel file with FMP using File -> Open. It will be converted to an FP7 file and then you can tweak the field defintions, create scripts, etc.