Issue based export

[Madapple]

I need help... obviously otherwise I wouldnt be posting a question huh?

ok so I have this database of stories for a newspaper site I am redesigning.

The new system needs all of the stories exported based on the issue number.

Each issue must be exported to it's own txt file.

I have a text field that contains the information compiled the way it is needed for hte database, BUT how do I go about exporting the information automatically based on issue number? I would do this by hand but there are about 10 years worth of weekly issues!

I think i have an i dea how to set up a script to do it... but not really.

PLEASE HELP!

THANKS

madapple

[Brian C]

I would suggest investing in a product like QuickKeys. This helps greatly in automation in many cases.

To control the export and naming of each article to a separate text file, you could:

1) sort the entire database table by date so that it is chronological

2) create a serial number field and then use the "Replace" menu command to update all of the existing records with a serial number. i.e. 1-10000

3) create a calc field that takes the existing serial number for the current record and adds a 1 to it.

This will allow you to know the serial number for the next record in line without going to it.

4) create a self join relationship that links the calc field back to the serial number field

This will allow you to use the "go to related record" (show only related records) script step in order to navigate to the next record in in sequence without having to resort to a find.

5) create a global field to store the total number of records in the table (which should also be the same number of the serial number of the last record. This field will be used to exit the looping script that we are about to create.

6) Create a script:

Sort (SerialNumber) -- this will allow you to start with the first record in the series

Go To First Record Request -- a bit redundant since you always start on the first record but it cant hurt.

Loop

Pause(Indefinately)

Export

Exit Loop If [serialNumber = GlobalSerialLast]

Go To Related Record (Show only related records) (Use the Self Join Relationship)

End Loop

8) Forgive my generalizations (been a long time since I used QKeys)

When the script runs it will pause.

a) Setup something in quickkeys that will copy the name of the article on the current record layout from a field.

: The quickkey script should then click the continue button on the side bar to allow the script to continue which will cause the export step to execute.

c) Quickkeys should then be scripted to navigate and paste the name of the file into the dialog box and save the file.

Now I am not sure if you can connect FileMaker to Quickkeys so that it will cause quickkeys to run its script automatically, but if not, it would still be much easy to run the script in filemaker and then hit a hot-key for each time the script pauses so that the quickkey script can run and do the saving of the file for you.

Im sure there is someone out there that knows how to do this better than I do, but its not a bad start.

[Søren Dyhr]

Since we're talking about a solution thats likely to be runned on mac, might this solution be a much cheaper and faster solution:

http://www.fmforums.com/threads/showflat...true#Post155546

--sd

[Madapple]

cool i think i can get it to work with both of those suggestions. definately running a mac and don't need to buy software for the one export...

THanks guys!

M