Adding picture in container field HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

[sifter]

I work in a product testing facility (were I essentially DESTROY products) and I use filemaker to host a database that contains all our "Request for Test" forms and "Test Results" reports. We almost always need to insert pictures of the test results in the reports so that users can "see" the results. Basically, We take digital pictures to document the tests and then do the old "insert picture" in the container field.

In FM7 this functionality is not a problem, but I have not been able to find a way to add a picture to a container field with IWP. BTW, the pictures needs to be viewable on the report so that they can be seen on the screen and printed as part of the report.

Is this possible with IWP? Do I need a plug-in or something??

A swift reply would be really great.

[seanc]

Hi there,

I don't guarantee this method, but it did seem to work for me (to my surprise!).

- Set up a text field.

- Set up a calculation, which is a container format, and set it to equal the text field.

- Now enter a hyperlink to your image in the text field.

In FM client this calc field showed me the hyperlink as entered, but in IWP the image was displayed on screen.

In my case I picked a semi-random image off the web, such as:

http://www.google.com.au/intl/en_au/images/logo.gif

Hope that helps!

Sean.

[JamesL]

The idea is really fine, but I agree with Sifter that the proportions of the image file inserted in the container field in THIS way, are not maintained when viewed in IWP.

(see Sifter's post of Fri May 20 2005 08:29 AM).

And I'm quite happy with Sean's solutions (see his post of Sun May 22 2005 07:00 PM)

I'm just editing my earlier post, thus Sean's precious final post is keeping it's place of reference for evt. further development.

[sifter]

OK, I tried this and it works when I put the file path to the link you used ().

When I do it with a file on my internal network, all I get is a red X in the container field.

Is there a specific folder I should be putting my pictures in?

Here is a little background...

I am on an internal network and have the filemaker files hosted by Server 7 advanced on a different computer. Will this work if I put my picture files on my hard or should I put them on the same computer as the filemaker files?

[sifter]

Got it. Duh!!!!!!

It works perfectly.

Now if I could only get the picture to show with the proper aspect ratio.

thanks a bunch people.

This is a great site.

[seanc]

Hi Sifter,

Yes, you are right as far as the aspect ratio - guess you can't have everything. Unfortunately all graphic formatting applied to the container field appears to be ignored, at least for images not stored on the server. I haven't tried it with images stored locally, maybe you could give that a shot. Before I tried my little test, I didn't think any image that wasn't stored in the local web folder would render at all, so I'm happy to at least get this much.

On the positive side, since this is for photo's the limitation shouldn't be a big problem if you use the Object Size toolbar and set the container field to be the right aspect ratio. For example set it (by pixels) to 320x240 or even 160x120 and any photograph of 640x480, 1024x768, 2048x1536, etc, which they are almost sure to be, should look perfect.

You could also set the container field to be a hyperlink which opens the full size image in a new window.

Cheers!

Sean.