FMProcks Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 Hi all, Problem: how do the users of my solutiona upgrade to later versions of my solutions when many of my layouts contain repeating fields and file containers? To my knowledge, FMP will not export/import containers and repeating fields. Is there a way to update the solution short of export and import records which will result in loss of infomation? Please tell me there is an option or a button that I have missed, otherwise, I think I'm in deep trouble with my solutions. Thanks for any input. Rich
Fenton Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 7 has problems with repeating fields, when you try to split them during an Import. It's too bad they didn't release a bug fix. But both types of imports seem to work fine in 8. (I didn't have problems with containers in either.) I found a work-around for the bug in 7, but it's a hack. If you define a calculation field, with sufficient repeats, for your main ID field, = Extend(ID), then you can import that into the split repeats. That way you get the ID AND the repeat, which is all you really need to tie the data, and you can continue to split up the tables. You also get a lot of "blank" records, with an ID but no other data.
FMProcks Posted November 22, 2005 Author Posted November 22, 2005 Hi Fenton, Really!!? FMP 8 will export Containers and repeating fields? I also have FMP 8 (just got it actually). I converted my 7 files to 8 with no problems. What format do you export your records in to catch containers? Thanks, Rich
SteveB Posted November 22, 2005 Posted November 22, 2005 I believe you'll need to use 'Use Matching Names' to move container fields between your solution versions. This is more than a bit of a pain, but may be your only option. If you've added fields to your latest version, you'll need to re-do your import script(s). Steve
Fenton Posted November 22, 2005 Posted November 22, 2005 Are you talking about converting from version 6 files? I just did this fine also. I'm not exporting container fields, I'm keeping them in FileMaker files. Why would you need to export, couldn't you just convert? I'm afraid I don't know exactly what the problem is.
comment Posted November 22, 2005 Posted November 22, 2005 You also get a lot of "blank" records, with an ID but no other data. Case ( not IsEmpty ( repeatingDatafield ) ; Extend ( SerialID ) )
FMProcks Posted November 22, 2005 Author Posted November 22, 2005 Hi Fenton, FMP 8 imported my repeating fields. Cool. Since my solution uses 4 related tables I had to do 4 exports to keep things clean, and then do 4 separate imports (in sequence). Am I doing this right? The only problem I'm left with is that my portals are broken. And I can't seem to get them to drag in the field info from the other tables as they did before. Yet, my relationships look like they are in tact. I remake the portals, but still no go. The portals remain blank. : Man, this is a pain. Any ideas? I exported in FP7 format. Is that the format you use when you export? Thanks for all your help. Rich
FMProcks Posted November 22, 2005 Author Posted November 22, 2005 HI Steve, Thanks for the info. Yeah, I tried the matching names route and you are right, it's indeed a pain. My users will never be able to do that. I think I almost have it down, the only problem I'm left with is the broken portals issue. No sleep tonight. (sigh) Rich
FMProcks Posted November 22, 2005 Author Posted November 22, 2005 Hi Fenton, Hey, I finley got this DB to export and import all of my data and with working portals. The only problem I'm left with now is ID numbers. On import, it brings in all the records along with their ID nimbers. Cool. But check this out. Even though I have the ID numbering system configured to serialize, be unique in value and not empty, the DB will allow duplicating existing (imported record ID's) ID numbers. It's almost as those the imported records don't exist. I ran a report listing ID numbers and sure enough, there were duplications. Do you, or anybody else, have any ideas why this is happening? Thanks, Rich
Fenton Posted November 22, 2005 Posted November 22, 2005 You have to check "Always" in the Validation tab. Then duplicates records will be skipped during Import (FileMaker 8), and the dialog will tell you. But it brings up the obvious question of why you're trying to import them twice in the first place :-]
FMProcks Posted November 23, 2005 Author Posted November 23, 2005 Hi Fenton, Sorry if I am confusing you a bit. Here is what's happening: My Db is relational with 4 tables. The Contact Information Table has a field for a "Contact ID" which is serialized, unique and not empty. Ok, my user probably has several hundred records in the system. Some have been deleted leaving holes in the numbering system, which is ok. Now then, I come out with an updated version of the solution. Just some nice cosmetic changes. That's it. No new fields, scripts, value lists, nothing like that. Just looks. I send the new solution to my user. He then exports all of his records (from 4 tables) and then imports them into the new solution one at a time (each table at a time in .fp7 format). Everything looks good, all records are in place and each record has the same ID as it did in the old DB, including the holes in the ID numbering system left from deleted records. Okay, so it seemed. He creates a new record, FMP starts filling in the holes. Well, maybe thats good, but then again maybe it's not good for the user. Then the DB issued a s/n which is duplicate to one of the imported records. And that, I thought, should not happen since that field is configured not to duplicate (unique). In other words, FMP seems to be ignoring those imported records as having a s/n at all and is duplicating them. When FMP creates a record with a s/n that is ABOVE (higher number)than any that was imported, it then will not dublicate that s/n..... no matter how hard I try to get it to dup it. This really has me going here and I am at my ropes end with ideas on how to correct it. If you come up with any ideas as to what the heck I'm doing wrong please give let me know. Thanks, Rich
FMProcks Posted November 23, 2005 Author Posted November 23, 2005 Hi Fenton, Yup, I made sure I have "Always" in the Validation tab checked. Same problem. For some reason, FMP is ignoring the fact that the ID numbers in the imported file though broken due to deleated records and is not taking off making new records using the next highest available (not used) ID number. Have you seen anything like this before? How do you or anybody else handle users upgrading their solutions if ID numbers are being used. How do users bring their established records sets into the new DB without losing total control of the ID system? There must be a procedure for doing this kind of export/import. I'm missing something here but I'll be a rat's behind if I know what it is. Frustrating for sure. Thanks again, I appreciate you taking the time to help me out. Thanks, Rich
FMProcks Posted November 23, 2005 Author Posted November 23, 2005 Good one! Thanks. This has helped reduce blank records. However, I am still struggling with this ID s/n thing. I'm having a tough time swallowing that FMP can't handle imported S/N ID's any better. There must be a way to force FMP to take off with issuing ID's from the highest imported value, and not duplicate any of the imported s/n's. My quest to solve this problem continues.
Fenton Posted November 23, 2005 Posted November 23, 2005 (edited) If you're talking about the "next" serial number not being automatically updated, this is an old problem. You can manually reset it. Or you can use a FileMaker script to reset it. There are special tools for this; a function (Design section) and a script step (in the Fields section): Set Next Serial Value [ SerialID; GetNextSerialValue ( "old file" ; new file's Serial ID field ) ] If it's awkward getting the NextSerialValue from the old file's data, say if the data is in a text file, then you could get it from the current file: go to the last record, and Set Next Serial Value to that number plus one. But this gets a little messy if the Serial ID is not Text, not a number, or they are not in order. Edited November 23, 2005 by Guest
FMProcks Posted November 23, 2005 Author Posted November 23, 2005 Ahhhhhh, I think you may have unraveled the mystery for me. I'll play with the scripts and see if I can get this thing to work right. Many thanks for your help on this issue Fenton, I really appreciate it. I'll let you know how things go. Again, many thanks. Rich
SurferNate Posted November 23, 2005 Posted November 23, 2005 The way I handled this was to create new records via a script. The script basically does this. Allow User Abort [off] Freeze Window Show All Records Sort Records [serial, ascending] Go To Record/Request/Page [Last] Set Field [lastSerial = serial] New Record SetField [serial = SerialIncrement(lastSerial; 1)] Refresh Window Mine has a variation from that just in case an alphanumeric numbering system is used which would screw up the record sort order.
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