I'm a newbie at Filemaker, but oldtime computer user. I want to automate some data entry. I want to have a script do the import. The Filename to be imported has to become a field in the table the file is imported to. For example

Filename = FOO

with records

aaa bbb ccc

ddd eee fff

when the import is done I want to have four fields with

aaa bbb ccc FOO

ddd eee fff FOO

I've been looking at the various functions and scripting commands, but can't figure out which to use.

Can someone please point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance.

Edited January 12, 200619 yr by Guest

If you can use a little AppleScript in a FileMaker 8 script:

Perform AppleScript step:

set theFile to (choose file)

set cell "_gFile" to theFile as string

tell application "Finder"

set theName to name of theFile

end tell

set cell "_gFileName" to theName

Then, set a Script Variable, $FileToImport (or whatever) to:

"filemac:/" & Substitute ( Data:_gFile; ":"; "/" )

Then Import, with $FileToImport as the path, with [x] Allow auto-enter calculations

The field FileName can auto-enter _gFileName

Import_wFilename.zip

That is part of the problem i was trying to solve over here. 3 fields plus the file name, exactly.

post from applescript forum

I have only Filemaker 7 to work with tho' and needed to use applescript to perform a few other functions along the way.

JA

Eureka! I've done it, I can now import the filename into a table along with the data in the file and all in Filemaker.

------------

The Problem:

-----------

I have a folder with multiple files. The data in each file is similar

(this is for a pottery business. Each file represents a kiln firing and each line in the file has the name and dimensions of each piece in the kiln)

All the lines in each file have to become rows in just one table and then need to contain the name of the file it came from.

example

FIRING FOLDER

SKUTT_20060105 (file 1)

Sue 2 4 5 (line 1)

Sue 3 2 3 (line 2)

Paul 2 5 5 (line 3)

Paul 3 9 9 (line 4)

Karen 7 8 8 (line 5)

BAILEY_20060106 (file 2)

Sue 12 4 5 (line 1)

Paul 2 6 6 (line 2)

Paul 13 9 9 (line 3)

SKUTT_20060109 (file 3)

Sue 2 14 5 (line 1)

Sue 3 2 13 (line 2)

Karen 17 8 8 (line 3)

End result needs to look like this:

Filemaker table

+--------------------------------------------------+

+ Name + Height + Width + Depth + Filename +

+--------------------------------------------------+

+ Sue + 2 + 4 + 5 + SKUTT_20060105 +

+ Sue + 3 + 2 + 3 + SKUTT_20060105 +

+ Paul + 2 + 5 + 5 + SKUTT_20060105 +

+ Paul + 3 + 9 + 9 + SKUTT_20060105 +

+ Karen + 7 + 8 + 8 + SKUTT_20060105 +

+ Sue + 12 + 4 + 5 + BAILEY_20060106 +

+ Paul + 2 + 6 + 6 + BAILEY_20060106 +

+ Paul + 13 + 9 + 9 + BAILEY_20060106 +

+ Sue + 2 + 14 + 5 + SKUTT_20060109 +

+ Sue + 3 + 2 + 13 + SKUTT_20060109 +

+ Karen + 17 + 8 + 8 + SKUTT_20060109 +

+--------------------------------------------------+

---------

Solution:

---------

1) Define a table to hold the file names temporarily

File Names temp

Field Name Field Tpe Formula/ Entry Option

-----------------------------------------------------

Text Coontains Text

File Name Text

File Path Text

2) Create your data table

Firing Slips

Field Name Field Tpe Formula/ Entry Option

----------------------------------------------------------

Name Text

Height Number

Width Number

Depth Number

Filename Calculation (Text) = $file

3) create a Script to get the filenames:

GET FILE NAMES

--------------

Go to Layout ["File Names temp" (File Names temp)]

Import Records [Folder Name: Your data folder name here; File Type: Picture and movie files; Import only a reference; Target: "File Names temp"; Method: Add; Character Set: "Mac Roman"; Field Mapping:

Source field 2 import to File Names temp::File Name

Source field 3 import to File Names temp::File Path]

[No dialog; Data contains column names]

Show All Records

4) Create a script to do the import

IMPORT DATA

-----------

Go to Layout ["File Names temp" (File Names temp)]

Go to Record/Request/Page

Loop

Set Variable [$path; Value:File Names temp::File Path]

Set Variable [$file; Value:File Names temp::File Name]

Set Variable [$PathToFile; Value:Right ( $path ; Length ( $path ) -6)]

Import Records [No dialog: "$PathToFile"; Add; Mac Roman]

Go to Record/Request/Page [Next; Exit after last]

End Loop

Show All Records

Exit Script []

5) Create a script to cleanup the temp table

CLEAN UP FILE NAMES

------------------

Go to Layout ["File Names temp" (File Names temp)]

Show All records

Delete All records {No dialog]

That's it Have fun with it.