FM8 Containers - Export Field Contents of Insert, Reference or Paste

[wonfuji]

This may be convoluted but I'll "endeavour to persevere" in the problem description.

The OS is WinXP. An FM3/4/5/6 database converted to FM8 with 12,000 records. Fields are simple - a container field and an id.

Images are unfortunately stored via PASTE and REFERENCE. Do not appear to be any INSERTS.

GetAsText on the container field gives me this:

REFERENCE = image:Exploding_Moon.jpg

image:/S:/Exploding_Moon.jpg

PASTE = ?

We are trying to get all in the REFERENCE storage mode. So the plan is to EXPORT FIELD CONTENTS via script, so we locate the "?" records and have a script that loops through the found set setting a dynamic export file name and patching on ".jpg" as file extenstion.

The problem:

Some images export OK and some don't - the error is "Container Fields Cannot Be Exported". Sort of a dense error message as in my small sample 3 of the images in the containers do indeed export correctly while 2 don't and I get that message. Error capture is ON but that error is not trapable as GetLastError always = 0 and I always get that error message.

Ideas?

I need to sort out which images don't export out but the error trapping here seems iffy. And there are a lot of images.

Stephen

[wonfuji]

More info on the problem.

It seems that the offending images are .pct format. I disabled the dynamic name auto-export and found that the exports flipped around between .jpg and .pct. So the questions really is how to detemine which is which prior to export - the only clue I get from GetAsText is "?". And I don't seem to be able to supress the Filemaker error or even capture its existence in a useful fashion. I suspose I can export both formats but I'd love to make the error dialog go far, far away!

[Lee Smith]

would it be correct to say?

Your images are stored in the file.

You have a name for each image in a Text Field in your record.

You want to export the images to a folder, and use the Name you have in the Text Field.

You want to then use Store Reference of the images in your file.

If i have missed something, or this isn't what you meant, please correct it.

Lee

[Lee Smith]

GetAsText only works for images that are Referenced, not for images that are imbedded in your container.

[wonfuji]

Not actually true. Heres what I get from GetAstext with three methods.

Referenced =

size:526,792

image:FM Image Exports/pic.jpg

imagewin:/C:/Documents and Settings/nuffy/Desktop/FM Image Exports/pic.jpg

Inserted = pic.jpg

Pasted = ?

[wonfuji]

Some images are stored as REFs, some are PASTED in and some are INSERTED. Many users, many years, no input controls until recently. So we have "a problem".

[Lee Smith]

What I said [color:red]is true.

There is no File Path for an image that is Embedded in a container.

That is why you are getting a ?

Apology accepted.

Lee

[wonfuji]

Let's try this.

Would it be correct to say?

Your images are stored in the file.

[color:red]some are some are not - that is the problem

You have a name for each image in a Text Field in your record.

[color:red]not at all true, just an id# - picture names are freeform

You want to export the images to a folder, and use the Name you have in the Text Field.

[color:red]No, I want to export those that are NOT referenced as the ref'd ones are fine as they are. I will create the export filenames dynamically.

You want to then use Store Reference of the images in your file.

[color:red]Yes - I want to put the exported images where the others are located then correctly reference them

The issue at hand is how to tell a PCT image from a JPG image when the GetAsText result for both is "?" And also how to get the error trap to work properly so I can export PCT when JPG export fails.

Thanks for your interest.

Stephen

[wonfuji]

Lee..

Just to remain on target.

On Mac OS X with FM8Av2 using GetAsText on the container

INSERT = error.jpg

REFERENCE = size:150,150

image:../Curious George/family-flora.gif

imagemac:/Emerald Isle/Users/stephen/Pictures/Curious George/family-flora.gif

PASTE = ?

Stephen

[Lee Smith]

The issue at hand is how to tell a PCT image from a JPG image when the GetAsText result for both is "?" And also how to get the error trap to work properly so I can export PCT when JPG export fails.

I don't think you can do this when exporting. Maybe with a Plugin like FMExport.

Check out this Plugin Here