Problems importing pictures

[Denny 101]

I maintain several home DBs (FMP 3) for collectables, model trains, watches, etc. Largest is about 400 records. Layout includes a container for one photo of each item / record. Recently I switched from a "web cam" to a digital camera, and cannot get photos imported, even though I'm re-sizing & converting them from .jpg to .bmp before attempting to import. I get the following msg: ".BMP Format Picture Import Filter 1.0" and nothing happens. I have Photoshop Elements 3 available, if that will help. Is there a way to import as .jpg? Is using FMP 3 my problem?

Any assistance in how to import photos will be appreciated. Thanks, Denny 101

Edited March 13, 2006 by Guest

[Sanjai]

If you are looking at the advantages of version 8,you could find some help with Fenton's reply to the following url post:

http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/174744/

It would be a good idea to check on FileMaker Pro help if version 3 supports jpgs. I don't think FileMaker Pro 3.0 is your problem unless you discover something against in the help. Check the size of the bmp after you modify it and convert them to bmps.

[Lee Smith]

Hi Denny, and welcome to the Forum.

Nice to see another old geezer from my area join the Forum.

I'm surprised that FileMaker Pro 3 is compatible with XP, we have to run v4 using OS 9.x on the Macintosh.

Have you looked at the Online Help (its available under Help when FileMaker is open)?

I don't have v3, however the following formats are acceptable in v4; (TIFF), (GIF), (JPEG), Mac OS PICT, Claris MacPaint, and Encapsulated PostScript (EPSF).

HTH

Lee

[SlimJim]

I don't know why you are getting the message followed by nothing.

If you look in the system folder within your application (or Claris) folder you should see a collection of files of the form fmbmp32.flt where the letters after fm indicate the file extension that the filter is supposed to deal with. In my folder I have filters for bmp, gif, pcx, tiff, cgm, hpgl, pic, wmf, drw, mac, sld. If you right-click the filter file select properties the version tab will tell you what the filter is for, if it is not obvious.

jpg is not one of the filters but bmp is, so why you cannot import a bmp file I don't know. Have you applied all the available and appropriate updaters to your version 3?

[Fenton]

Support for JPEG was added in FM 4. Before that we used .PICT on Macs. I assumed Windows used .BMP, but I don't know. I also no longer have FM 3.

FM 8 is great. But its hardware requirements may be a hurdle. FM 6 was pretty good at pictures, as it had Import Folder. FM 7/8 have .png support (not to mention path variables, user-visible file paths in Import/Export, calculation fields for images, etc.).

[Denny 101]

THANKS Greatly to all of you for the info & suggestions (Lee, I agree - we Ole Geezers gotta stick together!) I will try the suggestions but, based on the responses and the reading I've done, I think I'll move up to FMP 6. It will work better w/ my XP system (I had been using FMP 3 with my old Win 98 system.)

Any suggestions on where to purchase FMP6 upgrade at a reasonable price?

Thanks again & have a GREAT Day! //Denny//

[Lee Smith]

Hi Denny,

Why v6, why not v8? (Advance).

Lee

[Denny 101]

Hi Lee,

I was thinking v6 rather than v8 as v8 would be much more expensive (I believe I can purchase an UPGRADE from 3 to 6, but not from 3 to 8). Also v8 would be "overkill," since I am a casual user, and it was mentioned that v8 may present hardware hurdles.

Best Regards, //Denny//

[Lee Smith]

I don't think that there is an FMI upgrade path available to v6 anymore? You should contact FMI Sales to see.

You might find a used copy or something on Ebay, however be careful as there is often pirated copies. Also, beware of the license that may not be transferrable. In other words, some sellers will sell you a copy that isn't transferrable because the owner used it for an upgrade.

BTW, I just took a quick look at Ebay and there are several copies of FileMaker Pro available.

Lee

[Denny 101]

Got it - Thanks Lee!

//Denny//

[Denny 101]

I found a "still-in-the-shrinkwrap" copy of v6 upgrade on e-Bay & got it for $61.00 + shipping. I received & installed today, & I can now import jpg files with no problems whatsoever. GREAT upgrade!!

Thanks again to all who responded. //Denny//