I did a search of these forums and it looks like it is possible that FileMaker 8 does not have an automatic export function. Is this true?

What I want to be able to do is export every-night a specific set of information and email it without any interaction.

If FileMaker can not do this by itself can you direct me to an external solution. I looked at Automator built into OS X but there was nothing for FileMaker in there. Thank you for your time.

Yes, FileMaker 8 can automate exports and attach the result to an email. There is a checkbox for this in the Export dialog. I suggest you look at the Help in FileMaker. It can also do this with Save As PDF or Excel.

If however you want to zip the file first, that can also be done, using OS X command line. But that's more complex.

I understand how to get FileMaker to attach the exported file to an email, but that will not send the email. What I don't know how to do is have FileMaker automatically export at a specific time, attach the file to an email, and then send the email.

Here's an easy and cheap way (untested)

Define a script to do the export and mail.

Create a new file, which does nothing except run an opening script. The script calls the export script in your "real" file.

Schedule the opener file in iCal.

NICE! This works great. Thank you so much.