Multi-user Container Fields

[mminer]

We've got 3 Macs sharing a FMPro7 database that processes orders. Instead of making a hard copy invoice, I want to write a script to create PDFs which are embedded in a container field. I’m concerned about access to the files by all users (trying to avoid filepath complexities) so that anyone can click a button and have the invoice display.

I'm looking for the best way to structure this so that I don’t run into too many unforseen problems.

THANKS!

[Fenton]

So, by "display" you mean "Export Field Contents to the client's computer and open the file"? Because that's what you'd have to do to show multiple pages of an embedded PDF, inserted as file. If the file was embedded as Quicktime you could view the multiple pages with the "movie controls", inside FileMaker. Which looks OK; but it does not print well (understatement).*

If you want the actual file to be openable/printable on client machines you're going to have to do some messing about with filepaths. If you upgrade to FileMaker 8, you get functions to get FileMaker syntax filepaths, ie., Get (DesktopPath). As well as a script step, Set Variable, which can let you use the paths for exports (or imports, insert, etc.).

On 7 there are fairly simple AppleScripts which can do it. But nowhere near as simple as using FileMaker 8. If you're doing document management, and you only need 3 licenses, and you don't already know some AppleScript, you really should upgrade to 8. It will make your life easier.

I don't know whether those "path" functions and Set Variable would still work with FileMaker 8 clients and Server 7. Probably, they're unstored calculations. I think I remember doing the Save As Excel, using one of the paths, with Server 7. All the rest happens on the client machines. But Server 8 is much nicer -]

*Another even geekier alternative is to use an application (PDFOpen, Acrobat) or command line to split a copy of the original PDF file into its pages, then Insert them into a global repeating field. That would give you viewing and printing straight out of FileMaker. But obviously would require some extra work for the Insert script. The command line tool to do this is 3rd party, not on your machines.

[mminer]

Hi Fenton,

Thanks! You taught me some stuff but you also opened my eyes to the simplest solution. Since about 99% of our invoices are just 1 page, I'm inserting embedded PDFs (will manually use Quicktime for 2page invoices).

Since I'm aways seeing container fields as little boxes, I didn't realize, until you explained things, that I could just put one very large container field on a full page layout and just view them in that form. Sometimes the obvious isn't so obvious.

[porkbun]

Hi Fenton!

I am a newbie at this forum, and I am so glad that there are so many experts here that are just so knowledgable on FileMaker.

May I ask you a related question regarding Container Field? I have a container field that stores filepath of files, so when I double click in the container field, the file's application starts and open the file. Now I want to move the files into a different top level folder, and I know the filepath in the container field will not work anymore. How do I "mass change" the container field's filepath of the files I want to move to match the new location?

Thank you for your help!