Filemaker 9 - external data sources

[Reed]

Now that it's out on FMP's website, I guess we can discuss it. How will we work around the inability to use external data sources in value lists directly? I guess by importing into an indexed field just like before, but not have to query by sql any more....

[JesseSFR]

Can you add a table occurrence of an external SQL table, then define a value list based on one of its fields? I haven't tried, but it sure seems like it would work. Maybe I'm missing your point?

[Reed]

I tried and you cannot do it, and this is in line with the documentation. I'm guessing it's since value lists are tied to indices, and ODBC data sources don't have filemaker indices.

[mr_vodka]

Ok we asked this question yesterday at DevCon to Bill Heizer and they are aware of the issue and there may be a strong possibility for a future release to incorporate it.

As for the current solution, it seems that the best way to go about it would be to run a script each time when you click on the field with the value list that would delete and reimport all the records you need into a simple table. Then you would reference that table for your value list.

[Reed]

Thanks for checking on that at DevCon. Maybe someday I'll be able to go myself, but Im only allowed one conference per year and I should probably go to the mass spectrometry conference since that's what they're really paying me to do around here.

[Vaughan]

I've heard mass spectrometry is a blast! Either that or it'll just be another flash in the pan.

[Genx]

Mass spectrometry you say *shudders*. Had to do that for like 4 weeks at school however many years ago.

The details of Science don't excite me all that much but what it achieves does, so good work on being part of that community!!