I created a database in which I am attaching related documentation. This would include things like purchase orders, emails, notes, etc. I can see how to add a container in which the documents are stored but when I click on the item (such as a pdf) the "attachment" doesn't open. What am I doing wrong?

If the file is stored as a reference only in the container field, then you can simply just double click it. If it is embedded in the container field then you can try a script that exports out to your temp directory then opens.

Set Variable [ $path; "filewin:" & Get ( TemporaryPath ) & YourContainerField ]

Export Feild Contents [ YourContainerField; $path; Automatically Open ]

again being new to this I was seeing this as a right mouse click and add file type situation and when I would need to see the data I would do the doucvle click. Since you mentioned that there is a way to do this, what was I doing wrong? I think a double click is simpler then running a script ... right?

If the file is stored as a reference only in the container field, then you can simply just double click it.

When you insert the file into the container there is an option to only store as a reference. This is good since it does not embed the file within FileMaker itself. However, if you are using a served solution you will want to store the files in an area where everyone has access to such as a networked location. Otherwise, they will get a missing message in the container since they will not have the file in their local computer such as C:Documents and SettingsUser1filesyourfile.jpg

may exist on your system but not on theirs.

If you decide to keep the file embedded in FileMaker, you will need to have a button that calls the script as I stated earlier. Just put it next to the container field or make it the container field itself (which in that case the insert file could be triegered by t button next to the container field)

hopefully this is the last question regarding this but these are newbie questions LOL. Here is the script you mentioned above:

Set Variable [ $path; "filewin:" & Get ( TemporaryPath ) & YourContainerField ]

Export Feild Contents [ YourContainerField; $path; Automatically Open ]

what do these 4 variables refer to:

$path

"filewin"

temporarypath

yourcontainerfield

(and I will fix that typo in the export "field" line)

Get ( TemporaryPath ) is a function that will return the full path of your systems' temp directory.

YourContainerField is just the field name I made up to reference your container field where you are storing your docs.

"filewin:" is needed as part of the path for windows machines.

http://www.filemaker.com/help/05-Create%20a%20database32.html

So Basically, you are setting a temporary variable which we are naming $path to something like the following:

"filewin:/C:/Documents and Settings/ijusth/Local Settings/Temp/YourFile.jpg"

Then it exports your container field file to there.