Convert rtf to plaintext via Filemaker

[gregincolumbus]

Is there a way to natively convert rtf data that has been pasted into a Filemaker text field to be converted to plain text? I have tried the remove formatting and get as text options....neither worked.

I know I can save the original text as plain text and then paste it, but I was trying to eliminate the conversion step.

Thanks

Greg

[comment]

Removing the formatting using TextStyleRemove () should work.

(I am assuming that by "rtf data" you mean styled text.)

[gregincolumbus]

Thanks for the tip.....

I've tried that too, but there must be something still left that is not being filtered out.

I have also tried using the filter function and filtered out everything except numbers and text....still does not work as expected. The issue I am fighting is related to text from an email body. I convert all spaces and carriage returns to "%" then I filter everything except numbers, letters and %.....then I replace the % with a space....for some odd reason, spaces seem to disappear on the last step.....the only way they do not is if I paste plain text....then all is well in the routine.

Other ideas?

Thanks

Greg

[Lee Smith]

Paste a copy of the Raw Data before you messed around with it.

Lee

[gregincolumbus]

Lee

Do you mean paste a copy here? If so, I am not sure I can...there is some personal data in the text. May I contact you back channel Lee?

Thanks

Greg

[comment]

A file with a sample of the problematic data would be useful.

EDIT: I mean a .fp7 file - pasting it here wouldn't tell much. Delete any sensitive parts, or type over them.

Edited June 23, 2008 by Guest

[Fenton]

Couldn't you remove the personal info? We don't need to see that, we need to see the whitespace characters, and possibly your FileMaker work. Create a small demo file. That shouldn't be difficult.

In fact, first look at it in a real text editor, like (free) TextWrangler:

http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/index.shtml

First, View, Text Display, Show Invisibles.

Then, Window, Palettes, ASCII Table.

Then select the character, and click the Show button.

It could be that what you think is a space is not a space, but some other whitespace character. But if you copy/paste it into a FileMaker Substitute(), it should work.

Though, it does seem weird that you'd lose ALL spaces.

[gregincolumbus]

Thank all of you for your efforts...I just needed a little time away from Filemaker to clear my brain.

I was missing an error in my script that was parsing the data....

I do appreciate the time and effort on your part. Thanks again.

Best wishes

Greg