consolidate separate fmp files

[nopposan]

Hello again, folks.

Well, when I started this, my first filemaker database solution, I was advised to create several separate files for my initial database tables. Since then, I've learned that this was unnecessary and undesirable; the user passwords have to be updated for each of the files independently and that alone is enough to warrant consolidation.

What would generally be the best way to go about consolidating many separate files into one database file? I was thinking of just importing the tables into identical tables that I create in the latest fmp file, which already contains many tables, as I finally learned that separate files for each table were unnecessary.

Please advise.

Thank you.

[Fitch]

Yes, step one is to bring in the tables and fields.

Step two is to recreate the necessary parts of the relationship graph.

But before steps 1 and 2 you may want to rename table occurrences in your source file to avoid conflicts when you rebuild them in your target file.

After that you may need to edit calculated fields/auto enter/lookups if they relied on relationships that were missing.

Step three, create blank layouts. They should be named exactly as your source layouts. So again, you may want to rename your source layouts first so there will be no ambiguity. E.g. you don't want multiple layouts named "List," but rather Invoice List, Account List etc.

Step four, import scripts. Again, you will want to take a look at your source file and rename scripts before importing to avoid duplicate names.

Step five, now that fields, relationships, blank layouts and scripts are in place, you can go through each layout, select all, copy and paste into your new blank layouts in the target file. All fields and buttons will magically match up by name.

By doing things in this order, you minimize extra cleanup work. Your scripts will recognize the layouts and fields, your layouts will recognize your fields and buttons etc.

[nopposan]

Thank you. I'm so looking forward to it!!

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Thanks for guiding me through the mine field though.

Cheers.