HTML Reports

[Raymond Gonzalez]

Hello. I want to know if its possible with filemaker to make html reports to send them via email. I have to send a report daily to many people through email, right now im doing it in filemaker but exporting it as pdf, i know how to code in html, but is there a way make this reports in html with filemaker? Thanks

[Fenton]

You can export out of FileMaker as HTML table. But it's so basic that I don't think many people do that. Another method is to build the HTML within FileMaker, using a script and/or an unstored calculation field, then exporting that. But, IMHO, the "proper" way is to Export XML, with an XSL stylesheet. If you have an intermediate level understanding of HTML, you will likely be able to fairly quickly learn enough XSL to do what you want. There are a few examples on the FileMaker XML web page.

http://www.filemaker.com/products/technologies/xslt_library.html

Simplest one (yeah, it's old, FileMaker 6, but the xml/xsl is the same).

http://transfer.filemaker.com/collection/FmpXmlToHtml.zip

[Raymond Gonzalez]

Would that work to send them through emails? because i am sending the reports as pdf, they are too big, thats why i want it through html, that way they will see the report without even opening an attachment. Can i do that with xml?

[Fenton]

Well, you would export it out as an HTML file. What happens when you attach the file to an email is up to your email client. I'm on a Mac, so I don't know how Outlook would do that; probably fine. Just try it with any small HTML file, and see.

[Cabinetman]

First question... what are you using to send the emails?

Second question is are the reports basically the same with just different #'s in there?

There are many ways to do this and the XML/XSL may be the best. But depending on your level you might go this route...

I use XML for somethings but here's what I'm doing on the somewhat simple side:

1. I use SMTPit to send the emails.

2. I have a calc. field that has the basic text with the needed fields that change data within it.

"Dear " & table::name

"Here are...." & table::numbers this week & "whateverI want... "

3. This field is set as the HTML header for SMTPit. (If needed I can explain why later)

4. One click and emails are on the way..