Import picture reference + move file?

[Matt S]

I am trying to automate using a script, the ability to select photos from an external source such as a digital camera, have the selected image automatically copied to a defined folder on my hard drive, and then show the image in a container as a reference to the file (ie not copying the whole image across to keep the database file size down. Filemaker doesn't seem to have any file management abilities that I can find.

[IdealData]

I notice you are "client hosted". If you are sharing the database to others then you must embed the images in your database otherwise other users will not be able to see them because the internal path reference cannot be matched to the path provided by the hosting machine.

To answer your question there is the option to import from a digital camera and you can have the images saved as references.

Here's some of the FMP help

Important Because image files can be large, consider importing only a reference to each image file. However, if you import images by reference and later move, rename, or delete a source file, FileMaker Pro won't be able to display it. Also, consider importing both the smaller thumbnail and the images into separate container fields. Designing some layouts to display the thumbnails instead of the full-size images may help increase the scrolling speed if you need to display many images in a list.

[Matt S]

Thanks

I want to be able to get the script to automatically move the selected image files from the camera into a designated storage folder somewhere and then reference the image file in this folder. I will be doing this frequently so I don't want to have to manually copy images across from the camera using a File Management program.

I suppose it is this file move scripting that I am keen to get help with?

Also, this is a personal database so I don't need others to be able to acces the pictures.

Just looking through the help files, I noticed that it says the whole import from camera function is in Mac OS. Therefore can what I want to do be done with Windows.

Also, Vista won't allocate a drive letter for my camera as it is really smart?? and puts cameras under portable devices without a drive letter, so I don't know how I will even write a script to point to a folder that doesn't have a drive letter!!!: Multiple issues!

Edited September 14, 2008 by Guest

[CoArtist]

Hello,

IdealData was nice enough to respond to my topic related to this, but I thought I would pose my question here since it is in the same light.

I am also trying to add images - not automatically - but I want only a reference to the image and not the image itself. The check mark to do this is so poorly placed in the window for our users to regularly click on it, we are getting an unacceptably large database. We will have a 12 Gig database at the completion of this project if it continues.

Our database is hosted on a server, and the images are in a subdirectory of that location. How can I place and write a script to allow only the reference. Can I limit the size of the file by scripting it, and thus alert the users to click the check box? How do I insert this said script for each of 6 containers in the database?

Thanks,

[comment]

See if this helps:

http://fmforums.com/forum/showpost.php?post/265392/

[CoArtist]

Thanks for that. I set up some script that, when the user clicks on a container, it flashes a message window which reminds them to use the 'reference' button.

It seems to serve the purpose. Thanks again!

Edited October 20, 2008 by Guest