Auto insert file reference for container field

[lardawge]

I know most would say just store the picture in the database but in this particular situation it is complicating things by doing so.

I am looking for insight into two problems.

1. how to setup the database to calculate the value of the container field based on a field called "jobid" and store it as a reference to the file that is stored on a local server... So say, /proof_images/12345.jpg

The proof_images is mounted at the root level on the client machines.

2. How to automate a task to insert this value into 20000 previous records.

Once the previous records are updated it would auto enter the value on creation of record.

Thanks for any help.

[Fenton]

It's always hard to talk about images, image files and FileMaker, because there are a few different ways to do it, and nuances of each. First, if you can calculate the path to the image, then you should be able to see it, without having to "insert" anything. The thing is, when you Insert, by [x] Reference only, you are basically giving FileMaker the path. You could calculate it instead. This means however that the folder structure must pretty consistent.

The following path would show, on a Mac, an image file on my iDisk (which I can use like a mounted server):

imagemac:/manavesh/Public/Wounded_man.jpg

The calculation would produce text like the above, BUT the actual Result (which you choose at the bottom of the calculation dialog) is Container (kind of non-intuitive, but it makes sense).

It is pretty easy to see what the path should look like. Just create a regular container field, not the calculation, and Insert an image from the mounted drive, [x] Reference only.

The create another calculation field, GetAsText (regular container), result text. It will return 3 lines:

dimensions

relative path

absolute path

You want to produce the last one.

[P.S. Obviously these are Mac paths. You can handle Windows paths as well, inside the calculation; but you'd need to know what drive letter the server volume was mapped to.]

Edited October 5, 2008 by Guest

[lardawge]

That did the trick. Thank you for your help!