Efficient way to populate 150 fields with data

[hassam36]

Hello

I have to populate a table with many fields in it(probably 150) with a data value for each field.

Is there any efficient way to do this using a script? The only way I know of is to use Set Field and set each field individually with the appropriate data value. However, this means I have to do this 150 times.

Are there any better ways?

[IdealData]

You could just duplicate each record from the first, or possibly import from an established 150 record set in another (identical) table.

[hassam36]

I can't really duplicate records, I have to move/copy them from several tables to one large table.

And I would have to populate the identical table with the records anyway, so I might as well just update the real table.

[Søren Dyhr]

I have to move/copy them from several tables to one large table.

Why, the rest of us strive to do the opposite? Perhaps it was about time to use some 1) relational approaches and 2) get some reporting skills.

--sd

[Raybaudi]

What about importing from a .txt file ?

1) Create a file with the notepad with data spaced with a tab along the same row. ( a new row will create a new record )

2) Import

[hassam36]

You don't understand: the data is stored in many tables relationally. I have to take this and flatten it into one table so it can be linked from document templates in Word to Filemaker using merge fields in the Word document.

[Ocean West]

I think you could adapt Bruce R's http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/198958/

technique.

Or perhaps one of mine... http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/198586/

[Ocean West]

I am not sure how detailed your mail merges are you may also consider fmSpark

[hassam36]

This is an interesting product. It would help us from a letter standpoint, but I am not as sure from a general document perspective. I have to look at it more though.

[hassam36]

I don't fully understand these techniques, but is it possible to create a table and columns for it dynamically through a script?

Access allows for this in their query interface.