How to import data into a repeating field

[Salin]

Wish everone a very happy New Year!

I thought I could use the holiday break to import

a large data file into a live database without a

problem. Unfortunately I desperately need a quick

help. Hope there are still people around and

could tell me how to import 4 names from an Excel

spreadsheet into a repeating field.

Any help would be much appreciated.

-Sal

[IdealData]

No doubt you discovered that IMPORTING data to repeating fields is not an option when attempted DIRECTLY. Think of an IN-DIRECT approach...

You need to get the "raw" data into another FM table then you can massage the data within FM as you can reference individual repetitions in the existing table(s).

The current day approach would certainly not use repeating fields, moreover your existing excel data is giving you a big clue about using RELATED records.

[Salin]

Thanks for the advice. The reason for the repeating field is because we frequently search for a name from the four fields. What would be a better way to replace this function?

I've imported the excel data into four different fields, but I still have no idea how to copy the data into the repeating field. Thanks for any help.

-Sal

[RalphL]

You have missed the point. Please forget that you ever heard of repeating fields. Use a portal with data stored in another table.

[billinkitsilano]

To import into a repeating field, save your data into a delimited text file, and use Word to replace the delimiter between the repeating values with Ascii character 29 (^29 in Word). Save out as a delimited text file again, and import into FM. For example:

Rcp01,item1^29item2^29item3^29item4

would import 4 items into a repeating field in the RCP01 record.

(When you do the search and replace in Word, ^29 will appear is little box)