Importing tab separated file

[Clark Film Buying]

Here is the scenario:

I am a film buyer (book movies for theatres). We keep track of all our theatres' daily grosses in our FileMaker Pro 8.5 data base. Recently, my husband wrote us a Perl Script that takes all the information from Rentrak (a box office reporting system online-this is where we get our grosses from) and parses the information into a tab separated file containing theatre name, movie title and daily grosses.

In order to import the information, I call up all the records for the week I am working with. I then import from file--I match the theatre name and the movie name and have FileMaker fill the grosses fields in. It seems to be matching things and filling in grosses just fine.

Here is the problem: Some theatres do not report in a timely manner. Also, There are some records that are there simply as a separation between two different theatres in the same town (they are empty except for city name). Since these records do not have corresponding data on the tab separated file, when I import the file, FileMaker Pro just deletes these records.

How can I get FileMaker to update the records that match in the tab separated file but leave the other records as is?

(Sorry if this doesn't make sense; I will try to clarify more if need be.)

[Cabinetman]

You are choosing to update MATCHING records instead of EXISTING records???

I'm thinking that's the problem... but what do I know.

[Clark Film Buying]

If you just update existing files, then there is no way to match fields to let the import know which grosses go to which theatres.

[Cabinetman]

In order to import the information, I call up all the records for the week I am working with. I then import from file--[color:red]I match the theatre name and the movie name and have FileMaker fill the grosses fields in. It seems to be matching things and filling in grosses just fine.

Can you not use this as the = to update matching?

If not can you zip a dummy file and import file with some samples for me to play with to see how to make it work?

[Clark Film Buying]

I am using Theatre name as the = in "update matching files". I am also using movie title as a second =.

Matching files all update just fine.

The problem is: There are some records in the database that do not have a match in the import file. What I would like is for FileMaker to do nothing with the records that have no match in the import file. Right now, anything that does not have a corresponding match is automatically deleted.

[Cabinetman]

I guess I'm missing something. I don't know much but I'm pretty sure that unless you choose - update existing records...as opposed to....update matching records - it doesn't delete any old records. I'm surprised no one else has chimed in.

Anyway without a sample FM file and a test import file I'm afraid I can't offer much help..... it just doesn't make sense to me.

[mweiss]

Sorry if this is too obvious, but -- are you sure that unmatched records are getting deleted? What is supposed to happen is that after the import you get a new found set consisting of only matched records. The unmatched records haven't been deleted, they're just not found. Do a "Show all" and they'll reappear.

[Cabinetman]

I see they haven't replied to your 'the obvious' .... I hadn't thought to mention that to them before so good call. I hope that was it because if not I haven't a clue.

hope they post as I'm curious..........