Creating a Found Set from a Tab Delimited text File

[RK]

Item:

I have a tab delimited list with a single parameter. I need to assemble a FileMaker found set from this data.

Currently, I'm converting the file and running a looping script, etc. etc. My solution is too convoluted and clunky.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[James Marshall]

Hi RK,

Have you considered importing into a "scratch" table and creating a relationship with that table. You could then use Go To Related Records to get your found set,

James Marshall

www.soliantconsulting.com/apps/filemaker/

[RK]

That's certainly a better way to go about it than my solution. Thanks very much for the help.

[Fenton]

If you have a text file with say a list of IDs (single column), probably the fastest method is to get them all into a single Text field, return-separated. If this is just a temporary need, storage as global, otherwise a table of "found sets". Then use that as the originating side of a relationship. It is a lot faster to use a single field as the side of a relationship, than to use the "match found set" option of many records.

There's a few ways to get the contents of the text file.

FileMaker native method: Create a folder. Put the file (and only the file) in it. Use the Import Folder, [x] Text files option.

On a Mac, AppleScript can easily read a file. Likely also Windows command line.

Free plug-ins can read a file. Cross-platform ScriptMaster from 360Works has this in its example file. Windows MooPlug can read a file.

If there are a lot of lines in the text file, the above is worthwhile. Otherwise just import, as James says.

[RK]

Thanks very much for getting me pointed in the right direction. Your suggestion works like a dream !