Default "Show" File Type on Import?

[Otis]

Hi, I have a script that calls for a FileMaker Pro data file to be imported.

This file can be located anywhere and the file name changes. Thus, I can't have my script look for a specific path or file name. I simply have a box pop-up where the user (many different people) can select the exact file to import.

However, I noticed that in FileMaker Pro advanced 11.0v2, when the dialog box opens to ask for the file, the default file type under the "Show" will always be "Tab-Separated Text Files".

The file type I'm importing is a FileMaker Pro file, and thus, this has to be changed each time from "Tab-Separated Text Files" to "FileMaker Pro Files" next to the "Show" option.

Some users don't do this and email me saying they can't select the file, it's dimmed, etc.

Is there a way to have the "Show" drop-down menu default to a particular file type?

(Like "FileMaker Pro Files" or even "All Types")?

Since this is an Import script step, for Import Records, I tried just selecting:

Specify Data Source > File

And then leaving the path/filename blank and selecting "FileMaker Pro Files" as the file type here, and it worked a bit, but had a really bad error pop up saying the file could not be found, before opening the dialog box to select the file. This looks really bad.

Is there a better way to specify the default file type under the "Show" option during an import step if you don't have an exact file or path available?

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[bcooney]

I do not believe that it is possible to set the default file type. It is annoying, and as you've discovered, when Import fails to find the file, you'll get the dialog.

Stepping back, why is the file in a different location? Importing into FM requires consistency, so I'm wondering what kind of data are you importing and why its location and path varies so much?

[Otis]

Hi bcooney ,

Thanks for your comment. It's incredibly annoying that this can't be set as a default.

The reason this can be from different locations is that the import of the FM file is a backup import script which allows my clients to backup/import FM contact data from previous versions of my solution. I need this selective and not automatic because they can have the choice to backup a particular contact database they may be newer than another, etc.

This is really a shame that it can't be set as a default without a file present.

[comment]

Perhaps this might work for you:

http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/194256/post/303472/#303472

[bcooney]

Maybe this demo:

http://fmforums.com/forum/showpost.php?post/335201/

[Otis]

Wow, thank you so much!

I think I can make something work with the demo you just posted. I really appreciate all the help from everyone.

Thanks bcooney.