How to create temporary field during export

[Toni]

Hello

Is it possible to create, what I will call, a "temporary" field during export.

For example, I have a field A which contains numbers and text, let say record 1 contains "980 blabla".

When I export this field in a tab separated file, I want this field exploded into two other fields, one containing the number and the other containing the text.

I don't like to create another field in the database, because I don't need it. This is only needed during export.

Thank you, Toni

[Vaughan]

Temporary fields cannot be made. If it's needed during export then it's needed in the database.

[comment]

It is possible, if you export as XML and use a custom XSLT stylesheet to do the manipulation during the export AND format the result as tab-separated. However, if you are not familiar with XML/XSLT, it might be easier to parse the data using Filemaker calculation fields.

I would also suggest you attack this problem at its source. It is very easy to put data together; it is not so easy to pull it apart. Why not enter the data into separate fields to begin with?

If it's needed during export then it's needed in the database.

I am afraid I must disagree with you there. Quite often, data needs to be manipulated for export in a way that has nothing to do with the internal purposes and functionality of the solution. This is especially true for various reports mandated by government. My policy is to farm out all such processing to XSLT.

[Toni]

Well, as you said, I am not familiar with XML and XSLT. If it is an easy step I could go for that and learn some basics.

As for the creation of a separated field, I have already done that. I just don't want another field for sth that is used only for export reasons.

What could be the best way to use XML and XSLT?

Thank you, Toni

[comment]

There's no way I could answer such a wide question in the confines of a forum message. Perhaps this brief introduction to the subject can get you started:

http://my.advisor.com/doc/12009

There are also a few examples that come with the application - and many more in these forums.

[Toni]

That should be a good start. Thanks again for your posts.