Importing Excel XML file

February 14, 201114 yr

I have an Excel XML file that we'd like to import directly into FileMaker. I understand that this requires an XSLT file, but I'm unclear on how I would get or create that file.

The XML file isn't actually created by Excel, it's the output from the Wufoo.com online forms provider. As this is going to be a recurring task, we'd like to import the XML directly into FileMaker (rather than take extra steps of importing into Excel, saving, and importing again into FM).

Thanks for any suggestions.

February 14, 201114 yr

Do you mean Excel 2003 XML format?

February 15, 201114 yr

Author

Thanks for the reply. Judging by that example I'd say yes.

I'm attaching a snippet from the XML file.

test.xml

February 15, 201114 yr

Yes, that's what it is. So how familiar are you with XSLT? You need to write a custom stylesheet to transform your XML into Filemaker's FMPXMPRESULT grammar.

BTW, doesn't your service provide a CSV or tab-delimited format?

February 16, 201114 yr

Author

Yes, that's what it is. So how familiar are you with XSLT? You need to write a custom stylesheet to transform your XML into Filemaker's FMPXMPRESULT grammar.

Not very.

So each unique spreadsheet would require a custom stylesheet, there is no generic use-this-for-Excel stylesheet?

BTW, doesn't your service provide a CSV or tab-delimited format?

They might, I'll have to talk to the user that is generating the data.

Thanks!

February 16, 201114 yr

there is no generic use-this-for-Excel stylesheet?

Perhaps one could be written - but it would be an awful lot of work to cover all possible variations. The format is already complex enough for even a tailor-made stylesheet.

So how familiar are you with XSLT?

Not very

The question is whether you'd able to adapt an example to your needs.

2 weeks later...

March 1, 201114 yr

Author

The question is whether you'd able to adapt an example to your needs.

Oh probably, yes. A pointer to an example would be welcome. Thank you!

March 1, 201114 yr

Try this one:

example.zip

2 weeks later...

March 10, 201114 yr

Author

Try this one:

Brilliant, that worked wonderfully. I just modified the <METADATA> and <ROW> sections to reflect the actual columns I have in the input file. Thank you very much!