Hold your hats! I'm finally trying to move from 9 to 12 - slowly. Anyway, my question is as follows. I'm trying to combine separate files into one file with separate tables. So I have a file called parents and one called students. I copied the database and fields from students to parents. So far so good. Now the problem. I would very much like to get the student layouts into the new table in the parents file. No idea how. Can I? Should I chuck the whole idea now?

Mike

I failed to mention the original parents and student files are in fm9, my new file is fm12. Thanks.

Mike

Update your profile to reflect your current version of FileMaker and Platform http://fmforums.com/forum/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=core&area=profileinfo

I'm still primarily using FM9. Just starting on 12. Any answer to my issue above? Thanks. Mike

You can't just "copy a layout" -- you have to first create a layout in the target file.

There's a specific order you need to observe:

1. copy tables, fields, and set up relationships -- make sure you name everything the same as the old file.

2. copy custom functions

3. create BLANK layouts, again name them same as in old file.

4. create value lists -- unfortunately can't just copy and paste these*

5. copy scripts

6. NOW you can copy your layout elements and paste them into your blank layouts, and all your fields and buttons should work as expected.

*you can use FileMaker design functions to pull all your value lists out into a text file, which makes it much easier to copy and paste them into your new file.

Hope that helps.

thanks