Inserting Quicktimes

[Wickerman]

I have a Container field that will be used for Displaying Quicktime Files. The client wants to simply store a filepath to where the  Quicktime file will "live", so I'm notusing the new remote storage option, just the old school approach.

 

So, s I understand it, the user should click into the Container field and then select "Insert Quicktime" from the INSERT menu and then navigate to the file and bingo. 

 

So, I can tell them that's the way to do it.

 

BUT - - - I worry a little that a user might insert a file by "drag & drop" instead, because they're used to doing this sort of thing.    If they do that they get an image of the file, and I guess it's actually stored in the database, but won't play in the container window?  

 

is there a simple way to forestall this behavior?

 

I thought maybe it would be suggestive enough to just put a button by the field with "Insert Video" on it and then just set the button to trigger "Insert Quicktime" - - - but when I try that, the script step seems to expect me to specify a file path in advance -- and when I try the button it doesn't offer the browsing window to locate the desired file.

 

ANy suggestions what I should do here?

 

Thanks!

[eddyb2]

To get your "Insert Video" button to work and for the browsing window to show, focus must be on the container field before trying to insert the video.

 

So in your button script, before your "Insert Quicktime" step, add a step to go to Field (your container field)

 

Very simply, something like this...

 

Go to Field [MyTable::MyContainerField]
Insert QuickTime[]

 

The browsing window will then show

 

Ed

[Wickerman]

Ahhhhhhh.  Of course --- Thanks for that!    While I've got your attention could I ask a similar question?

 

I've got another container field intended for single images.  I've always been a little puzzled by the various ways images can get into Container fields.  The "Path vs Embed" option is clear enough.  But in the latter case, there are actually 3 ways to get a picture in the container:

 

1) Use menu Insert > Picture

2) Drag from desktop

3) Copy image on clipboard and paste in.

 

I've learned from past experience that pasting-in the image wound up with a .pict file generated by the finder, rather than the original .jpg.  (This had the virtue of being a lot faster for my needs, though, so I used it that way).

 

I notice that now in FMP 12, drag-and-drop works, directly from the desktop to the Container field, which is so much faster than using the menu /navigation commands.  

 

My question is -- does a dragged-in image file  wind up sotred exactly the same as if you had used the Insert > Picture menu item?

 

I think so . . . and I sure *hope* so?  But I'm not sure.

 

albert

[eddyb2]

Yes, drag & drop in FM12 will store the image exactly the same as if you had used the menu to insert picture

[Wickerman]

Excellent - - one more?  

 

I'm looking for a Calculation Function that will grab the filename of the Quicktime File the user selects for insertion, so I can have the script enter that Filename into a "File Name" text field.   Seems like it should be a "Get" or "ContainerField" function, but I'm not seeing it . . .

. . . and ooh - - would there be a similar function that would trap the Quicktime File Size?  How about Format?  That would be so awesome.....

[eddyb2]

Grabbing the filename is easy, no function required.

 

Just create a calculation field... FileName, result should be Text

Filename = ContainerField

Returns the filename of the file in the container field

 

There is nothing within FileMaker to get the filesize but can be done with a custom function

 

http://filemaker.suisolutions.com/tips_and_tricks/get_container_size/

 

What do you want to return for format?

[Lee Smith]

Get ( FilePath ) Get ( FileSize )

[eddyb2]

Lee, Get ( FileSize ) returns the size of the active database file doesn't it? Original poster was after the file size of a file stored inside a container

[Wickerman]

Oh great -- yeah, it's the Filesize of the quicktime file inserted in the Container Field that I'm after.  That custom function looks good.

 

On second thought about the file format, I guess the extension after the final '.' in the filename would be all I need, so that's easy enough to do!  SO I think I'm, good to go.  Thanks so much for all the help!

 

albert

[Lee Smith]

Sorry, I was thing of this thread where the Length function was suggested.