Database Reference
In-Depth Information
You can also export from Layout and Preview modes, too, should the need arise. The
“Export Records to File” dialog box appears. It looks a lot like a normal Save dialog
box, except that it has a pop-up menu at the bottom called Type.
4.
Name the file
Holiday Card List.txt
and then choose any location you want
.
When FileMaker exports data, it creates a new file and puts the data in it. You use this
window to tell FileMaker what to call the file and where to put it.
5.
From the Type pop-up menu, choose Comma-Separated Text and then click
Save
.
You'll learn what each of these types means in the next section. The “Specify Field
Order for Export” window appears (
Figure 21-10
).
6.
While pressing Ctrl (
⌘
), select these fields in the field list: First Name, Last
Name, Company Name, Street Address, City, State, and Zip Code. Then click
Move
.
FileMaker adds the highlighted fields to the Field export order list.
TIP
If you want to export most of your fields, but not quite all of them, it may be faster to click
the Move All button and then clear the few you don't want from the Field export order list.
7.
Click Export
.
FileMaker creates the file and returns you to your database.
So what just happened? If you open the Holiday Card List file you just created, you see
names, company names, and addresses from your customers file. Dig a little deeper and you
notice:
▪ Each
record
is on its own line. If the program you're viewing the file in wraps lines, it
might look like a record goes across two or more lines, but there's a return character at
the
end
of each record, and nowhere else.
▪ Each field value is in quotes, and there are commas between them.
These factors are important because this file conforms to a standard. Other pro-
grams—including the program used by the card printing company—that recognize the
comma-separated text format can read this file and grab the data.
