Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Creating Tables on Import
All the importing you've learned about so far assumes that your tables and fields are already
created. In other words, your target table is already in place when you choose your source
file. But when you're doing a big conversion job (say, upgrading from 15 overextended Ex-
cel spreadsheets to a smooth-running FileMaker dream system), it'll take you quite some
time to create all those tables and fields. And even though you have access to the Manage
Database dialog box while you're importing, this process isn't quick or easy when you've
got hundreds of fields coming in from dozens of files. FileMaker has already thought of that,
and it offers to handle the tedious work of table and field creation for you.
Choose File→Import Records→File and then select a data source. In the Import Field Map-
ping window, there's a handy pop-up menu called Target. Click it, and you see the current
table (remember that it's based on the layout that was active when you chose the Import
command), all your other tables (grayed out so that you can't choose them), and a very use-
ful command, New Table (Data Source). The stuff in parentheses is the name of your data
source and the name FileMaker gives the new table it creates for you. (If you already have a
table with the same name as your data source, FileMaker appends a number to the end of the
new table's name.)
Choose New Table and then click Import. FileMaker creates a table and an appropriate set of
fields for you and then populates the new fields with data. You also get a simple form layout
for your new table and a table occurrence on your Relationships graph. You can treat this
table just like one you created yourself. For example, you can start creating relationships to
hook it up to other table occurrences.
TIP
See Copying and Pasting Database Structure to see how FileMaker Pro Advanced lets you import
tables and fields without the data that normally comes with them.
When you let FileMaker create fields for you, it does its best to create the field types you
want. For instance, if the data source is a FileMaker file, your new fields match the old file's
field names and field types. But if the source is a plain text file with no formatting informa-
tion, FileMaker doesn't have any names to go by, so the new fields become text fields and
get the prosaic names of f1, f2, f3, and so on. In either case, check the fields in your new
table to make sure you get the names and field types you want. You have to manually create
any calculations you need.
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