Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Creating a New Database from an Import File
If you have a file full of data, and you want to build a brand new database around it,
FileMaker has an even simpler option than creating a database and then importing the data.
Just choose File→Open and then select the file you want to convert. You can also use drag
and drop: In Windows, drag it to the open FileMaker Pro window. FileMaker promptly con-
verts the file to a database for you. On the Mac, drag a file onto the FileMaker icon.
NOTE
If you can't see the file you want in the Open dialog box, or it's grayed out, change the option in the
“Files of Type” (Windows) or “Show” (Mac) pop-up menu. If your file is one of the formats
FileMaker supports, you can select it once you identify its type.
If FileMaker finds data with a first row that looks like field names, it asks whether you want
to use those when FileMaker creates fields. If it can't find anything that looks like field
names, you get those old standbys, f1, f2, f3. In addition to a single table and the appropriate
number of fields (complete with data, of course), you get two very plain layouts. One is a
generic form layout, showing one record at a time, and the other is a simple columnar list.
Import Data Sources
You've learned about the most common importing task—when your data is coming in from a
single file. But you have other needs, and FileMaker has other choices. File→Import Re-
cords is an entire submenu, with commands to suit even the most demanding database man-
ager. From there, you get to pick where the data should come from (the data source), and you
get several choices.
File
The File→Import Records→File command shows an Open File dialog box. Select any file
that matches one of the export formats explained earlier in this chapter. You see your old
friend, the Import Field Mapping dialog box ( Figure 21-12 ). Match your source to your tar-
get, and away you go.
You can also use a similar command when you have to move data from one table to another
within the same file. Go to your target layout and choose File→Import Records→File. In the
dialog box, choose the database you're in, and you see the Import Field Mapping dialog box.
Select the table that's your data source from the Source pop-up menu, and you're ready to
go.
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