I have a situation where I need to be able to either change the image
path, or find another solution. Here's the scenario:

Medical forms are scanned into a folder on the server machine as .jpg
files. The path to the forms is then imported to a FM file as new
records. The name of each image is stored in a list in a home file, so
that when the records with the image links are imported, the duplicate
images records can be recognized and deleted. Then certain data is
typed into fields from the form.

The problem with the scenario is that with a 100 or so scans per day,
the number of imported records increases fast. One solution might be
to send a command to transfer the image files to another folder after
they are imported, and only import the new ones. The problem is that I
would need to find a way to alter the path to the new folder.

The form images are so large that importing them to a FM file would be
insane. I tried importing only 80 forms to a FM test FM file, and the
file size ended up over a gig, because FM goes nuts with size when
Images are imported to it. The image resolution needs to be large,
because they are zoomed in FM to see fine detail, as the data from them
is hand typed into fields.

I understand that in FM 7 the path to an image can actually be a
calculation, which can easily be changed, but these files have been
developed from FM 2 through FM 6 over 10 years, and they are very
complex. I tried bringing them to FM 7, and there were so many
problems that I decided it would take months to go through the over 50
related files, and repair all of the problems. I have been designing
FM files since the first FM was designed by Dan Chadwick of Nashoba
Syetems, and released under the name of Forethought Corp, Through all
these years I have developed many tricks to make FM behave to the
customers request, and FM 7 does not like many of them. I know that in
the future I will need to switch over, but to do that now would be a
costly nightmare.

So my question is, can the image path be altered, or can anyone think
of a better way to solve my situation. The files are created on a Mac,
but used in a hospital environment of a PC network, so things like
Apple Scripts are not an option. But it is easy to send a DOS command
to delete or more the images, though I am not sure about changing the
path.

I think you need to get and use the Troi File plugin www.troi.com. You
may download a demo.
This plugin is very powerfull in moving files and or directories,
getting their path, importing the reference (the path) into a multimedia
field in FMP, etc.
Troi gives you also excellent demo files that you can copy and adapt to
your needs.
I used it a lot for getting, renaming, moving images for a large museum
in Paris. It works perfectly and dependably.
In your case, I would have two folders : one, 'MainImages', as being the
repository of 'all' your images at ToDay minus one, and 'DailyImages',
where you hold all the today's images. Then once a day, from within
FileMaker, you open the DailyImages folder, import the path of the new
images into the proper field in newly created records, and copy them
into the MainImages folder. The process should be done in a matter of
seconds.
Have a look, you'll not regret it.
Remi-Noel


<marshalab (AT) aol (DOT) com> a écrit :

Following your question and my answer, I got a personal message from
Denny (you ?), to which I answered, but I got back a 'Rejected' message.
So it has not reached you.
Could give me personally a valid address ?
Remi-Noel

So here my intended reply :

Hi Dennis,

Yes, it is the "TROI FILE" one.
On their site it is at : http://www.troi.com/software/fileplugin.html
The prices are at : http://fun.troi.com/shop/product.lasso?ID=29 . You
really need to have the plugin installed on the only machines that
perform the import, not on the ones that consult the 'Images.fp5' once
created and filled up (your file that holds the references of the actual
image files).
Their email is : info (AT) troi (DOT) com
They also hold a list - for all plugins, not only theirs - at :
http://www.troi.com/lists/pluglist.html
But, as I said, the main plus is the examples they offer - even with the
demo package - : take what is the closest to your interest and just copy
and adapt it.
If you need more, try all what said above, and / or me.

By the way, I re-read what I told you, and my advice of having 2
folders. I don't think it is practical, as the example they give is
importing the 'references' to the files for all the image files of the
choosen folder. So the Images.fp5 (or 7), where resides all the
references, refers to a precise folder holding all real image files. So,
you have to reimport all the files every day from the main folder, after
having erased the existing ones.

(Below is a kind of personal part)
(I attach the 'Images Clone.fp5' (256Kb) I am using nowadays for my
clients, and a set of 3 images - the 'Repository' folder (113 Kb) - for
you to try. Just push the 'Import' button. If you have too much problems
in reading the few parts in french, tell me I'll translate them for
you.)

Remi-Noel


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis W Hayes" <denny (AT) sotae (DOT) com>
To: <rnmenegaux (AT) free (DOT) fr>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 3:46 AM
Subject: Change Image Path