csv import is very poor with FMP 9

better results are possible with kind of XML import, but I need a
"howto"

are FMP 10 and 11 better ?

--
Philippe Manet
en fait, c'est manet avant @

On 2010-04-02 00:17:42 +0200, Philippe Manet said:

CSV-Import works very well with FM 11, in my Opinion.
But why don't you download the trial, it's possible to
use side by side with your FMP 9 installation.

On 2010-04-02 19:17:18 +0200, Mani said:

Hi, Philippe -

I've always thought the CSV import was pretty good in FileMaker, but
maybe my uses have been limited. Often if I want to import something
complicated, I'll open it in FileMaker and do a clean up on the
fields, then import that file to the destination database.

What specific limitations are you finding? That might help us with
suggestions.

Best,
-Jahn

jahn <jahnbigbooty (AT) yahoo (DOT) com> wrote:

thanks for responding...
the most importaznt is to choose the separator (comma or semicolon)
--
Philippe Manet
en fait, c'est manet avant @

"Philippe Manet" <yapu (AT) invivo (DOT) edu> wrote

CSV = Comma Separated Values, so there can't be a semicolon as a separator.

The other usual separator is a Tab character.

If you have some strange text file using a different separator, then you
need to basically use Find-Replace in a text editor or something like Grep
to swap them to the correct character ... or import the whole line into one
field and use a FileMaker Script / Calculation fields to re-separate the
values.

Helpful Harry )

Your Name <your.name (AT) isp (DOT) com> wrote:

yes, i know...
but in french, comma is the decimal separator
usually, our so nammed csv files are in fact semicolon separated files.

most applications (excel, neo office, 4D, etc...) let you choose the
separator, but FMP don't.

I know that I can replace with a text editor, that I can import in one
only field of FMP and write a parsing script, etc... above all, I hope
that FMP will make his import interface better.

But I already succeed in using xml import and export, using semicolon
separator. But I can't retrieve it...

where are simple "how to's" for xml import/export with FMP ? Help files
of FMP Inc are not.
--
Philippe Manet
en fait, c'est manet avant @

"Philippe Manet" <yapu (AT) invivo (DOT) edu> wrote

If there's a comma in the actual text, that is usually handled by using
speech / quote marks around the data value.
e.g.
"Field one, text", "field 2, text"


Helpful Harry )