Hello

I want my FileMaker system to regularly export contact and invoice
information to MYOB Accounting Plus. The "Import Data" function in
MYOB seems quirky. The import dialogue look superficially like
FileMaker's - two lists of fields, the source file and target file. In
FileMaker we have the advantage of being able to fix an import order
in a script. We can also pair up source and target fields based on
"matching names". There seem to be only two options in MYOB:
a) Manually set import order each time you import - not a realistic
option
b) Click the "Match All" button. This will pair up all the data in the
source field with the fields in MYOB using the order of the fields in
the import file. If I go for this option I'm going to have to include
about 60 fields in my export from FileMaker. Most of them will be
blank, padding fields to ensure that the data fields will match up
with their partners. If, in a later version of MYOB they add an extra
field to the contacts file, the import order will be destroyed.

Is there a simpler approach?

Thanks in advance
Kevin Smith

Hi There

I went through exactly the same problem about 6 years ago. I remember
spending a whole day making a file and scripts but it has worked
nicely ever since.

You are right MYOB does change fields but rarely and they do tell you.

It was ages ago I made a solution where staff input invoices which get
periodically imported to MYOB. Also they had a different file for
daily money and bankings etc. The accounting was done elsewhere and I
found it easier to have unskilled staff use a simple FM file than have
entre to my main MYOB files.

I put in lots of extra fields as you said but that was not the main
problem. Myob expects blanks between each record and if you use
accrual accounting you have to have 2 records almost duplicate and
then 2 blanks. This is not too diffiucult to achieve with scripting
but I remember it was a bit of a pain.

All I can say is that is has worked and it is still working 5 years
after.

David



On May 30, 9:29 pm, KevinSmith <pleasedonotusethisaddr... (AT) gmail (DOT) com>
wrote:

On Jun 6, 11:19 am, pharmavinc-d... (AT) yahoo (DOT) com.au wrote:
[snip]
Hi David

Thanks for the encouragement and reassurance.

I went ahead with this approach a few days ago. Then on Wednesday I
proudly went to the client to demo. All my FileMaker scripts worked as
expected but data came through all jumbled on MYOB. It turns out that
I had not checked thoroughly which version he was using. It turns out
he's using MYOB Accounting and not MYOB Accounting Plus. How I want to
strangle myself!

So I'll revise the export to match his system and I look forward to
getting it right.

On the issue of carriage returns, I was relieved to find a solution
that did not require the use of any software to manipulate the output
file before importing into MYOB. In order the get the additional
carriage return that separates invoices, I generated a blank record
between each invoice. The blank record is recognised as a spacer
between invoices.

I've come across another irritation. Once an invoice is imported it
can not be revised by a subsequent import of the same invoice. I would
like to be able to transfer the payment status of invoices after they
have already been exported from FileMaker. That way, invoices can be
imported immediately and the amount paid can be entered into FileMaker
once the client posts the cheque.

Many thanks
Kevin