Data Import - Part VI

BEFORE IMPORTING:

1. DECIDE WHICH OF THE OLD FILES YOU’RE GOING TO USE; sometimes there are a number of datasets and you need to decide which one is better to start with: the one with the MOST records, with CLEAN records or with both of these files.
2. CREATE A DUMMY TEST COPY OF THE TARGET FILE
3. Follow instructions in the word file “How To Merge FileMaker Files.docx” (See: [i]).
4. Start by IMPORTing ONLY A SAMPLING OF THE DATA – SAY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED INSTEAD OF ALL THE 1000’S OF RECORDS.
5. Importing instructions:
1. Choose Find All Records, before starting the Export.
2. Export the Data File as a FileMaker Pro Files (*.fmp12) file Format.
3. If the FileMaker file is still from the old version (V4, 5 or 6), first export to XML code.  Then import it into FileMaker 12.
4. In the left hand side of the resulting Dialogue Box, choose:

                                                              i.      “Current Table” if you want to export all the Data relating to a certain Table - or

                                                            ii.      “Current Layout” if you want to export only the Data relating to a certain Layout and

                                                          iii.      If you chose “Current Layout” (i.e. “Certificate menu”), it would not import Data in all other Fields that appear on other Layouts.  On the other hand, it might cause some problems, as we experienced when we tried to import the data that was exported from the “Main Menu” File.

                                                           iv.      Click Move All in the right hand side of the Dialogue Box.  Click the Export Button.

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[i] S:\SHAREDK\CERTIFICATION\New_System\IN_HOUSE_ADMIN\FileMaker v12\Amalgamating_Files_Project\How To Merge FileMaker Files.docx