About file transfers

For information about transferring files to or from a device, see Help.

Notes

  • Make sure to back up your files before you transfer them.

  • Before you replace an existing file on a device, make sure the file is closed or removed. Otherwise, the file may not transfer properly and may become damaged.

Transferring a file with container fields that store data externally

To transfer a file with container fields that store data externally, you must first embed the container field data. In FileMaker Pro, use the Save a Copy As command and choose self-contained copy (single file). Then transfer the copy, not the original file.

Importing to and from a transferred file

You can use the Import Records script step to merge data from a local FileMaker Pro file on an iOS or iPadOS device to another FileMaker Pro file.

Set up the field mapping and import order before you import. You can:

  • import from a remote source into a local or remote file

  • import from a local source into a local or remote file

Example 1: Importing from a remote source (Remote.fmp12) into a local file (Local.fmp12)

In this example, the Local.fmp12 file is on an iOS or iPadOS device and needs a script that imports data from a remote source (Remote.fmp12). You need to use FileMaker Pro to create the script in the local file, then transfer the file to FileMaker Go. You can then run the script in FileMaker Go to import the data from the remote file.

  1. Open Local.fmp12 and Remote.fmp12 in FileMaker Pro.

  2. Create a script in Local.fmp12. For example:

    Import Records [ With dialog: Off ; Table: Local ; "Remote.fmp12" ; Update ; Mac Roman ]

    and set up a path to the remote source file using your machine IP address. For example:

    fmnet:/192.168.10.10/Remote.fmp12

  3. Specify the import order.

  4. Close Local.fmp12.

  5. Transfer Local.fmp12 to FileMaker Go.

  6. Open Local.fmp12 in FileMaker Go, and run the script.

The local file is updated with data from the remote file.

Example 2: Importing from a local source (Local.fmp12) into a remote file (Remote.fmp12)

In this example, the remote file (Remote.fmp12) needs a script that imports data from a local file (Local.fmp12). You need to use FileMaker Pro to create the script in the remote file, then use FileMaker Go to open the hosted remote file on your iOS or iPadOS device and run the script to import the data from the local file.

  1. Transfer Local.fmp12 to FileMaker Go.

  2. Open Remote.fmp12 in FileMaker Pro.

  3. Use the Script Workspace to create a script in Remote.fmp12. For example:

    Set Variable [ $FilePath ; Value:Get(DocumentsPath) & "Local.fmp12" ]

    Import Records [ With dialog: Off ; Table: Local ; "$FilePath" ; Add ; Mac Roman ]

    where the path to the source file on the device is file:$FilePath

  4. Select Specify import order.

    If the source fields do not appear in the Specify Import Order dialog box, in the Script Workspace, select Specify data source for the Import Records script step. In the Specify File dialog box, for File Type, select FileMaker Pro files. Then add another path to Local.fmp12 to the path list. For example:

    file:$FilePath

    file:Local.fmp12

  5. In FileMaker Go, open the hosted Remote.fmp12 file.

  6. Run the script from Remote.fmp12 in FileMaker Go.

The remote file is updated with data from the local file.