Claris Pro and FileMaker Pro formats

You can import from and export to files in Claris Pro format (.claris) with Claris Pro and in FileMaker Pro 12 format (.fmp12) with FileMaker Pro.

Importing from a Claris Pro or FileMaker Pro file

  • When you import data from another Claris Pro or FileMaker Pro file, you can import data from one table in the source file into one table in the target file.

  • If the source file contains multiple tables, you can only import data from a single table at a time. During the import process, choose which table in the file that you want to import. Repeat the import process for each table that you want to import.

  • To import related data, import data directly from the related table.

  • To import only a portion of the records in a file, open the file and perform a find so that the found set in the current window contains only the records you want to import. (See Finding records.) Claris Pro or FileMaker Pro determines the found set to import from the foreground window in the file. If you import records from a closed file or an open file that is not displaying any windows, all the records are imported, regardless of any found set.

  • Claris Pro: To import a FileMaker Pro file, convert the file to the Claris Pro format first. See Converting FileMaker Pro files to Claris Pro files (Claris Pro only).

  • FileMaker Pro: To import a FileMaker Pro file created with a previous version, convert the file to the current format first. See Converting files from FileMaker Pro 11 and earlier (FileMaker Pro only).

Exporting to a Claris Pro or FileMaker Pro file

  • When you export data to a Claris Pro or FileMaker Pro file, a new file is created containing the data you export.

  • You can export records from a single table at a time.

  • If there are tables related to the source table that you’re exporting, you can also export fields from those related tables. However, the data you export creates only a single table in the exported file.

  • To export only a portion of the records from the source file, perform a find first. Only the records in the found set will be exported. See Finding records.

  • Claris Pro and FileMaker Pro export field names and field types to the exported file.

  • Merge, Claris Pro, and FileMaker Pro formats include field names. However, the application into which the data will be imported must support the format you choose. Some applications will strip out the field names when importing the exported data.

  • The exported file contains a single Standard form layout.

  • Any global fields that you export are no longer global fields in the exported file. Instead, each exported global field becomes a non-global field that repeats the global field value in each exported record. If you wish, you can change the field to a global field in the exported file.

Note  To create a new file that contains the data, layouts, scripts, and other elements of the source file, you may want to copy the file instead of exporting data. Then you can open the copied file and make any changes you want to make, such as removing certain data. See Saving and copying files.

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