Transferring container data

When you set up a container field to store data externally, any embedded data in the field is not automatically moved to the external directory. If you want embedded data to be stored externally, you must use the following steps to transfer the data. FileMaker Pro uses settings you choose in the Options for Field dialog box to move the data to the specified base directory.

You can also transfer data that’s stored externally into the container field, convert data with secure storage to open storage and vice versa, move data between base directories, and move files when the open storage calculation is changed. Files that are stored by reference and some embedded container data (such as text objects and layout objects) cannot be transferred.

You must have full access privileges to transfer data.

To transfer container data:

  1. If you changed storage options for a container field in the Options for Field dialog box, the Container Data Transfer dialog box appears after you exit the dialog box.

    Note  Or, in the Manage Containers dialog box, click Transfer Data. The Container Data Transfer dialog box appears, showing all the container fields that are available for transfer.

  2. To see information about a destination (including whether data is embedded or stored externally, and its base directory, storage type, and file path), click the field (not the checkbox) in the list.

    The information appears below the list.

  3. Fields are by default selected for data transfer. To exclude a field from data transfer, deselect the checkbox next to the field.
  4. Click Transfer.

    FileMaker Pro transfers the data from all selected fields to their destinations.

    To stop the transfer process, click Stop in the Container Data Transfer dialog box. Stopping the transfer doesn’t roll back the data already transferred. You can restart the process at any time by following the steps above.

  5. When the transfer is completed, the Transfer Summary dialog box appears, showing you the status, number of files transferred, and number of files skipped. Click OK.
  6. To see a log of the transfer, click Open Log File.

    For information about reading this file, see the next section.

Reading the Transfer.log file

The Transfer.log file displays information about container data that failed to transfer.

The most recent data is added to any existing Transfer.log file information, so you may need to scroll to the end of the file to see the results of the latest data transfer session.

From left to right the columns show the date, time, and time zone in which the transfer took place, the filename or error number, and a description of the transfer event.

Notes 

  • For files hosted by FileMaker Cloud, you can’t:
    • convert data with secure storage to open storage
    • transfer data with secure storage into the container field