Methods of importing data into an existing fileThese options are available in the Import Action area of the Import Field Mapping dialog box when you’re importing data into an existing file. Each of these options is described in detail below.Important The import options that update existing records and update matching records both overwrite existing data during the import process and cannot be undone. To safeguard your data, choose File menu > Save a Copy As to make a backup of the FileMaker Pro file before you perform an import that updates records.When you add records, the import process creates a new record in the target file for each importable record in the source file.When you add records from most source file formats, the import process adds all the records from the source file. If the source file is a FileMaker Pro file, you can add only the records in the found set and skip adding the omitted records. See FileMaker Pro format.Records in the target file are replaced with the same number of records from the source file. If there are more importable records in the source file, data from the extra records in the source file will not be imported unless you also choose Add remaining data as new records. If there are more records in the target file, data in the extra records in the target file will not be replaced.You determine which records in the source file update which records in the target file by choosing one or more match fields in each file. If data in the match field(s) of a record in the target file matches data in the match field(s) of a record in the source file, the record in the target file will be updated with data from the source file.When the target file contains a found set, only the found records are updated. (If the source file is another FileMaker Pro file, you can also import only from a found set. See FileMaker Pro format.)
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• Match fields in the target file cannot be container, summary, or unstored calculation fields. The field type of match fields should correspond to the type of data in the matching field. For example, number fields should not be matched to fields containing text.