Importing Bento data (OS X)
FileMaker Pro can import Bento data into an existing FileMaker Pro file or convert Bento data into a new FileMaker Pro file. The Bento file must be created with Bento 4 (or a later supported version). Bento 4 (or a later supported version) must be installed on the computer running FileMaker Pro.
Note  You can import from Bento 1 by saving Bento data as a .csv file and then importing the .csv file into FileMaker Pro.
Before you begin importing Bento data, be sure that the bento.bentodb file is in its default location in your home folder: Library/Application Support/Bento.
To import Bento data into an existing FileMaker Pro file:
1.
Open the FileMaker Pro file that you want to import records into (the target file).
2.
If you’re updating existing or matching records, choose File menu > Save a Copy As to make a backup copy of the target file.
Important  Updating existing or matching records overwrites data in the target file and cannot be undone, so make sure you understand how updating records works before you begin. See Methods of importing data into an existing file.
3.
If the target file contains multiple tables, use the Layout pop-up menu to display a layout that shows fields from the table you want to import data into.
4.
If you’re adding new records, skip to the next step.
If you’re updating existing or matching records, do the following before you import:
 •
If you’re updating existing records in the file, make sure the found set contains only the records you want to replace.
 •
If you’re updating matching records, make sure the found set contains only the records you want to update. Records outside the found set will not be updated, even if match field data matches.
5.
Choose File menu > Import Records > Bento Data Source.
6.
Enter the Database Password in the Bento Password dialog box, if one was set in Bento. Click OK.
7.
In the Select Bento Source dialog box, select the library and collection that you want to import, then click Continue.
The Import Field Mapping dialog box appears.
8.
Choose the Target table and Import Action, then choose the fields in your database that map to the data being imported.
See Setting the import action and mapping fields during import.
Note  A Bento location field displays as two separate fields in the Source Fields list: [Fieldname](Longitude) and [Fieldname](Latitude).
9.
Click Import.
The Import Summary dialog box shows the progress of your import.
10.
Click OK.
To import Bento data into a new FileMaker Pro file:
1.
In the FileMaker Quick Start Screen, select Convert an Existing File, then choose Bento Data Source.
If you don’t see the FileMaker Quick Start Screen, choose Help menu > Quick Start Screen, and repeat step 1.
2.
Enter the Database Password in the Bento Password dialog box, if one was set in Bento. Click OK.
3.
In the Select Bento Source dialog box, select the library and collection that you want to import, then click Continue.
The Create a New File Named dialog box appears.
4.
Type a name for the new file, choose a location, then click Save.
The Import Summary dialog box shows the progress of your import.
Bento and FileMaker Pro field type mapping
The following table lists how Bento field types map to FileMaker Pro field types.
Note  Data might appear differently after you import because of the differences in field mapping between Bento and FileMaker Pro and issues related to numerical precision.
 
Bento Field Type
FileMaker Pro Field Type
Notes
Date
Timestamp
Dates also display a time. Data is reformatted into FileMaker Pro format.
Time
Time
Data is reformatted into FileMaker Pro format
Checkbox
Number
See “Displaying Bento checkbox fields in FileMaker Pro,” below
Currency
Number
Automatic Counter
Number
Number
Number
Duration
Number
Rating
Number
Text
Text
Choice
Text
Date Created
Timestamp
Date Modified
Timestamp
Calculation
Text, Number, Time, or Timestamp
Address
Text
Multiple fields are created
Email Address
Text
Multiple fields are created
Phone Number
Text
Multiple fields are created
URL
Text
Multiple fields are created
IM Account
Text
Multiple fields are created
Encrypted (Bento 3 or a later supported version)
Text
If the Bento database requires a password, FileMaker Pro also requires it
Location (Bento 4 or a later supported version)
Number
Location fields are imported as two separate Number fields: [Fieldname](Longitude) and [Fieldname](Latitude)
Simple List (Bento 3 or a later supported version)
Text
Tab characters are inserted between each column. Carriage return characters are inserted between each row.
Although simple list fields in Bento 4 support types other than text, FileMaker Pro imports the data as text.
The following user-created field types in Bento are not supported in FileMaker Pro:
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Media
 •
File List
 •
Related Data
 •
Message List
Displaying Bento checkbox fields in FileMaker Pro
After importing, Bento checkbox fields do not display in FileMaker Pro in the same manner as they did in Bento. To achieve a similar result in Form View and List View, do the following:
1.
For a number field that you mapped to a checkbox field, define a value list with the single value of 1.
See Defining value lists.
2.
In Layout mode, select the number field.
3.
Click Inspector Inspector button in the layout bar, then click Data.
4.
In the Field area, under Control Style, choose Checkbox set.
5.
Choose the value list you defined in step 1 from the Values from list.
6.
Resize the number field so that only the checkbox is visible.
7.
Save the layout.
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