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Set Use System Formats

 

Purpose 

Sets the formats either to those stored with the file or to the current system formats.

See also 

Opening files with different system formats

Creating scripts to automate tasks

Format 

Set Use System Formats [On/Off]

Options 

•	On instructs FileMaker Pro to use the current system formats.

•	Off instructs FileMaker Pro to use the formats saved with the file.

Compatibility 

 

Where the script step runs	Supported
FileMaker Pro	Yes
FileMaker Server scheduled script	No
FileMaker Go	Yes
Custom Web Publishing	No
FileMaker WebDirect	No
Runtime solution	Yes

Originated in 

FileMaker Pro 6.0 or earlier

Description 

Each FileMaker Pro database file stores the date, time, and number formatting of the computer on which the database was created. These regional settings may be different from the system formats currently set on your computer.

When you use the current system formats, you don't change the formats saved with the file – you simply enter and view data in a format that's familiar to you. For example, if a database was created in Australia, where dates are usually written day-month-year, and you open it in the United States, where dates are usually written month-day-year, FileMaker Pro alerts you that the system formats are different.

A startup script that uses the Set Use System Formats script step can be used to control how FileMaker Pro handles date, time, and number formats for a file that has system formats that are different from the current system formats.

Example 1 

Checks the system language before using system formats. Started by the OnFirstWindowOpen script trigger.

If [Get ( SystemLanguage ) = “Japanese”]
Set Use System Formats [On]
End If

Related topics 

Script steps reference (alphabetical list)

Script steps reference (category list)