About container fields
Use container fields to store any file:
•photos, movies, sounds
•documents, including Microsoft Word and Excel files, PDF files, and so on
You can reference container fields in calculation formulas or summary fields.
Data in container fields is by default
embedded. You can, instead:
When you save a FileMaker Pro file as a self-contained copy, container data that is stored as a file reference, as well as externally stored data, is embedded in container fields in the copy. See
Saving and copying files.
You can use the
GetContainerAttribute function to track how the contents of a container field are stored and how much storage space it uses. This function also returns metadata about a container field’s contents, such as the height and width of images, photo orientation, cover art of audio contents, bar code type, and signature timestamps.
You can make a container field
interactive to optimize the field for content such as audio, video, or PDF files. See
Specifying formats for container fields.
Notes
•You can't find or sort records based on a container field, but you can define a text field to describe or identify the contents of the container. Then, you can find or sort records based on the information in the text field.
•To put a static graphic (like a logo) on a layout, create, paste, or import the graphic directly onto the layout, or use a
global container field. Either option will use less storage space than storing the same graphic with every record.
•FileMaker Pro saves externally stored container data in the same folder in which the database file is located. When externally stored container data is hosted on FileMaker Server, the data can be located on a different volume from the databases, including on a remote volume. See
Managing external storage of container data and
FileMaker Server Help.
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