Saving and sending records as a snapshot link

You can save a found set of records, called a snapshot link, to capture a found set as it was when you performed the find request. The found set is saved in FileMaker Pro Snapshot Link format (FMPSL) with the filename extension .fmpsl. You can also email an FMPSL file to another person.

The snapshot link includes the current found set of record IDs—including the layout, view, sort order, mode, and toolbar visibility.

1. Find the records that you want to save as a snapshot link. See Making a find request.

2. In Browse mode, Layout mode, or Preview mode, choose File menu > Save/Send Records As > Snapshot Link.

3. In the Save Records As Snapshot Link dialog box, accept the default filename (the name of the active window with the .fmpsl filename extension), or enter a different name.

4. For Save, choose Records being browsed to save the entire found set of records. Or choose Current record to save only the current record (in this case, the found set is not stored, but the current record and all other states, such as the layout, view, and sort order, are stored).

•A snapshot link does not preserve record data, and opening a snapshot link will not return record data to the state it was in when the snapshot link was created. To preserve record data, you can export records (see Exporting data from FileMaker Pro) or save a copy of the file (see Saving and copying files).

•A snapshot link does not include the find request that was used for finding the records. To see records that are based on current information from the database, you must re‑create the find request.

•If any records (including the current record) in the snapshot link were deleted after the file was created, only the available records are displayed.

•If a layout for a snapshot link no longer exists in the database, or the layout is associated with another table, then no records are displayed.

•Make sure that everyone who will use the snapshot link has the proper access privileges for the layout and records.

•If any actions are set to be performed on the database when it is opened, such as switching to a layout, running a script, or responding to a script trigger, those actions are done before the snapshot link is opened.

•Snapshot links are not supported in runtime solutions created with FileMaker Pro Advanced.