Reference > Script steps reference > Fields script steps > Insert File
 
Insert File
Purpose 
Imports a file or file reference into the current container field or into a variable; configures the Insert File dialog box.
See also 
Format 
Insert File [<dialog options>; <table::field or variable>; "<filename>"]
Options 
Dialog options allows you to create a custom Insert File dialog box, filter file types, and choose storage, display, and compression options. See Insert File Options dialog box.
Target specifies the container field or variable to insert the file into. If the variable doesn’t exist, this script step creates it (see Using variables).
Specify source file specifies the file to be inserted. For information on creating file paths in FileMaker Pro, see Creating file paths.
Compatibility 
 
Where the script step runs 
Supported 
FileMaker Pro 
Yes 
FileMaker Server 
No 
FileMaker Go 
Partial 
Custom Web Publishing 
No 
FileMaker WebDirect 
Partial 
Runtime solution 
Yes 
Originated in 
FileMaker Pro 6.0 or earlier
Description 
You must specify a target variable, specify a target container field on the current layout, click in a container field, or use the Go to Field script step before performing this script step. If Target is not specified, the data is placed in the active container field. Otherwise, this script step returns an error code that can be captured with the Get(LastError) function. If you do not specify a file to insert, FileMaker Pro displays a dialog box where the user can select a file.
Notes 
FileMaker WebDirect does not support the Dialog options or Specify source file options.
FileMaker Go uses the following options in the Insert File Options dialog box with this script step: for Storage options, it uses Insert; and for Display, it uses Content of file (when possible).
Example 1 
Goes to the File field and inserts a document using the relative path file:Documents/Instruction Manual.doc.
Go to Field [Products::File]
Insert File ["Instruction Manual.doc"]
Example 2 
Opens a dialog box with custom file format filters for the user to select a file, attempts to compress the selected file, then inserts the file into the active container field.
Insert File [Filters; Insert; Compress when possible]
Example 3 
Inserts the file specified in the File Name field into the File container field, and attempts to display the contents of the file.
Set Variable [$FILE_PATH; Value: Get ( DocumentsPath ) & Products::File Name]
Insert File [Insert; Display content; Never compress; Products::File ; $FILE_PATH]
Related topics 
Script steps reference (alphabetical list)
Script steps reference (category list)