FileMaker Pro Advanced and many application programs that you want to exchange data with use a proprietary file format. In order to exchange data, you must export the data from one application in a format that the other application can import. If you’re exchanging data with another application program, check the documentation that came with that program to determine a common intermediary file format that both FileMaker Pro Advanced and the other program supports.
Most file formats support data conversion only and do not import or export formatting such as font, size, style, and color. Some of the formats export or convert field names and field types.
Supported | Filename | Import/convert | Notes |
.csv or .txt | Both |
| |
.dbf | Both | •Format retains field names. | |
.fmp12 | Both | •Format retains field names. | |
.htm | Export only | •Exports data as an HTML table for use as a static webpage. | |
.mer | Both | •Format retains field names. | |
.xlsx | Both |
| |
.tab or .txt | Both | •Works with most applications. If you aren't sure which format to use, try this one first. | |
.xml | Both | •In addition to XML files, you can import the XML data result of an HTTP request. |
You can also do the following:
•Import image files or text files from a folder all at once. See Importing a folder of files all at once.
•Import from ODBC data sources and use FileMaker Pro Advanced as ODBC data source to serve FileMaker Pro Advanced data. See Querying an ODBC data source from FileMaker Pro Advanced and Sharing FileMaker Pro Advanced data via ODBC or JDBC.
•Set up recurring imports so FileMaker Pro Advanced updates data automatically the first time you view imported data in a file or lets you use a script to update data on demand. Data imported via recurring import is read-only in FileMaker Pro Advanced. See Setting up recurring imports.