Checkbox data import-export

[pacaron]

Ok try this:
Build a simple db, add a couple of checkboxes.
Check both boxes and export the record to a .tab fle...

Delete the record..
Import the record you just exported...
Check boxes are blank..
Export the db again... Ah, the values are still there, but just not checked in the checkboxes.

What's going on here?
Have had this prob. for some time.. seemed to get around it int he past.. Can't anymore... Help!
FMPro 7
Mac 10.4.9

 

[JeanW]

If you don't have v3, update first.

 

[pacaron]

done... thanks Jean we're at v3

What's next... (still doesn't work)
All ears here!

 

[JeanW]

Next ? Euh.....nothing.

I tried to reproduced your problem, but...I don't have 7 anymore and I'm on Win NT....
In FM 4, 6 and 8.5 no problem with the ex- and import of checkbox records.

I'm afraid some of the Mac members has to jump in here...

 

[pacaron]

OK I BROKE DOWN AND DOWLOADED 8.5..
Still doesn't work (grrr)
Ron

 

[JeanW]

Although it can be a Mac only problem, do this first, just to be sure:

On the layout where your checkbox is, put the same field, but this time not formatted as checkbox.
No values checked in the box formatted field.
Is the not formatted field empty ?

Do your ex/delete/import.
Same values in both the fields ?

I tried to reproduce your problem on an existing file and on a new file, still no luck. Export / import is no problem...

 

[pacaron]

Well. I brought up a FMP template (Music Lib).
Checked checkboxes, exported, delete record, import.

The checkbox is checked ! YEA!

It works (probably in 7 too) but I need to determine under what conditions it works/doesn't work. I'm doing something odd for sure i the db I craeted.
I'll check it out later this am. Gotta take a nap, running on about 3 hrs sleep.
Hey, thanks Jean for you input, it does help.
I'll let you (and everybody else) know what I find out.
Oh, well I needed 8.5 anyway...
Stay well,
Ron

 

[JeanW]

Is your as checkbox formatted field a plain text/number field with a valuelist attached to it, or is it a ¶ separated calculated result ?

 

[pacaron]

It's just a plain field with a value list attached.
Ron

 

[pacaron]

Ok I figured it out:

The task:
What I'm doing is creating a spreadsheet with data and I want to import that data into a FileMaker Pro db.
Normally this is a piece of pie ;-) except I'm putting values into a set of checkboxes, i.e. I'm checking checkboxes via values in a spreadsheet.

The Problem:
Filemaker Pro when it exports checkbox values it places a Manual Line Break (MLB) (you get it by using Shift-Return (or ^| in MS Word) This is not really a problem or a bug in FMPRO.

The Work-Around:
Normally this wouldn't be a problem except I'm importing Checkbox values from a spreadsheet.. So I have to put the MLB after each Checkbox value.
To do that. this is what you do...
Where the MLB would go, insert an odd character such as the } right bracket in your spreadsheet in a sep column.
I know of no way to insert a MLB into an excel spreadsheet without actually hitting the keys (Shift-Return).
Save the spreadsheet as a tab sep values file. Bring it up in MS word and replace all ^t}^t with ^|. (That tab}tab)
Save the file and read it into Filemaker Pro.
Now I just downloaded 8.5 ($179). But probably done this using Ver 7v3.

This 'situation' is present regardless what platform your on, Mac or PC.
To see this in action... Export the db and bring it up in Word and display the paragraph symbol... Viola they appear!
Word displays them as a hard return but shows the MLB symbol.

 

[JeanW]

So after all it's not a really FileMaker problem....

But a lot of information was not in your first post.

>>Check both boxes and export the record to a .tab fle...
>>Delete the record..
>>Import the record you just exported...
>>Check boxes are blank..
>>Export the db again... Ah, the values are still there, >>but just not checked in the checkboxes.

Nowhere a trace from Excel or Word between export and import.
Just export as tab.file and import that fiel again.

If you would have mention the Excel and/or Word part, we would have give you the answer right away.
It's a well known behavior.....

 

[pacaron]

Not so fast....
It is quite impossible to insert MLB using Word... As Saved Word document displays and saves them as a full return.
Ok let's put MLB (using Shift-Return) into the actual spreadsheet.
Tried that too.. it doesn't seem to work either.

I give... will enter by hand... another late night