Can't Merge with FP7 files

[harrybolles]

When I try to use the Data Merge function with Filemaker Pro (using
WORD 2004 for the Mac) all Filemaker files with an ".fp7" extension
(Pro 7 and 8) are dimmed. Since I USE Filemaker Pro 8, I am concerned.

Is there a solution?

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Harry -

Based soley on "hearsay", FM apparently changed their file format
*radically* with v.7 which created the incompatibility. Allegedly, they have
been secretive with the new code, preventing MS from being able to adjust
accordingly.

The only work-around I've seen is to output the data in a compatible format
to use for the merge. You might contact FM support & see what they have to
say - it would be interesting to hear their response.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Based soley on "hearsay", FM apparently changed their file format
*radically* with v.7 which created the incompatibility.

That's absolutely true - FMP went to a different file structure in FMP7
that allows multiple relational tables within a single file, where FMP6
and earlier required a separate file for each table.

Allegedly, they have been secretive with the new code, preventing MS
from being able to adjust accordingly.

I hadn't heard of them being secretive. It's certainly true that this
hasn't been resolved yet.

The only work-around I've seen is to output the data in a compatible format
to use for the merge. You might contact FM support & see what they have to
say - it would be interesting to hear their response.

FWIW, FMP will directly export and import XL files, and is very
Applescriptable, so it's possible to write ASs that control both FMP and
XL to do data merges.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi Harry,

A company called Actual Technologies has released an ODBC driver that
lets you read FileMaker Pro v7 and v8 data into Mac Office.
http://www.actualtechnologies.com/compatibles.php

You will need to import the data into Excel first, then use Word's data
merge manager to merge from Excel.

Word's ODBC stuff seems to be broken in Word 2004. Hopefully now that
there are drivers available again Microsoft will fix this problem.

-Jim

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi Harry,

Getting your data into Word from Filemaker is going to be a 2 stage
operation.

First you need to get the data into Excel. You can do this by saving
the data in Excel format from FileMaker or use ODBC from Excel with
Actual Technologies driver:
http://www.actualtechnologies.com/product_access.php

Then use Data Merge Manager from Word's TOOLS menu.

I'm hoping now that there are ODBC drivers available that the next
version of Word restores the broken ODBC functionality that's lurking in
Word's inner depths.

-Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

 

[adwords]

A company called Actual Technologies has released an ODBC driver that

lets you read FileMaker Pro v7 and v8 data into Mac Office.

Not quite. Our drivers let you use FileMaker (and Excel) as a front
end to some other database, such as MS Access, MySQL or Oracle.
FileMaker, Inc offers their own free ODBC driver for letting you use
Excel as a front end to a FMP database.

Although the FMP driver is not our product, here are some instructions
for setting it up that we give to folks who ask us about it:

1. Within FMP 8, enable ODBC sharing by selecting the menu FileMaker
Pro -> Sharing->ODBC/JDBC... and then:
a. Select ODBC/JDBC Sharing: On
b. Select the FMP database from "Currently open files" and select "All
Users" from "ODBC/JDBC access to file" and press OK

2. Download the FileMaker 7 ODBC/JDBC update (Mac) from the FileMaker
website:

http://www.filemaker.com/odbc

3. Follow the instructions in the included document "FM ODBC Client
Read Me (English).pdf". To summarize, you'll copy the SeqeLink.bundle
file to the following folder: /Library/ODBC

Then you'll use the ODBC Administrator to add the driver. You'll need
to manually enter the path to the driver, since the ODBC Administrator
won't allow you to browse inside a bundle. Specify "FileMaker" for the
driver name, and the following path for the Driver file name:

/Library/ODBC/SequeLink.bundle/Contents/MacOS/ivslk18.dylib

You'll need to manually enter the DSN parameter values, since the
driver doesn't include a DSN setup assistant:
Host (IP address of the server - if the FMP database is on the same
Mac as your application, enter localhost)
Port 2399
ServerDataSource (name of FMP database without the extension - i.e.
inventory)
LoginID (optional)
Password (optional)

4. In order to use the driver from Excel, you'll need to install the
iODBC frameworks. If you have ever installed the Actual Technologies
drivers, then you already have the iODBC frameworks installed, too.

You should now be able to connect to your FMP database from MS Excel /
MS Query.

Jonathan Monroe
Actual Technologies - ODBC for OS X
http://www.actualtechnologies.com