Creating file paths

Contents > Creating a database > Creating file paths

Creating file paths

In FileMaker Pro, you can specify file paths to an external FileMaker data source.

Note A FileMaker "data source" was called a "file reference" in pre-9.0 versions of FileMaker.

Each named FileMaker data source can consist of one or more file paths. Use multiple file paths when you want FileMaker Pro to search a list of potential files.

For information on adding a FileMaker data source and specifying file paths, see Connecting to data sources.

FileMaker Pro supports the following file path formats:

Type of path Description Format

Relative

The path to a target file specified from the current database's location. If the current database is opened remotely, the path starts from the local FileMaker Pro directory

file:directoryName/fileName

filemac:directoryName/

filewin:../fileName

Full local or remote (Mac OS)

The absolute path to a target file or folder, either local or on a remote volume, beginning at the top level of the file system

filemac:/volumeName/directoryName/fileName

filemac:/volumeName/directoryName/

Full local (Windows)

The absolute path to a target file or folder in Windows, beginning at the top level of the file system

filewin:/driveletter:/directoryName/fileName

filewin:/driveletter:/directoryName/

Full remote (Windows)

The absolute path to a target file or folder on a Windows volume shared using Windows file sharing

filewin://computerName/shareName/directoryName/fileName

filewin://computerName/shareName/directoryName/

FileMaker Network

The network path to a shared FileMaker Pro file

fmnet:/hostIPaddress/fileName

Examples of single file paths

Type of path Example

Relative

file:MyDocuments/test.xls

Full local (Mac OS)

filemac:/MacintoshHD/Users/JohnSmith/Documents/test.xls

Full local (Windows XP)

filewin:/C:/Documents and Settings/j_doe/My Documents/test.xls

Full local (Windows Vista)

filewin:/C:/Users/j_doe/Documents/test.xls

Full remote (Windows)

filewin://SalesComputer/SharedVolume/ExcelFiles/test.xls

FileMaker Network

fmnet:/192.168.10.10/database.fp7

Examples of multiple file paths

Use multiple file paths when you want FileMaker Pro to search a list of potential files. File paths are searched in the order in which they appear. FileMaker Pro opens the first file it is able to successfully locate, which completes the search. Each file path must be on a separate line.

Example 1: In this example, a FileMaker Pro database must work on two different operating systems: a Windows system that accesses local Windows files, and a Mac OS system that accesses local Mac OS files. On both platforms, the database must access a local file named test.xls.


   filewin:/C:/ExcelFiles/Hosted/test.xls


   filemac:/MacintoshHD/ExcelFiles/Hosted/test.xls

Example 2: In this example for a scripted record import, a FileMaker Pro database should access a file that is hosted. However, because the host may not be available, you also reference two alternate files, one hosted by a different server, the other stored locally on your hard drive. If the first network file is unavailable, FileMaker Pro will search for the second network file. If the second network file is also unavailable, FileMaker Pro will search for the local file.


   fmnet:/192.168.10.10/Databases/test.fp7
   fmnet:/192.168.100.120/Databases/test.fp7
   file:..Databases/test.fp7

Variables

You can use variables in file paths. Variables let you specify file or folder paths dynamically for many scripts, for example, the Export Records script step. See Using variables.

Use the Set Variable script step to create local and global variables.

You can also use the Let function to specify variables in calculations. The scope of local and global variables is limited to the current file.

Examples of using variables in file paths

Assume the following variables:


$fileName = "test.xls"
$username = "JohnSmith"
$targetDir = "Documents/Clients"
$chosenType = "filewin"
$$source = "file:Documents/2009/demo files"
$driveLetter = "G:"
$searchList = "file:old results.txt
               file:../archived/old results.txt"

To Path list entry Resolved path list

Specify a filename only

file:testing/$fileName

file:testing/test.xls

Specify one or more directories in a path

file:$username/$fileName

file:JohnSmith/test.xls

Specify absolute paths or relative paths, with various path type prefixes

filewin:/$driveLetter/$targetDir/contacts.txt filemac:../$targetDir/contacts

filewin:/G:/Documents/Clients/contacts.txt filemac:../Documents/Clients/contacts

Specify a path type prefix dynamically or as part of a longer path

$chosenType:/$driveLetter/$targetDir $$source/$fileName

filewin:/G:/Documents/Clients file:Documents/2009/demo files/test.xls

Specify one or more complete paths

$searchList

file:old results.txt file:../archived/old results.txt

Specify a directory (not a file)

file:$targetDir/ $$source/ file:$targetDir/$username/

file:Documents/Clients/ file:Documents/2009/demo files/ file:Documents/Clients/JohnSmith/

Notes

File paths can be edited as text.

To create a generic, cross-platform file path, begin the file path with the word file.

To create platform-specific file paths, begin the file path with either filemac or filewin. FileMaker Pro only searches the platform-specific file path that corresponds to the operating system on which the FileMaker Pro application is running.

To access a file located on a shared Windows volume, use the network path format. This format is only compatible with shared Windows volumes. It is not compatible with shared Mac OS volumes or FileMaker Network sharing.

FileMaker does not recommend using an asterisk (*) as a wild card character in network file paths as it slows FileMaker network traffic. When possible, replace an asterisk with the appropriate IP address or use variables in file paths. If you have converted a database from a previous version of FileMaker Pro, review the converted data sources and replace any asterisks with known IP addresses or network file paths.

Variables are only supported in script steps that use stored file paths.

Variables are not supported in file paths that are stored in container fields.

Variables are not supported in FileMaker data sources. For more information on data sources, see Editing external FileMaker data sources.

Use the following characters as separators in a file path list: "/", ":", or carriage return.

Contents > Creating a database > Creating file paths