OK, I will take a look at that over the weekend. I actually need to
also import the full images into the database, but having a second
container field in the database with the reference shouldn't be a big
space waster! I think that is essentially what I am doing now with
the File Path that I get from importing folders full of images. Now
all I have to do is figure out how to have a single script pull the
reference into one container and then import the image into a 2nd
container with the user only having to select the file once. Not sure
I saw a way to programatically select the file to import, but will
explore.
My goal here is to have the database information survive accidental
deletion or moving of files on the server. The images I am saving are
"proof" images of the transmission through fiber image guides in 3
stages. 1. when sent to a vendor for packaging, 2. upon return from
packaging vendor, 3. finished product sent to customer. I've created
3 tables in a single database to hold the various images. We put them
on the file server in folders separated by year and in each year are
To Vendor, From Vendor, Finished Scope folders. An image of an image
guide will appear in all 3 folders (not necessarily in the same year)
with the same file name, which is the image guide serial number. When
I import an image into the database, I want the year and "to, from,
finished" info to be automatically recored with the saved image; based
on it's location in the folder structure. I've written the database
such that one Layout is used to import an image and another is used to
display "triplet" images for quick comparison and confirmation that
all was well at each step of the build process.
When I import whole folders of images, all works well and the job is
done. That takes care of the past. Now I want a simple scripted
system, so the QC people can import the images right after they take
them. This means a few at a time, not whole folders full of images.
By the way, both Windows PCs and Macs will be adding images to the
database and viewing the database. With the folder import, this all
seems to be cross platform with no glitches. I will need to confirm
that the "save reference only" method is cross platform as well.
Since I only need the reference to parse information directory
structure from, it will probably work even if the image doesn't
actually display correctly due to cross platform path differences.
-Landy
On Sep 18, 2009, at 5:54 PM, Steve B. Gerow wrote:
Landy,
You can get the info you need from a container with the following
exercise:
Insert a picture into a container field ("MyContainer") with "as
reference" checked.
Create a calc field, "MyMetadata" with expression: GetAsText
( MyContainer ).
In this calc field you'll see the path, along with other metadata.
Will send you a sample file with does this on the Windows side, but
the Mac won't be too different.
--
Steve Gerow
FileMaker 9/8/7 Certified Developer
President
Abrazos Data Consulting, Inc.
Pasadena, California
Member FileMaker Bus. Alliance
-------Original Message-------
From: Landy Atkinson <[email protected]>
Subject: Importing single photos into FMP10 database of images
Sent: Sep 18 '09 10:32
I have used the Import File script step to import whole folders of
images and a very important side benefit is that you also get the
File
Name, File Path and Image Thumbnail. Knowing the image path, lets me
parse the path to get other useful information based on the directory
structure (such as the year and topic the imported file came from)
that I put in the database along with the image. This is very useful
in searching the database for the images I want. {NOTE: This only
work because as the images are saved from the camera to the server, I
am careful about creating a YEAR folder with TOPIC folders inside.}
If I want to import a single image into the database, I have found no
such nice solution. The Import Picture script step lets me select
the
desired image and gets it into the container field, but does not let
me know the FILE NAME or the PATH from whence it came. Any ideas how
to set up a script to import single images and also keep track of the
filename and where it came from? Getting a thumbnail may be nice for
a list view of images, but is not all that important to me.
-Landy
