FileMaker Pro 4.1 Mac User's Guide

Understanding file formats
Importing and exporting data 8-3
Every application uses a file format, the organization of information
within a file. The following table describes the file formats that
FileMaker Pro supports. For more information about the formats, see
FileMaker Pro Help.
Format Use to
FileMaker Pro Import data from a FileMaker Pro 2.0, 2.1, 3.0 or 4.0 file,
or export to another FileMaker Pro 3.0 or 4.0 file. (If you
import a FileMaker Pro 2.0 or 2.1 file, the file is first
converted to FileMaker Pro 4.0 format, then the data is
imported. See the FileMaker Pro Installation and New
Features Guide for more information.)
Tab-Separated Text Exchange data with most applications. If you aren’t sure
which format to use, try Tab-Separated Text.
Comma-Separated Text Exchange data with BASIC programs and charting
applications. This format is also called
Comma-Separated Values (CSV).
SYLK Exchange data with many spreadsheet applications
DIF Exchange data with spreadsheet programs, like VisiCalc
WKS Exchange data with Lotus 1-2-3
BASIC Exchange data with Microsoft BASIC programs
Merge Create personalized documents like form letters. For
example, in MacWrite Pro you can combine variable data
(like names and addresses) in a Merge file with text in a
main document. The FileMaker Pro Merge file is
equivalent to a MacWrite Pro Merge data file.
HTML Table Save data as an HTML table for use on a Web page
Edition File Publish an Edition file, which users can subscribe to from
any application that supports the Edition Manager.
Whenever you export the file, subscribers are
automatically updated.
ClarisWorks 2.0/3.0/4.0 Import data from ClarisWorks 2.0 through 4.0
database files
DBF Exchange data with dBASE III and dBASE IV
Excel Import data from Microsoft Excel 4.0 through 5.0
Keep these points in mind:
1 If you’re exchanging data with another application, check the
documentation to determine the file formats it supports.