ODBC and JDBC Guide

Chapter 2
Accessing external SQL data sources
As an ODBC client application, FileMaker software can access data in external SQL data sources.
FileMaker software connects to the external SQL data source using the client driver for the ODBC data
source, and either imports ODBC data or works with ODBC tables in the relationships graph.
Whether you are importing ODBC data or working with ODBC tables in the relationships graph, you must
configure a driver for the ODBC data source you’re using. For example, to access records from an Oracle
database, you configure an Oracle client driver.
Importing ODBC data
When you import ODBC data, you need an ODBC client driver for the external SQL data source configured
on the client machine.
After configuring an ODBC client driver, you can interact with records, import records into an existing
FileMaker Pro database file, or create a new FileMaker Pro database file from an ODBC data source (such
as Oracle or Microsoft Access databases).
First, you access the data source you want to import from. Then you construct a query for the records you
want to import from the data source. Finally, if you’re importing data into an existing file, you map fields
from your data source to fields in your FileMaker Pro database file.
You can access your ODBC data source through the File menu, with the Import Records script step, or with
the Execute SQL script step.
To import ODBC data, follow this general process:
1 Install and configure specific ODBC drivers for the external data sources you want to access.
1 On the computer that hosts the current FileMaker Pro file, define a system Data Source Name (DSN) for
each ODBC data source you want to access.
1 Determine any additional considerations for the ODBC data sources you want to access (for example,
whether users are prompted for a user name and password).
Driver
Manager
FileMaker
Pro
Client
Driver
SQL Data
Source