Connect to xBase Data in Claris FileMaker Pro

Claris FileMaker is a low-code database application development tool that allows users to create custom apps for managing and organizing data. It combines a powerful relational database engine with an intuitive interface, enabling both technical and non-technical users to design and deploy applications across desktop, web, and mobile platforms.

In this article, we'll explore how to use the CData ODBC Driver for xBase in FileMaker to connect to xBase data.

Create an ODBC Data Source for xBase

If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

The DataSource property must be set to the name of the folder that contains the .dbf files. Specify the IncludeFiles property to work with xBase table files having extensions that differ from .dbf. Specify multiple extensions in a comma-separated list.

When you configure the DSN, you may also want to set the Max Rows connection property. This will limit the number of rows returned, which is especially helpful for improving performance when designing reports and visualizations.

Connect and sync xBase data with FileMaker using the CData ODBC Driver for xBase

Once you configure the CData ODBC Driver for xBase, you can connect to live xBase data in FileMaker and use it in your applications. In this section, we'll walk through the steps to connect live xBase data to FileMaker.

You can download and install the latest version of FileMaker Pro for your Mac/Windows/Linux systems here: https://www.claris.com/resources/downloads/.

Importing xBase data using FileMaker's ODBC Import Function

Follow the steps below to easily import xBase data using the ODBC import feature:

1. Open FileMaker Pro. Navigate to Create from the left panel and select Blank > Create.
👁 Create a new application in FileMaker

2. Enter a desired filename and click Save.
3. In the Manage Database window, go to the Tables tab and create or rename the table where you want to display xBase data.
👁 Create or edit a table.

4. In the Fields tab, add the required fields to the table.
👁 Create the fields for the table.

5. In the Relationships tab, define table relationships if your database has multiple tables, then click OK.
6. To reopen and modify the table structure later, go to File > Manage > Database.
7. To import xBase data via the CData ODBC Driver for xBase, navigate to File > Import Records > ODBC Data Source.
👁 Select ODBC Data Source from Import Records.

8. In the Select ODBC Data Source window, choose CData ODBC Driver for xBase and click Create. Enter your xBase username and password, then click OK.
👁 Select CData xBase Sys.
👁 Enter the xBase username and password.

9. In the SQL Query Builder window, select the desired table from the Tables section and choose the relevant columns from the Columns section. Click Insert into SQL Query after each selection to automatically generate a query that retrieves data from xBase. You can also manually edit the query using WHERE and ORDER BY clauses or use the tabs provided in the SQL Query Builder. Click Execute to run the query.
👁 Choose the columns to generate the SQL Query.

10. In the Specify Import Order window, define the import order for the target fields. Select Add between source and target to add new records to the target table from the selected fields. Click Import.
👁 Specify the import order.

You have now successfully imported xBase data into FileMaker Pro using the CData ODBC Driver for xBase. To perform incremental updates, change the import order to "Update" or use "Replace" based on your use case.

Process xBase data at design time

You can sort and aggregate data, as well as calculate summary functions while browsing tables. To manipulate the view of data at design time, complete the following steps:

• Switch to Preview Mode: Click the Preview at the top to check how the xBase data with look before you print it.
• Switch to Table View: Click the table icon in the View As menu in the main toolbar of the application.

Aggregate and summarize

Follow the steps below to group column values and display summaries, as shown in the screenshot:

• Sort: Click the arrow in the NumberOfEmployees column header and choose Sort Ascending from the menu.
• Group: In the same menu, click Add Trailing Group by Industry to group the values and insert a summary row. Alternatively, click Add Leading Group to add a summary row at the beginning.
• Summarize: Select a summary option from the Trailing Subtotals menu for a grouped column.

Create a bar chart

Use the following steps to create a simple bar chart showing the total NumberOfEmployees for each Industry:

1. Click the arrow in the NumberOfEmployees column header and select Chart by NumberOfEmployees.
   • If you've already grouped the table by a column (e.g., Industry), you can chart NumberOfEmployees by that column.
   👁 Create the chart from xBase data.
   
2. In the Chart Setup window:
   • Click the button next to the Data box to add the x-axis column.
   • Choose the appropriate column in the dialog that appears.
   • For the y-axis, select a summary option from the Summary menu.

Get Started Today

Download a free 30-day trial of the CData ODBC Driver for xBase to integrate xBase data into Claris FileMaker and work with xBase data in your FileMaker applications.

Reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.