Hi folks,
I have a question. In addition to GRASS I use Filemaker Pro 7.0 for my general database. Someone mentioned to me that I could use databases created in Filemaker with GRASS using the DBMS functions. I'm not sure I described this right. Essentially, is there a way to use Filemaker with GRASS with out finding a way to convert the file to a ProgreSQL or MySQL file?
Thanks for any help.
Kurt D. Springs
Theoretically (I haven't done this mind you), you can start your file maker
database, define it as an ODBC data source, and use ODBC within GRASS to
access your tables. If you are successful with this, could you let me know
as I use filemaker and might want to do this sometime. In my case, I'm on a
Mac, but do have windows machines in my lab in case ODBC works better this
way.
Michael
On 11/15/04 9:16 AM, "Kurt Springs" <ferret_bard@mac.com> wrote:
Hi folks,
I have a question. In addition to GRASS I use Filemaker Pro 7.0 for my
general database. Someone mentioned to me that I could use databases
created in Filemaker with GRASS using the DBMS functions. I'm not sure
I described this right. Essentially, is there a way to use Filemaker
with GRASS with out finding a way to convert the file to a ProgreSQL or
MySQL file?Thanks for any help.
Kurt D. Springs
______________________________
Michael Barton, Professor of Anthropology
School of Human, Evolution and Social Change
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-2402
USA
voice: 480-965-6262; fax: 480-965-7671
www: http://www.public.asu.edu/~cmbarton
I am going to attempt to use FileMaker Pro 7.0 tomorrow. Will it be better to use 5.4 or 5.7? Also, does 5.4 suffer from the same problem as earlier versions did when you tried to create a new Project in Graphical mode? (I.e. the tcltkgrass interface fails.) Should I create the new project in text mode, or will it be safe to do it in graphical mode.
Wish me luck. I will keep everyone posted.
Kurt D. Springs, M.Litt
University at Buffalo
Social Systems GIS Laboratory
Kurt,
I would strongly recommend 5.7 over 5.4 to do this. Built-in ODBC driver so
you don't have to set it up manually.
I think the problem with the tcltk startup failing in the creation of a new
location has been solved. Good luck.
Michael Barton
On 11/19/04 10:27 PM, "Kurt Springs" <ferret_bard@mac.com> wrote:
I am going to attempt to use FileMaker Pro 7.0 tomorrow. Will it be
better to use 5.4 or 5.7? Also, does 5.4 suffer from the same problem
as earlier versions did when you tried to create a new Project in
Graphical mode? (I.e. the tcltkgrass interface fails.) Should I create
the new project in text mode, or will it be safe to do it in graphical mode.Wish me luck. I will keep everyone posted.
Kurt D. Springs, M.Litt
University at Buffalo
Social Systems GIS Laboratory
____________________
C. Michael Barton, Professor of Anthropology
School of Human Evolution and Social Change
PO Box 872402
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-2402
USA
Phone: 480-965-6262
Fax: 480-965-7671
www: <www.public.asu.edu/~cmbarton>
Thanks Nick,
Unfortunately, I will have to wait until version two comes out to use it with Filemaker Pro 7 
. I have another program that can translate FM7. I just need access to a Windows machine with Active Perl to run the scripts to make the final translation . Maybe someone can writ a GRASS module that translates directly from .fp7 to the GRASS database 
.
I hope to have a report I yesterday's battle on the list tonight.
Kurt
Nick Cahill wrote:
Just saw an announcement of this: Filemaker to SQL Sync (http://www.garrison.com.au/products/fmsql_synch.html). It would be pathetic to have to pay $130 for something to synchronize your filemaker database with much higher powered, open-source software; but if you can't get FM to work with GRASS and want to do basic data entry etc. in FM, I wonder if it would be worth checking this out?
Good luck - again, I'm surprised nobody has done this before.
Nick Cahill
Kurt and Nick,
Having GRASS read Filemaker databases (directly or indirectly via sync with
MySQL or something else) is one possible way to do this, although it is a
solution that doesn't exist currently. However, I think ODBC would be a more
straightforward way. I know that Filemaker can be set up as an ODBC source
on Windows and I think it can also be set up as an ODBC source on a Mac now.
When your database is operating as an ODBC source, as I understand it, you
simply set your database driver in GRASS 5.7 to ODBC. Then you can connect
to your database and do things like attach attributes to vectors
(v.db.connect) or create vector points using xy coordinates in your database
(v.in.db).
Michael
On 11/21/04 2:54 PM, "Kurt Springs" <ferret_bard@mac.com> wrote:
Thanks Nick,
Unfortunately, I will have to wait until version two comes out to use it
with Filemaker Pro 7
FM7. I just need access to a Windows machine with Active Perl to run
the scripts to make the final translation
writ a GRASS module that translates directly from .fp7 to the GRASS
databaseI hope to have a report I yesterday's battle on the list tonight.
Kurt
Nick Cahill wrote:Just saw an announcement of this: Filemaker to SQL Sync
(http://www.garrison.com.au/products/fmsql_synch.html). It would be
pathetic to have to pay $130 for something to synchronize your
filemaker database with much higher powered, open-source software; but
if you can't get FM to work with GRASS and want to do basic data entry
etc. in FM, I wonder if it would be worth checking this out?Good luck - again, I'm surprised nobody has done this before.
Nick Cahill
____________________
C. Michael Barton, Professor of Anthropology
School of Human Evolution and Social Change
PO Box 872402
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-2402
USA
Phone: 480-965-6262
Fax: 480-965-7671
www: <www.public.asu.edu/~cmbarton>