Using the Replace Command in FileMaker

Occasionally you need to replace the contents of the same field in a group of records with new data. Here is how it is done using FileMaker's powerful 'Replace' function. Please use this very carefully. Be sure you know what you are doing before using it. As they say in the Spiderman movies, 'With Great Power comes Great Responsibility'.

Find the Records you want to make changes to.

In this example we are searching for all records with Issue = Winter and Year = 2010.

Once you have the Found Set isolated that you want to make the change to, edit the first record to the new value you desire. In this case, we are changing 2010 to 2009.

From the Records Menu select 'Replace Field Contents...'

While you are still clicked into the field, from the Records menu, select "Replace Field Contents..."

Replace Field Contents dialog box is displayed

Note that there are other options available,

1) the first option is a simple change to the value you entered in the previous step
2) you can also set the value in a batch of records to incremental serial numbers.
3) you can do a calculated replace, selecting the contents of another field, or creating some kind of complex mathematical calculation.

Processing...

Depending on the number or records you are operating on, you may see this dialog box displayed for some time. When it is completed, your records should be updated.

Records Updated

Now all the records in the found set are updated to '2009'.

The Replace Field Contents is a very powerful command. Remember there is no undo available to this command.