JSON Design Pattern: Delete FileMaker fields and keep the data in the table скачать в хорошем качестве

JSON Design Pattern: Delete FileMaker fields and keep the data in the table

FileMaker Opinion Page – By Matt Navarre ⸻ The Challenge :: Tables Cluttered with Old fields Every FileMaker solution I’ve seen eventually accumulates “orphaned” fields—old booleans, legacy text fields, mystery columns you suspect aren’t used anymore. You want to clean up your schema without losing those values forever. Because, sometimes, some user somewhere was using that data, and it's very hard to determine that (since users don't know field names, or the layout is used once a year, etc) ⸻ The Solution :: Archive with a Single JSON Field Instead of keeping unused fields “just in case,” you move their contents into one flexible JSON blob before deleting them. That way you can: • Retire old fields safely • Recover any value later – with JSONGetElement( ) • Keep your schema lean, mean, fighting machine like (John Candy would) ⸻ How It Works 1. Add a JSON Field (This field will be used for lots of these videos) Create a text field (e.g. metadata_JSON) in your table. Disable indexing. 2. Build a Replace-Contents Script Use Replace Field Contents (Or a loop with Set Field) with JSONSetElement ( ) that writes to theJSON field (appending what's there, not overwriting it) 3. Verify the JSON & Delete those old fields. Feels soooo good. 4. Recover When Needed Whenever someone asks “what was in that old field?”, just pull it out with JSONGetElement( ) - on a layout, in a script, wherever. ⸻ Benefits of This Pattern • Flexibility – Add or remove archived fields without touching the schema • Clarity – Structured, self-documenting metadata under one roof • Maintainability – One script, one field, infinite future extensions ⸻ This simple JSON archive trick has transformed how I manage evolving FileMaker systems. Give it a try in your next cleanup—and say goodbye to “field fear” forever! (that's probably not a thing though. Is it?) 🔗 Learn more and see step-by-step screenshots on the blog: https://www.navarre.training But really, this video is better #FileMaker #JSON #DataCleanup #NavarreTraining