Importing bulk images into base?

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#1

I have folders with png images sorted only by image name, i.e., cola.png.
I have a Filemaker and Excel file of the image names with descriptions. Filemaker Pro will cost me too much to upgrade to a current version and v12 is now crashing on the Mac. What I would like to do is import all the images in the folders (either 1 folder at a time or multiple) into LO base. However I cannot find a way to import images at all in bulk. It would be too laborious to do this manually.
FWIW, I can’t even import Filemaker db’s cause LOB just goes into an endless beachball of death stall. I don’t see an import option anywhere and opening the file from the dialog causes a stall.

Any help appreciated. And if LOB can’t do it, just let me know. I’ll have to try something else.

Auto import large files of pictures into Base
#2

You have one answer, which is good if you don’t have a need to actually have the data in a single file.
If you do then you can do this with Base, but you need to use a script (written in Basic or Python or …) to automate the task. So if that is what you need to do drop a return comment.

#4

I would like to know the script to automatically add a link to a picture when the record number in the database matches the picture name.
I have 6,000 photos.

#5

I would suggest to open a new topic,
but use the following as a starting point, if you like:
https://forum.openoffice.org/en/forum/viewtopic.php?p=505471#p505471

#6
  1. To get started easily, put your database document with embedded HSQL in the same directory as the pics.
  2. Create a text file with the file names:
ls -1 *.png > pics.txt
  1. Create a HSQL text table and link it to the text file:
CREATE TEXT TABLE "pics" ("N" VARCHAR(10));
SET TABLE "pics" SOURCE "pics.txt"

Now you can easily map the picture names to some ID number in your database table:

SELECT "Data".*, "pics"."N" 
FROM "Data","pics" 
WHERE "pics"."N"= CAST("Data"."ID" AS VARCHAR(10)) || '.png'

You may also use an editable form for the data table with a subform linking to the corresponding file:

SELECT "N" 
FROM "pics" 
WHERE "pics"."N"= CAST( :paramID AS VARCHAR(10)) || '.png'
#7

Thank you so much, since I am not a coding person, I will try to follow these steps, not sure if I can.
TW

#8

How exactly do you try to import a Filemaker DB? I have never done this nor could I say if it is possible or not. At least you’d need an ODBC or JDBC driver for the [strike]Firebird[/strike] Filemaker database, then connect a Base document to the old database using that driver. If you would get that far, nothing else needs to be done. You could simply work with your old database through Base with some additional queries, forms and reports. With an adequate database driver there is no need to transfer any data from one database to another.

From the Excel file it would be very easy to import all the data into some other database.
No, Base is NOT a database. Base is a tool to work with databases.

Which type of database do you need?
Do you need to access your database from a single PC, multiple computers on the local network or even through the world wide web?
Creation of any type of database is never a copy/paste operation. You have to be perfectly clear about the data types and their relations that need to be stored. Then you build up a matching structure of tables, columns and indices. Finally you import your existing data into that structure. This final step may be a copy/paste from a spreadsheet or linking tables to a bunch of csv files.
Without having the faintest idea about the structure of your old database, it is virtually impossible to give sound advice.
P.S. Did you mention your operating system anywhere?

#9

I usually assume Filemaker is used mostly on MacOS, and:

But as this thread was 4 years old I hope jefferis has solved the problem …

Btw:

why do you think a Firebase-connector can help with Filemaker-databases?

#10

Or some other database with F.

#3

Hello,

You have not stated what database you are attempting to use here. If it is the default HSQLDB embedded, then storing the actual images is not recommended. It is better to store a link to the file (see this post → How to insert a link to an odb database to display an image.

Now if you have the information in a Calc spreadsheet, you can copy & paste to either create a new table in Base or append to an existing table. For this see → how to convert a ods spreadsheet to and odb table.

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