I need to use ExecutiveSQL to grab a value from an External Data Source, to use in a script. The value is the path from where I want to grab a file to use in a File. I have never used SQL. I did google but it did not make sense to me. [image]

Let me start by saying that my answer to the original post (OP) was to specify that ExecuteSQL () is dependent on the relationship graph. I said that because the OP stated "I need to use ExecutiveSQL to grab a value from an External Data Source". For this to work, the external data source must be re…

[image] TKnTexas: grab a value from an External Data Source, to use in a script. I'd like to list a few common ways that one might use to grab a value from an External Data Source's table, along with brief descriptions of the additional code required to support each method mentioned. 1) Exp…

Agreed, the tables themselves need to be in the RG, but not the "relationships" between them for ExecuteSQL() to work as with Regular FileMaker data operations.

Per @steve_ssh 's comment to me, I removed the "untrue" comment I added above. Sorry for any confusion.

Thanks for all of the SQL lessons. I am still confused. I want to use the paths specified in MA_Pref within the scripts of 22 other files on the FMS Server I put the MA_Pref on the RG, without a relationship it would not populate in the script. Using a CONSTANT in both MA_Pref and Frost_Upload, …

It sounds as though MA_Prefs is only one record, used to store preferences. If that is true, then you may use an "X" relationship to between "Data" and "MA_Pref", using a field on either side that will never be empty, such as a primary key. Having done that, you don't need ESQL, you simply set the…

The basic SQL statement looks like this: SELECT a FROM b WHERE c, where a is a list of field names, b is a table name and c is a condition. The list of field names is comma-separated. Each field name can be fully qualified or not. A fully qualified field name in SQL takes the form of tableName.fiel…

Good post, @bdbd ! I would just add that if you (the "OP") use a third-party SQL tool (like "DataGrip") it can connect to any JDBC-enabled database (including FileMaker). Such a powerful SQL tool can also help you with queries where you see all the options-as you type them. It also has "AI" built in…

Thanks, I have never created an "X" relationship. Connect a field from each table and designate it "X". That seems to work for me. The file I am testing a fairly limited on, just one table. In other files that have more tables, I need to create the "X" relationship to each table that gets an IMP…

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OliverBarrett April 20, 2026, 3:17pm 12

I would recommend ChatGPT, never Google (well, for privacy, never Google for anything). You'll get, with ChatGPT (or other), IMHO, MUCH MUCH better responses.

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