Converting FileMaker Pro file references (data sources)
A file reference (known as a data source in FileMaker Pro 10) stores the paths that FileMaker Pro searches to access an external FileMaker file. File references are present but not visible in pre-7.0 versions of FileMaker Pro; however, in FileMaker Pro 7, 8.x, 9, and 10, you can view and edit them in the Define File References (FileMaker Pro 7 and 8.x) or Manage External Data Sources (FileMaker Pro 9 and 10) dialog box.
The following are two file reference conversion issues that may occur:
  •
After conversion of a multi-file solution, the files open very slowly. Data sources may be pointing to external locations. You can try increasing the speed with which files open by resetting data sources to local paths. Also look for data sources that contain asterisks (*) in the path, indicating that the data source is searching your network for the file. Replace the asterisk with the IP address or domain name of the computer on which the remote file resides.
  •
After conversion, the Manage External Data Sources dialog box contains multiple versions of the same FileMaker data source. You can manually consolidate the data sources. To do this most efficiently, create a new data source and then edit relationships, scripts, value lists, and any other items that may refer to that file in order to use the new data source. Then delete all of the data sources that are identical to it.
Note  If you have FileMaker Pro Advanced, you can rename a set of database files and automatically update references to related files or scripts. See Setting up files for developer solutions (FileMaker Pro Advanced).
Related topics 
Accessing external data sources
Was this topic helpful? Send feedback.