Transferring Files

Important: When you transfer a file to your iOS device, you are creating a copy of the remote file. When you make data changes to the local file, the remote file is not updated. You must use FileMaker Pro to import and update data. To import to and from a transferred file, see FileMaker Go Development Guide.

Routine backups are strongly recommended for any document stored on a computer or iOS device. For information about backing up FileMaker Pro files, see FileMaker Pro Help.

There are several ways to transfer a file:

transfer files to another iOS app on the same device (see the steps below). You can use this method to transfer a file between different versions of FileMaker Go.
transfer files to an app on another device using AirDrop (see the steps below). Both devices need to support AirDrop.
connect the iOS device to iTunes with a USB cable and transfer files to or from the device (see the steps below). You can use this method to transfer files between different versions of FileMaker Go.
send a FileMaker Pro file via email to your device's Mail app. Then, on the device, tap the file and select Open in FileMaker Go.
share a FileMaker Pro file on a web page, then connect to the file with your device's Safari app. Select the file to transfer it to FileMaker Go.

Important:

Close a file before transferring it. The file doesn't have to be shared and FileMaker Pro doesn't have to be running.
If you set a passcode for the device (which enables data protection), you can't copy files to or from FileMaker Go via iTunes until you enter the passcode to unlock the device. For information about data protection, see the FileMaker Knowledge Base.

Transfer files to other iOS apps on the same device

If you are working in a file, tap , then tap Launch Center .
Tap Device , then tap .
Tap the file to transfer, then tap .
Tap the app to transfer the file to, then follow the onscreen instructions.
After the file is transferred, tap Done.

Transfer files to apps on other devices using AirDrop

If you are working in a file, tap , then tap Launch Center .
Tap Device , then tap .
Tap one or more files to transfer, then tap .
Select the device to transfer the files to, then follow the onscreen instructions.
After the file is transferred, tap Done.

Transfer files to your iOS device using iTunes

Connect your device to your computer. If the device is locked, enter the passcode.
In iTunes, select your device, then click Apps.
In the File Sharing section, select FileMaker Go from the Apps list.
If you have multiple versions of FileMaker Go installed, select the appropriate version.
Do one of the following:
- Click Add, select the files to transfer to your device, then click Add again.
- Drag the files from your computer to the documents list in the File Sharing section.
Files with the extension .fmp12 and .fmpur are not compatible with FileMaker Go 11 and earlier. Files with the extension .fp7 and .usr are compatible with FileMaker Go 11 and earlier.

The FileMaker Pro files are copied to your device.

Transfer files from your iOS device to your computer using iTunes

Connect your device to your computer. If the device is locked, enter the passcode.
In iTunes, select your device, then click Apps.
In the File Sharing section, select FileMaker Go from the Apps list.

If you have multiple versions of FileMaker Go installed, select the appropriate version.

In the documents list, select the files to transfer, then do one of the following:
- Click “Save to,” select the destination where you want to copy the files, then click Save To.
- Drag the files to your computer.
Files with the extension .fmp12 and .fmpur are not compatible with FileMaker Go 11 and earlier. Files with the extension .fp7 and .usr are compatible with FileMaker Go 11 and earlier.

The FileMaker Pro files are copied from your device to your computer.

Notes

Wait for any lengthy file operations to complete before closing a transferred file on your device. For example, if you tap the Home button when a progress dialog is being displayed, you may corrupt the file, which could make it difficult to open the file when you transfer it back to the desktop.
To open and remove local files, see Working with Files.
To transfer a file with container fields that store data externally to your device, you must first embed the container field data. To do this, in FileMaker Pro, use the Save a Copy As command and choose "self-contained copy (single file)." Then transfer the copy.
Secure (encrypted) container field data is no longer encrypted after it has been embedded.