FM.UpdateRecords
----------------

Updates existing records in a table in one line.

| Component | Version | macOS | Windows | Linux | Server | iOS SDK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [FM](component_FM.md) [FMSQL](component_FMSQL.md) | [6.0](newinversion60.md) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |

MBS( "FM.UpdateRecords"; FileName; TableName; IDField; IDValue; FieldName...; FieldValue... ) 

**MBS**( **"FM.UpdateRecords";** /\* Updates existing records in a table in one line. \*/  
**$FileName**; /\* The file name of where the table is inside. Can be empty to look for the table in all files.e.g. Get(FileName) \*/   
**$TableName**; /\* The name of the table to insert record into.  
Can be ID of table, so we lookup name by ID.   
Can be result of GetFieldName() function as we remove field name automatically.e.g. "Assets" \*/   
**$IDField**; /\* The name of the field which provides an unique ID for each record, so we can identify the field.  
Can be ID of field, so we lookup name by ID.   
Can be result of GetFieldName() function as we remove table name automatically.e.g. "ID" \*/   
**$IDValue**; /\* The value for the ID field to identify the record.  
Data type of parameter must match the data type of the field.e.g. $RecordID \*/   
**$FieldName...**; /\* A field name to set.  
Can be ID of field, so we lookup name by ID.   
Can be result of GetFieldName() function as we remove table name automatically.e.g. "Model" \*/   
**$FieldValue...**) /\* A field value to use for setting the field in the parameter before.  
Data type of parameter must match the data type of the field.e.g. "Test" \*/ 

### Parameters

| Parameter | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| FileName | The file name of where the table is inside. Can be empty to look for the table in all files. | Get(FileName) |
| TableName | The name of the table to insert record into.   Can be ID of table, so we lookup name by ID.    Can be result of GetFieldName() function as we remove field name automatically. | "Assets" |
| IDField | The name of the field which provides an unique ID for each record, so we can identify the field.   Can be ID of field, so we lookup name by ID.    Can be result of GetFieldName() function as we remove table name automatically. | "ID" |
| IDValue | The value for the ID field to identify the record.   Data type of parameter must match the data type of the field. | $RecordID |
| FieldName... | A field name to set.   Can be ID of field, so we lookup name by ID.    Can be result of GetFieldName() function as we remove table name automatically. | "Model" |
| FieldValue... | A field value to use for setting the field in the parameter before.   Data type of parameter must match the data type of the field. | "Test" |

### Result

Returns OK or error.

### Description

Updates existing records in a table in one line.  
You pass to this function table name (and optional filename).  
To identify the record you pass the name of the ID field and the value for the record. The ID field must not be unique, so several records can be updated at once.  
Then you pass one pair of field name and value for each field you like to set in the new record.  
  
Please note that [FM.UpdateRecord](FMUpdateRecord.md) and FM.UpdateRecords are nearly identical. Just [FM.UpdateRecord](FMUpdateRecord.md) provides the check to make sure only one record matches while FM.UpdateRecords allows several records to be updated. So with FM.UpdateRecords you can easily erase a lot of data if you pass wrong ID!  
  
With plugin version 7.2 or later, you can specify fields and table via IDs and the plugin will lookup them for you at runtime. Table IDs and table names must be unique across all open files for this to work correctly.  
  
With plugin version 8.4 or newer, you can use GetFieldName() function to query field names and the plugin removes the table prefix with :: in the field name before passing it to SQL engine.  
  
You can use [FM.ExecuteSQL.LastSQL](FMExecuteSQLLastSQL.md) function to see later what SQL was created and run.  
  
Please consider using newer [JSON.UpdateRecord](JSONUpdateRecord.md) and [JSON.UpdateRecords](JSONUpdateRecords.md) functions as they take a variable number of primary keys.  
  
This function takes variable number of parameters. Pass as much parameters as needed separated by the semicolon in FileMaker.  
Please repeat FieldName and FieldValue parameters as often as you need.  
### Examples

Update a few records:

 MBS ( "[FM.UpdateRecord](FMUpdateRecord.md)";   
""; "Asset Management"; /\* file and table name \*/  
"Category"; "Houses"; /\* ID field and value \*/  
"Information"; "Just a test"; /\* first field and value \*/  
"Comment"; "Testing" ) /\* second field and value \*/  
### See also

- [FM.DeleteRecords](FMDeleteRecords.md)
- [FM.ExecuteSQL](FMExecuteSQL.md)
- [FM.ExecuteSQL.LastSQL](FMExecuteSQLLastSQL.md)
- [FM.UpdateRecord](FMUpdateRecord.md)
- [FM.UpdateRecord4](FMUpdateRecord4.md)
- [FM.UpdateRecord5](FMUpdateRecord5.md)
- [FM.UpdateRecords3](FMUpdateRecords3.md)
- [FM.UpdateRecords4](FMUpdateRecords4.md)
- [JSON.UpdateRecord](JSONUpdateRecord.md)
- [JSON.UpdateRecords](JSONUpdateRecords.md)

### Release notes

- **Version 14.5**
    - Added [FM.UpdateRecord4](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/FMUpdateRecord4.shtml), [FM.UpdateRecord5](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/FMUpdateRecord5.shtml), [FM.UpdateRecords4](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/FMUpdateRecords4.shtml) and [FM.UpdateRecords5](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/FMUpdateRecords5.shtml) functions.
- **Version 8.5**
    - Changed [FM.UpdateRecords](http://www.mbsplugins.eu/FMUpdateRecords.shtml) and related to better return error if parameter count is too small.
- **Version 8.0**
    - Added [FM.UpdateRecord2](http://www.mbsplugins.eu/FMUpdateRecord2.shtml), [FM.UpdateRecord3](http://www.mbsplugins.eu/FMUpdateRecord3.shtml), [FM.UpdateRecords2](http://www.mbsplugins.eu/FMUpdateRecords2.shtml) and [FM.UpdateRecords3](http://www.mbsplugins.eu/FMUpdateRecords3.shtml).

### Blog Entries

- [MBS FileMaker Advent calendar - Door 18 - Update](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2025-12-18/MBS_FileMaker_Advent_calendar_/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [Insert or update with JSON](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2024-08-28/Insert_or_update_with_JSON/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 8.5pr2](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2018-10-12/MBS_FileMaker_Plugin_version_8/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 5.5pr3](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2015-12-19/MBS_FileMaker_Plugin_version_5/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)

### FileMaker Magazin

- [Ausgabe 3/2019, Seite 30](https://filemaker-magazin.de/neuigkeit/4046-Appetithappen-FMM_201903)
- [Ausgabe 6/2018, Seite 23](https://filemaker-magazin.de/neuigkeit/4025-Appetithappen-FMM_201806)

This function checks for a license.

Created 11st December 2015 , last changed 10th July 2025

  
[FM.UpdateRecord5](FMUpdateRecord5.md) - [FM.UpdateRecords2](FMUpdateRecords2.md)

[HTML Version](FMUpdateRecords.shtml)