Calculation Engine (Define Fields)

Hello. I have some calculations that involve a couple of summary fields, and therefore are not stored. The database has over 20,000 records and climbing, and by now these calculations take ages to happen, and FM is calculating them all the time - on opening and whenever I perform other functions or record groupings. I only need these calculations made at specific times, and when I do they only relate to a small fraction of the overall records. Is there a way where I can say "calculate now", and not have these huge calculations being done all the time when I don't need them?

Currently, I have a layout that's called Summary. It has a bunch of number fields, that get updated when a user presses the button to goto that layout. The script fills in the fields each time a user goes to the layout. For example, to get the first field, EX Total Accounts, it sets the field "EX Found Key" to "2", and then counts how many records are in the relationship, which is EX Relation Key,and sets EX Total Accounts. Next, it changes the "EX Found Key" to "1" and counts them again, and sets the next field, EX Accounts New. I want to be able to make EX Total Accounts a calculation field, however, I haven't figured out how to tell it to only count the mat…

How would i go about having a field automatically populate itself with a unique id # ONLY when 2 other fields actually contain data. Any way of doing this by a calculation or am i looking at writing scripts. Any help is much appreciated. ....Haps93

Hi All, I think FileMaker is a great software, especially for beginners like me. However, I sometimes cannot solve my problems by consulting FileMakers

Hi everybody, I'm not sure to be in the right place, but anyway I'll try to develop my problem. I've a "classic" DB with record for biological products. Each product, is stored in a box (field "box") and in a specific spot (field "spot") in this box (there is 81 spots in each box). What I would like to do is to be able to check the number of empty spot available for each box. Of course, I can do a layout with a list but I would like something where I can see for box "toto" there is 12 spots available, etc.. . I got my nose on it for days and I can't handle it ! So, help Thanx a lot

How do I get each repetition in a repeating calculation field to reference a specific repetition from another repeating field? The following just returns a blank field and it won't let me stick Extend in the GetRepetition part in any way: If(Extend(Number of Colors) = 1, GetRepetition(One Color Price, 5),0) This is pretty simplified from what I'm trying to do but I've isolated the problem as being the GetRepetition(One Color Price, 5) part. How do I need to change it so it works in a repeating calculation field?

Hi guys. How can I make a calculation that accesses a previous record by date? In my database, I make a new record once a month, to update the price of an item. I need to compare this price to what it was in December of the previous year. So for example, from Jan. 2003 thru Dec. 2003, I need to compare the price of an item that month to its price in Dec. 2002. Then from Jan 2004 to Dec. 2004, I need to compare it with its price in Dec. 2003, and so on. So how do I tell Filemaker to make a calculation based on the current value in a field, compared to its value from a specific previous record (the December record of last year)? Thanks! -Emery

I have a FM database created. I want to be able to (using an USB microphone) record an audio narrating a Quicktime clip. I can bring in my QT clip, but everytime I click the "record" button it shuts off the streaming QT movie. Any suggestions how I can use my mic to record a narration?

Hello The 10th digit in a VIN number reflects the year the car was manufactured. A 1980 B 1981 C 1982 D 1983 E 1984 F 1985 G 1986

Hello I have a text string serial number which has a word "model" imbedded in each serial number. I need to replace that (word) "model" within the string to a code from another field called "code". The problem is that the word "model" is sometimes in different places within the string. for example J98(model)564790D3 K098f(model)F4FED5 In the first example it is in the 4th digit that it starts and in the second example it is in the 6th digit where it starts BUT the field code sometimes contains 3 or 4 or 5 digits so if the field "code" in the first record is "DCVRT" Then the first record should become J98DCVRT564790D3 and if the field "c…

I'm trying to specify a calculation for a field (ExampleField) that contains data from a text field (MyTextField) but I want to replace any quote marks in MyTextField with the word " inches"... I would write it like this: ExampleField= Case(PatternCount(MyTextField, """)=1, " inches") But, of course, I get an error. Filemaker sees: Case(PatternCount(MyTextField, "" ")=1, " inches [a field] ") [expects a closing quote mark] I tried creating a global text field called QuoteMark containing a " and wrote the calculation as follows: ExampleField= Case(PatternCount(MyTextField, QuoteMark)=1, " inches") but that didn't work either. Anyone h…

using Mac OS 9 and Filemaker 4.1 i have a layout called "Inventory". in the inventory, i have a list of books. each book has a subject category. there are about 11 items to choose from in a drop down list. 2 subjects, "Stationary" and "Comic Book", have new items arriving weekly. the new arrivals i assign a new subject in the pull down list. ("new stationary" and "new Comics".) i would like to make a field that i can put a Stale Date in to trigger the subject to change. example: a comic is new and assigned the "New Comics" subject in pull down list. there would be a field called Stale_date_subject. in that field i put a date that is a week or 2 from e…

I am creating a database and I have global search functionality built into it. All is fine, but I have the global search field in the header of every layout. It is fine except on my list view layouts where I view as list. Then the access to the global field is wiped out. Any assistance greatly appreciated.

I want to add 10 at all field of one rubrique multievalu

I need to calculate the week of the month for a date. For the purposes of this post, weeks are Sunday thru Saturday. November 1 is a Saturday and would be in Week 1. Nov. 2 is Sunday and would be in Week 2. Nov 3 is Monday and would be in Week 2. Nov 30 is a Sunday and would be in Week 6. How do I calculate on the fly the Week of the month for any given date?

Hi all I have an easy question which I don't know how to solve ...I need a stored calculation for relationship and stored calculation get data from another relationship. Can it be done ? because sometime my look-up in portal does not work so i need an stored calculation. thanks All Anh Phu

Hi. Anybody know the easiest way to copy the data from a different field in a previous record? For example, say you have 2 fields: 1. Starting total 2. Ending total When I create a new record, I want the data in the previous record's "Ending total" to be copied into the new record's "Starting total" field. Thanks, -Emery

I need to determine the projected kindergarten school enrollment date based upon a student's date of birth. For example: If the student's date of birth falls between the dates 9-1-1997 and 8-31-1998 they will enroll in kindergarten in the school year 03/04. I have tried a calculation field with an "if "calculation but I cannot seem to get this to work. I have searched other posted sites for days and cannot find a simple solution. Please help!

I'm very new to dbases and what-not, but have had experience as a programmer and was hoping/wondering whether this would be possible...I am working on updating a mailing list database for a nonprofit and wanted to keep track of the donations individuals made. My hope was to have as a part of the main mailing list dbase a subdbase with fields like date donated, amount donated, etc. and let the user browsing through records be able to look through donation records as well. is something like this possible? how so? in programming speak, this would be a node in a list of some variety with one of its elements being a list as well.

With the formula If(Mod(Status(CurrentRecordNumber), 2) = "0", Color 01, Color 02) I can have alternating colors in an unsorted list view. How can I do this in a sorted list with subsummaries?)

I found an interesting post on an old FileMaker bbs regarding the efficiency of Case( ), If( ), and Choose( ) versus logical operators. An example was given, that is allegedly more efficient than any of the three, involving xor. To produce a text field displaying "1 Day", "2 Days", or "3 Days", etc., based on a field containing the number of days remaining for a project. The calculation was NumToText(Entry) & Left(" Days",(0 xor (Entry-1))+4) versus a statement such as NumToText(Entry) & " Day" & Case(Entry > 1, "s"). My question: does such usage of xor really provide a more efficient and quicker calculation than a Case( ), If( ), or Choose( ) would…

Hi guys, I understand how to format a number field. What my problem is when i then include it in a calc it seems to be dropping a lot of the formatting. An example follows field: LoanAmt number entry: 5200 formatted entry: 5,200.00 in my calc i have: If(Loan = "Yes", "This contract is subject to finance in the amount of $" & NumToText(LoanAmt) & " from " & LoanLender & " approval of which is due by " & DateToText (LoanAppDueDate), "") & If(SpecialConditions <> "", "" & SpecialConditions, "") My problem is when the number is a .00 it just puts in the number with no decimal or thousands separator. i.e 2.56 wo…

When a text field is populated with "AABGAANAAAAJAAAAAAA" And I run a count of occurences of "AA", the Patterncount returns 6, while I expected it to return 12. What I'm trying is use a script that will go to at the last position of a "AA", actually it's right part, then go down by one. So I expected the script to run as such (bolded is where I want the script to go) Step 1 : 1- AABGAANAAAAJAAAAAAA Step 2 : 1- AABGAANAAAAJAAAAAA A Step 3 : 1- AABGAANAAAAJAAAAAAA Step 4 : 1- AABGAANAAAAJAAAAAAA Step 5 : 1- AABGAANAAAAJAAAAAAA Step 6 : 1- AABGAANAAAAJAAAAAAA Step 7 : 1- AABGAANAAAAJAAAAAAA Step 8 : 1- AABGAANAAAAJAAAAAAA…

Hi all, I've got a 50,000+ products catalogue coming from more than 50 suppliers (manufacturers and wholesalers). I need to calculate my purchase price based on a text input, which is given by the Vendor to express the discounts (in%) from the list price. This discount varies : - from vendors to vendors, - from collection to collection - from reference to reference. It also can change according to the quantity purchased. Our best discounts might be expressed as : 50+10+10 and 50+10+10+5 if we happen to purchase a whole pallet for this vendor. When building the solution, I never thought this way of presenting discount would have lapsed…

I would like to enter text separated by a "return" characters in a script. If I put a return between quotes in a 'set field' script step it is just ignored. Is there a special character, keystroke combination or command to allow return characters to be entered by a calculation or script step?

i'm new at filemaker and computer programing, so any help would be appreciated. i'm in the medical field and want to keep a close attention to my patients' medication lists. i am creating a large (ie., more common) drug list of all my patients' medications; i am going to create it as a value list and field format it as a check box (so i can check off meds for each patient). that's the easy part. now, as most of you know, we take medications every so often (every 8, 12, 24 hours). so i as i check off a medication, i would like filemaker to ask, "how much", and "how often" for each medication. i would assume a computation would be the best solution (if, 'checke…

Hi I have a filed which has the current chronological age for children in years, months and days. I have another field that determines reading age from a score in a standardised test (I have done this using a relational database ..... score of 20 for example means a reading age of 8 years, 10 months etc) My question is ------> Is it possible to have a third field that shows the difference between the two other fields. So if a child has a chronological age of 8 years 10 months 3 days and a reading age of 6 years 2 months it would show -2 years 8 months (perhaps in red) or if they have a chronological age of 6 years 2 months 3 days and a reading age of 8 yea…

I'm having a difficult time of this. It seems like such a simple thing, but it actually isn't. Up until now, have needed only a couple of buttons to give users tips with. Since there is no tooltip functionality yet in FMP, this is my workaround. I've been using a button with a question mark on it in the past, but I'm really not happy with that anymore. I need to add some more buttons now with popup tips and this no longer is good enough. I know I've seen a "tips" type of button like this in some programs that didn't have text which is where the idea has come from, but can't remember what the icon looked like. I know that the icon image was very clear so that use…

I have a product layout that summarizes results of a found set based on a "ProductType" field. I would like that layout to also reflect for each product type the percentage of the total in that found set of sales. For example, with what I have now, I can search for any date range of sales and then get results like this: Food 45 $5300 Drinks 25 $2700 Cutlery 30 $1500 Then trailing grand summary part gives total items and total dollars. I'd like to display % of items and dollars for each product type, relative to the found set.

Hi all, it's the newbie again. I would like to count (and record) the total number of records in the file, so that I can use that number to do calculations with. Is this a calculation? A global field? A summary? Can anyone give me a pointer?

How does one convert a portal into a concatenated list?

Looking through the threads I've seen this asked in similar ways so forgive this question. I have a field where I want the user to enter the "year" only. Not "2/21/2003". I tried formating the fields to show only the year, but fm asks for the user to enter the complete date. I could set the field as a number or date field, but I'm afraid that might cause validation problems down the road when I'll have to sort on the field. Is there a message box that could be used to prompt the user? I'm very new to fm and would appreciate any guidence on this issue.

hi there, been a while. i have an field call edges. this field has a value list that lists edges 1 to 10. i want to pick and edge and then have the image of that edge come up into another field that is a container. i know that i can do it with a script but i have a problem asking it to do more than one edge. if (edge="edge 1") go to field(edge_image) load picture(edge-1.jpg) else go to field(edge_image) load picture(edge-default.jpg) end if ok that is going from memory. i know that works but i want to be able to to list all the edges in the script.. like edge-1 edge-2 and so on. any help. i haven't used fm in awhile so …

That is, I need help designing a calculation field to count records that match multiple field criteria Example of what I am trying to do: I have a summer camp registration database I have records that contain, among other things, the following data for each camper: Sex of the camper Session attending (July or August) Grade of the camper If I want to design a calculation field that gives me a count of (the 4th Grade)( boys) (who will be in camp in August), how can I do that? In other words I want to design a calculation field that will give me a count of the records that match these multiple (3) criteria Should I stop here? Or should…

It seems that checkboxes allow multiple checks. How do I limit them to just one check? Thanks

Since I've done some great things to make it easier for the user to edit the db so that a drop down value list doesn't keep popping up, this has actually turned around and set back the ease of initial input somewhat. But I'm not going to change that. What will fix this completely and will stop user from continuously having to hit the button to pull down the box is if a script can be assigned to a keystroke combination like Alt+C. Then I can underline the "C" in the field name ("Cateogory") and users like myself who use both mouse/keyboard interchangeably will know to press Alt+C to do this (I have the tab disabled for when user is editing; and in any case, that doe…

Hi all, I'm working on FMP 5.5 / OS X. I'd like to insert MP3 on a container field (through insert > Quicktime) but none of my MP3 are accessible (they're all in grey). It works fine on OS 9. Anyone has an idea ? Thanks.

I have a bunch of data that i'd love to be able to generate a line graph with. Optimum solution would make a jpg so i can put it on a web site, but if i can't do that, i do have the ability to export a container. Are there any such plug-ins? Thanks -ja

I'm working on a version of expense report from the FM6 template. I change it to behave monthly instead of weekly. For now I changed the week ending by month ending. So month ending - 30 days, - 21 days and so on. I would like to make the week start only on monday. Is it possible ?

I have 2 layouts with a set of fields created, overall, for both. But one extra field is pertinent to only one of them. I never had this problem before so don't know what has triggered it. Coding needs fixing somewhere, obviously. Error I get on 2nd layout for non-existent field is: "# on page" is defined to require a value, but it is not available on this layout. Use another layout to assign a value to this field." It is unnecessary to assign data to it, via another layout or not. Field has been set to not be empty, but that condition should only apply to the layout it belongs to. What am I looking for to fix this, pls? Thanks!

Calualation Field: Month(Today) & Day(Today) Result in a Number (11/7/2003 = 117) This Field in the same record should change every day, Tomorrow would be "118". This field keep the number on the day it was created and does not change from day to day. can someone help me.

Hey everybody. Can anybody help with a tricky situation here? I have a Date Field for Birth Date. Then I have 3 Calc Fields to determine a person's Age: one is Years, one is Months and the last one is Days. So far, so good. Now here's the tricky part. I want to make a Layout in List View that shows the people whose birthday it is today, those whose birthday is coming up, as well as those whose birthday has just passed, in case I didn't check my database for a couple of days. This way, running a Search Script will make it a cinch to keep track of people's birthdays. I want to make a Calc Field with two results, 1 (one) and 0 (zero). Result =1 (one) is for…

From only one layout, I want to force a field to be used IF another field is used. I have tried using "If" and "STATUS(CurrentLayoutName)" in the field validation by calculation. I can't find the right combination. Just a reminder message would work. Larry

Hi... every body I have many containers fields in my DB, and I will insert pictures and must insert like "Store only a reference to the file", but always we have to check the box, my question is, How can I know if some picture doesn't check the box when was inserted?... Or Could check the box automatically when I select "Insert Picture"? ...please sorry my english... Bye from Mexico Soriano JL

Hi, I have a feeling this is probably very easy, but I can't seem to make it happen. I'd like to create a field that inputs today's date when field "A" is modified. I'm not looking for a record modification date, just a field modification date. Any suggestions? Thanks! Tiger

Hi. I'm trying to duplicate an Excel calculation that looks like this: =RATE(23/12,0,-C12,Z12) It returns the interest rate per period of annuity. Couldn't find it in FMP, all the financial functions I saw calculated things based on a given interest rate. Anybody know if FMP can do this, or how I could create the function? Thanks. -Emery

Hello all, I am new to this and new to FM Products. In the coming time, I hope to learn to use FM, in due time I even hope to get nearly as good as some of yous are I hope that you people will tolerate me asking horrible newbie questions for the time being. What I would like to do, specifically, on this occasion: I would like to make a date field, in which only the month and the year are visible. Can anyone give me some pointers?

this is a logic problem. say i have 5 fields, some of which may be empty for a given record. i want a summary field to check all 5 and if any of those are positive, then give me a positive result in a new field. in addtion ot posting, cc-ing a response to [email protected] would be greatly appreciated. thanks justus (filemaker pro 5)

I have been given the task of setting up an employee database using Filemaker Pro. Unfortunately I know very little about FMP. Is it possible to limit a field's valid input to just alphabetic characters and, if so, how is this done?

hey there... i'm having problems getting my calc to work correctly. i have two fields in this issue. current month-a calc that returns as text the current month and year next month- a calc that uses the current month to figure out the next month and today's year, and returns this as text. the current month field works fine. here is the next month's calc: MonthName(Month(Today)+1) & " " & Year(Today) the problem i'm having is this: the next month field returns january. i thought it was cos i had misplaced the 1, bnut it returns january no matter what the number i add to the current month is. i tried subtracting months, still january. …

I have inherited the support of a FileMaker database. I need to move the database from a MAC to a PC. In the process of moving the database I have identified that pictures in the database are being inserted with "Store only a reference to the file" checked in a container field. Is there are way to view the actual reference to the file and can I replace the reference in a batch update to point at the new location?

Can someone tell me why this field definition does not work? I have a file (DARTS Master) that contains records with two names each (one male and one female). This file has a calculated field for each person that is a combination of the record number and an "M" or "W". Thus, there is a Man's ID and a Woman's ID for each record. I have a second file (Participants) that only has one person's name per record. Creating a record in this file consists of entering the Man's or Woman's ID, then displaying the Man's or Woman's name, address, etc. I have related this file to the first file through two relationships. This works OK, but I have to have two fields for each …

I have an invoice layout that contains repeating fields for quantity, style number and color. What I would like to do is summarize the quantities for each product (by style number) so we can obtain the quantities for the top purchased products in the past six months, and therefore know which products (and in which color) we should bulk purchase. The trick is (at least to me), since we use repeating fields, the lines vary, and the products are often listed on different lines from record to record. I am unsure of how to create fields on a new layout to summarize by product. I'm sure there is a simple solution to this problem, I just do not know FM very well. …

I have a file with financial transactions and another file with each item of the financial transaction. The items can be a product or a service. A financial transaction can have some products and services. I have a portal in the financial transaction file where I can see every item of the financial transaction. For example: I have a record in the financial transaction file that has the ID 10. There are 3 items of financial transaction, that are: 2 products and 1 service. In the portal I already have, I can see these 3 items, but I would like to have 2 separate portals, one for products and one for services. I thought it would be possible by making 2 relationships,…

I have two fields. The first contains either a "+" or "-" sign, selected from a value list. The second contains a positive number with two decimal places. If the user selects "-" in the first field and enters 2.25 in the second field, then I would like a calculation to return "-2.25" as a rational number that I could use in a separate calculation. Conversely, If the user selects "+" in the first field and enters 2.25 in the second field, then I would like the calculation to return "+2.25" (or just "2.25"). Another problem that I've come across is that if I put a "-" sign in a value list, Filemaker 6 returns a separator instead of a minus sign. I've resorted to an "em…

Sorry for the very basic nature of this question. I am writing a script that apparently requires a Global Text Field. The field in question was created as a Text Field when it was defined. How do you create a global text field? Can an existing text field be changed to a GTF without loosing existing text? What are the characteristics of a GTF (ie limitations or advantages)? SK

I have been all over the books and the forum site, but can't find an answer to this qusiton: Is it possible to use a container field in a calculation? I have a file of mini courses. The faculty will be able to designate a difficulty level from 1 to 4. I have a star graphic known as DesStarGraphic1. I would like to produce a caculation so if the difficutly level is one, only one star graphic shows up, if it is 2, 2 graphics show up, etc. I have written a nested If statement that produces correct results for 1, the caculation falls apart on difficulty 2 (meaning, nothing shows up). I am using this code in the calculation (called DesLevelCal): If (DesLevel="1…

Hi ! I know this has been here before, but I cannot find that message any more... Sorry.. The problem is how to calculate simple way hours and minutes between two dates for example: date1, time1 date2, time2 Thanks in advance ! Arttu Lahdenper

Hello everybody. Hope somebody could help me with a problem I have. For each advert on my site the software provides me with info which I can convert to a CST text file, which I then import into a FM database. It works fine. I want to be able to give a discount on adverts. The cost of the first one is

I have a field that is populated with numbers and letters. EX: R1,R2,R3,R4 The current calc I'm using is a word count. From the example above it gives me 4. Is it possible to enter the numbers this way EX: R1-R4 And still get the same result? Sometimes the field is populated with up to 150 different numbers. Any help is appreciated. I'm using FMP6 if it matters. Michael

I'm in the process of creating an application containing 5000+ fields. Basically there are 1000 fields that have 5 variations each. Does anyone know of a way to import fields into Filemaker from an external source? I'm currently using version 5.0. thnx Arny

Is there a way to have a long text field display as multiple columns similar to a newspaper article?

I'm not sure this is the right forum for this question - if not, please accept my apologies (& perhaps steer me in the right direction?) At any rate, I would like to know if there is some way that while viewing as a List that the record you are currently working in can be highlighted in some way. TIA! Martie

I need to define two global values via a popup menu. One is for month and the other for year. This is for a calendar application. The body of the layout is a portal with 5 repetitions, monday - friday. The header contains information pertinent to the monday - friday display below it. In this header I placed a gomo and goyr field and made them a popup menu. Trouble is, they won't pop open. If I place them in the body, they work fine. But if they are in the body they display for each day of the week. This cannot be allowed. Any ideas on how I can use a popup in the header area? Or acheive something similar? Thanx in advance. John

Hi everyone ! Need help with putting together the following formula: The calculation for the checksum for UPC barcodes is pretty straightforward. There are 11 digits Sum of odd digits (first, third, fifth, ....). Multiply by 3. Sum of even digits (second, fourth, sixth...) Add both together. Keep only the units digit ( drop all else). Subtract from 10. = checksum. Greatly appreciate any help with this. Thanks. ~ jack

I need to do the following: If a word in present in a field (for example, the word "blue") then it is replaced by the word, "green". I use the Substitute function for this. But if the word "blue" is not present, then I want to return the word "yellow". How can I do this? Thanks so much, Jason

Hi, I have a few check box fields (define value lists) set up in my databases where I would like to have the box "auto filled" upon record creation. One box is ([ ] Yes [X] No), and I would like the "no" box checked upon creation of the record. This is easy for me to do with drop down menus but I have not been able to figure out how to do it with check boxes. Am I missing something really basic here? Any help is appreciated. Thank you. Steve F.

I am trying to superscript in a calculation. It shows as superscripted in the calculation, but not when you go to preview or browse mode. Any ideas on how I can accomplish the superscript of the one character? Oh, just so you know, I can't make a different box and make the text smaller and up because I have to have it float with the rest of the text AND I can't turn on sliding and printing because it is centered on the line.

On the one hand, need to keep data consistent so have the usual NOT EMPTY selected in the options for this field. (To remember later, via FILE > DEFINE FIELDS > select field > OPTIONS > VALIDATION > under 2nd item, "Not empty" and that in next option the field's value brought up via a VALUE LIST and correct value list noted.) Beside the NOT EMPTY box in the field options, there are two items, "Unique" and "Existing", btw. Currently neither of these is selected, I just saw. I also have tab order selected in correct sequence. However, when tabbing from the previous field to this one that needs consistent data, I get this error …

I'm creating a calculated text field and need to include the TAB character to make sure the result is properly spaced. Is there a way of inserting the TAB in a concatinated string? In C programming this is done in the printf statement with t. Is there a similar way in FileMaker? I want to do something like this: field1 & "t" & field2 & "t" & field3 Thanks for the help.

Hello, I have two popup fields that retrieve values from a second file. On one field I want to retrieve list of names that is of type X and on the second field I want to retrieve list of names that is of type Y. Where name and type fields are define fields on the second file. I used the define value list to get the data from the second file for each of the popup field, but don't know how or where to put the criteria so that it only load the list for type X on one field and type Y for the second. Does anyone have any idea or is there another approach? Thanks kvt

I hate repeating fields but I am stuck with them in a few cases in my business management software. Anyway, I have a few cases where I want to enter a default value in the repeating field, but it only shows in the first row? Any ideas?

Hi I have a client who wants a script to reset the STARTING number of a serial number at the end of each week. Presently , they have to go into define fields and manually reset their serial number to 101. Is there any way to automate this? Thanks Dave

I'm at the very start of creating an FMP solution. I need a simple thing, a one-screen file that allows me to launch programs from it. What am I looking at in terms of field creation? How can I launch an app or open a file from within FMP? Is there an actual FMP file example somewhere that I can dl?

Is there any way that I can monitor when a specific field is altered. I have a a text field in my system that is a withdrawl flag and removes them from being included in a script that collates all the entries made on the system. Unfortunately I am finding that a specific user is withdrawing them after this script has been run and is saying that the record had been withdrawn and should never have been included. Unfortunately other sections of the record are being constantly updated so I can not use a standard modification date field. Can I define a field that will only enter a date when this specific field has been modified. Thanks Sean

I have this calc that gives the age of someone as of today: NumToText(Year(Today) - Year(Student Date of Birth) - If(Today< Date(Month(Student Date of Birth), Day(Student Date of Birth), Year(Today)), 1, 0)) & " Years, " & NumToText(Mod(Month(Today) - Month(Student Date of Birth) + 12 - If(Day(Today) < Day(Student Date of Birth), 1, 0), 12)) & " Months, " & NumToText(Day(Today) - Day(Student Date of Birth) + If(Day(Today) >= Day(Student Date of Birth), 0, If(Day(Today-Day(Today)) < Day(Student Date of Birth), Day(Student Date of Birth), Day(Today- Day(Today))))) & " Days" I changed it to give the person's age as of 8…

I wasn't sure where to put this post. I have a 13 file, 10 user system, running in Windows 2000, FM 6.0 and FM server. I am a part-time developer. I lost all the data from 2 fields in the sales order / invoice file, and I cannot work out how or why. The fields are both date fields, a despatch( shipping) and invoice date. All the field value up to and including 22nd October were lost. The system worked as it should subsequently, creating new invoices. The lost data was only noticed on Friday 24th October, so I don't know when it was lost. There is no script that could have been run in error and there are no layouts where users can access the field values to …

I need to get a field name and its content and paste it into another field. This will be part of a script and the fields will be different depending on which one was selected and what option from its pulldown menu. For example: If the category selected is SAWS and the item from the list is Circular Saw. I would like to capture "SAWS: Circular Saw" and paste this into a field called Tool I've tried different calculations but I can't get it to do what I need. I am new to FM. Thanks.

Hi is it possible to have my client fill in a complete formula (like 612 * 15) in a field so that FileMaker calculates it and put the result in that same field??? thx Hans

I have a value list of class dates. I also have a validation field that calculates if the date is prior to today's date to send a message. The field is blank otherwise. The problem is when I am in the file and want to do other activities, the message appears. I do not want the message to appear until I enter data into the date field. How can I stop the message from appearing when I click on other options? Thanks, Shari

Does anyone have a formula that puts the zip code into a field after tabbing from Suburb/City field

If I have a number field num and create a calculation num - Int( num ), using a number such as 15.1 returns 0.0999999999999996 instead of 0.1. But if I use the same calculation in a scripted Set Field [ ], it returns the correct answer 0.1. Any idea for the variation, and more importantly, how can you force the calculation to return the correct number without screwing it up?

I am creating a report for a kind of roll call sheet. I have each part of the layout sorted by day, time, class ID... but some kids have two classes they attend. So the layout part is only sorting by their first class ID and not the second. I have a class list file, but it stores all the students. Even the ones that have stopped. So I turned to the students file and run the report off of that. I have two fields, class ID 1 and class ID 2 and they have a relationship so when I type in the class id into those fields, it brings up the day, time and rank of that class. So if the kid moves to another class, all I have to do is type in the new class # and it will change and I c…

Is there some what to allow users to edit, except certain fields? In essence, I want to "protect" two fields only out of dozens. I am still a beginner at this and can't seem to find info that such differentiation can be made. I am still learning (but making progress!).

I'm new to FMP 6, having 'learned' Access for years (but never well enough to get my project finished!) What are the 'limitations' of FMP 6? I understand it's 2GB per 'database' (akin to a 'table' in Access?) and up to 125 databases (i.e. 250 GB theoretical total?). But....in Access, 4096 is the character limit in a function (I think that's what it is...); 255 characters for a field name; etc. Where can I find a COMPLETE list of FMP specifications? (i.e. limitations) Thanks!

I have a large (dimension) calculation that results in a formated paragraph of text. The input is some boilerplate text and check box value list selections. There are a total of 10 check box selections that can be added to the paragraph but not all 10 will always be needed. I need to have each check box selection separated from the next by a carriage return. If all 10 are selected the paragraph looks great, but if for instance only 4 or 5 are selected, additional space is inserted into the paragraph where the non-selected entries normally would be. So here is my question: is there some way to format the field or a function that will force the calculation to dynamically f…

I am trying to create what seems like a simple validation, but can't figure it out. I have two fields, both with value lists. When data is entered in field 1, then data must be entered into field 2. How do I create a validation to ensure that this happens? Thank you!

I have a line items database. It has a whole lot of info that I can use to sort and summarize. Here is the problem I am running into... I have a report that gives me the total, in $, that I have sold for the day. Each Line item is sorted by date and it is then summarized as it should be giving me the total for each day. The problem I am running into is that it seems to be giving me an average per line item in the sub-summary instead of an average by day. so on days that I make $1200, $800 and $900 I end up with an average of $11.7556666. What do I have to do to get it to give me an average by Date and not by Line Item?

Is there a way to find out on which layouts a particular field is used? Our company is doing a database cleanup/overhaul and we need to identify the "obsolete" fields that are no longer being used. Thanks in advance, Kyle

I am writing data from a repeating field(s) into a text field. This text field is then sent off as an email notice to internal users. I want each repetition cell to show on a separate text line (easier to read), no problem so far. But my problem is this, if, for example, repetition 2 has no entry, the code will leave a blank line (because of the return marker). It's this blank line I want to prevent, so I need to correctly set into the statement a condition that if the case fails, the return marker is not envoked. In this sample I am checking a field cell that would contain a "P" or "C" (partial or complete"), if it meets this criteria then get the data from a specific re…

Hi All, A little question about a repeating field. I have field A, B (normal text fields) and C a calculation field with a repeating field of 2. In C I want to calculate that in C (1) (the 1st of the repeating fields) comes the txt value of A and in C (2) (the 2nd of the repeating C field) comes the content of B. How do I get this to work (if possible at all) Anyone? Cheers Koen

This works: Case (TYPE="AEWR" ,PRICE LIST 2003 DB::AEWR, TYPE = "DEWR",PRICE LIST 2003 DB::DEWR, TYPE = "DJFK",PRICE LIST 2003 DB::DJFK, TYPE = "AJFK",PRICE LIST 2003 DB::AJFK, TYPE = "DLAG",PRICE LIST 2003 DB::DLAG, TYPE = "ALAG",PRICE LIST 2003 DB::ALAG) but this doesn't work Case (DATE < 11/14/2003 + TYPE="AEWR",PRICE LIST 2003 DB::AEWR, DATE < 11/14/2003 + TYPE = "DEWR",PRICE LIST 2003 DB::DEWR, DATE < 11/14/2003 + TYPE = "DJFK",PRICE LIST 2003 DB::DJFK, DATE < 11/14/2003 + TYPE = "AJFK",PRICE LIST 2003 DB::AJFK, DATE < 11/14/2003 + TYPE = "DLAG",PRICE LIST 2003 DB::DLAG, DATE < 11/14/2003 …

Hello I am trying to find a calculation that will bring up a dialog box if the user puts in specific characters into a serial number field. Specifically they may not enter the characters " O","? " or "1" . Trying to find out the best and fastest way to track a user putting in these characters. Thanks Dave

As a new member, this seemed the most appropriate forum for this question. Is there a way to quickly and easily lock/unlock a single record (and all its fields) at a time on a database, perhaps using an onscreen button or check box? I have nearly finished an FMP database of stamps listed in my (Scott Minuteman) album (at least 3,500-4,000 records when finished). I would like to be able to easily unlock each whole record when it needs to be worked on (not the entire database), and later lock that particular record again so as to not inadvertently allow data changes. This is quite detailed work and has been very time consuming to enter. Ideally, a check box or b…

Hello All Again I have another question ... I know there must be a simple answer to this however it has been a long day and I am having a brain fart. Ok I have an IF Calc ... If( FieldA = "override" , 0, "") Now if the fields A = "override" I get a 0. Well I need it to give me a 0 if the field CONTAINS the word "override" like if I type the word override in a sentence in that field I want a 0. I know I could do this by creating a pattern count on the field for the word override ... however i would like to do this without going to all that trouble.

Hello, i was wondering if this is possible. basically, i have around 17,000 records and i want to add auto-enter serial or id to those records already create it. is there a way to do it so that it will be cs-1 to cs-17000. thanks, victor

I have a number field. I have another (calc) field which should return the number of significant figures in the number field. Right now, I count the length of the field and substract any zeroes or decimals. It works great unless I have a number like 0.00980 in the field; the final "0" is significant, but alas my calculation fails! Any ideas on how to trap for a final zero? Or perhaps there is a more elegant approach than my sledgehammer one! Thanks!

Hi, I have a label size that is used by my company that is not available in FM. I tried to enter the width and height of the labels, but the sheet the labels print from has a small header and the labels do not line up. If I adjust the height for the first row, all the proceeding rows are not aligned. Is there a way to add the Avery label number to the list or accomadate for the sheet header? Thanks.

I am creating a database for a client where each record must have a unique ID number (serial number) that increases by 1. If a user makes a mistake and enters wrong information they need to have the option of deleting that particular record. However, the problem arises that let's say the user deleted record #5, and creates a new record, it is given the #6 but since #5 doesn't exist, i wold need the databsse to create the new record with an ID of #5 rather than #6. is this possible>

Does anyone know if it is possiable to make a logo transparent (no white background) with FM on a pc. I even tried creating a logo using illustrator on the mac and saving it as a eps but the pc wants to put a white background around it. I tried several file formats eps, gif, svg, tiff and jpg but no go. The logo image is transparent on the mac but not in windows. Anyone experienced this issue before?