Calculation Engine (Define Fields)

Okay, I'm creating a very simple database (no cmplx relationships), with a single container field. I can click on the field and insert a document, no problem. But when I double-click on the document, nothing happens... no file launches. Any idea why this is happening? It seems like the kind of elementary thing that should be in a FAQ somewhere, but I can't find it.

:help: In simple terms, I want to create a calculation field that divides the count in the Leading Sub-Summary part by a total count found in a Leading Grand Summary part to display as a percentage in the Leading Sub-Summary part. Here's what I have. gtempCount as a global field Symbol Count as a Summary field in the Leading Grand Summary part Symbol Count as a Summary field in the Leading Sub-Summary part Symbols text field in the Body part (actual field that is counted) This seems simple enough, but I just can't seem to make it work. Sometimes I think I think too much and can't see the forest for the trees. Can someone please point me in the right…

Hi, Can you please help with a calculation that will subtract the visit date - date of birth. The results shall be provided to the user in years, months, weeks, and days. I have attached a small file for testing. thank you so much who ever you are.... Date_Calc.zip

Hi I have a FM solution with over 5,000 records and each record has a container field with a PDF file referenced to it. What I would like to do is have a field in each record that tells me the path of it's PDF. Is this possible. Also if I was to move the location of the folder full of PDF's is there a easy way to link the PDF's back to the correct record.

What is the function or how do I extract the numbers from a text string? Ie: Raw data: #2- Organize a conference or other official duties at a conference - #3- Service as a panel chair referee or other activity listed in the program - #4- Conducting research Calculated field should show me 2, 3, 4 Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

There are two methods of commenting calculations: C style which beings with /* and ends with */ C++ style which starts with // and ends at end of line When reading calculations, C style (appears) more cluttered, requires more typing, and requires remembering to close it. Nesting sounds good but a hard return in the calc would achieve the same results and no close required. C style opens up possibility of errors (forgetting to add the close) or even using it when not needed as FM even demonstrates (I'm sure without meaning to). From FM Help: Everything shown below can be entered inside a formula: /* This is a calculation with C style nested and …

I am trying to build a database that I can import pictures, pdfs, quicktime and aiff files. I tried the templates that came with my new version of Filmaker Pro 8 but I just cannot seem to make it happen. What I need a database that can be accessed by Mac and PC and has these different types of files in them. I have the pictures working well but how do I get pdfs so you can read them and the sound files to work? Any help will be greatly appreciated!!! If you have a template or a solution please email me I am really stuck and need to get this done as soon as possible.

Here is a puzzle. I'm trying to convert answers like 1, 2, 3 etc into grades like A,B,C etc. I have a field called gAnswer which contains answers separated by a carriage return: 3 5 2 1 4 5 etc. If I use the middle values functions as follows: MiddleValues (ImportData::gAnswer ; 2 ; 1 ) it calculates to the 2nd value in the field ie) 5 But when I try to set another field to the converted value with this statement I get "F" every time: Case(MiddleValues ( ImportData::gAnswer ; 2 ; 1 )=1;"A"; MiddleValues ( ImportData::gAnswer ; 2 ; 1 )=2;"B"; MiddleValues ( ImportData::gAnswer ; 2 ; 1 )=3;"C"; MiddleValues ( ImportData::gAn…

The GetAsNumber function returns the value "?" when passed the parameter "?". This behaviour confused me at first, just thought I'd try to get some feedback before reporting it to FileMaker as a bug. The question mark symbol is not a valid number and when passed as part of a string it is correctly stripped out as non-numeric, i.e. "1?1" -> "11" But it is not removed when it is on its own, i.e. "?" -> "?" I'm inclined to believe this is not a bug, it seems to go against the logic of the function however a single question mark usually indicates an error in a calculation, I think the function is merely cascading this error e.g. if the following calc …

Hello, I have a layout with a series of repeating fields. Each field has a title included above it. Ex. Things I Like Cars Sports Penguins Earmuffs But for all the records that I have, some of these repeating fields are left completely empty. I'm wondering if there's a way I can make these titles not appear if the field is empty. I've tried a calculation, treating the rep field as a boolean, to no avail, like this: If (Passions; "Things I Like"; "") where Passions is the repeating field of Cars, Sports... Any suggestions? Thanks, M

Is there a way to tell a QT movie inside a FMP Container to go to a certain time within the movie? For example, I have a 10-second clip in the container, and I want a button to advance the clip to to the frame at the 2-second point. This is trivial with AppleScript: tell application "QuickTime Player" select movie 1 at [some frame] end tell It appears FMP is unable to control a QuickTime movie in a Layout; only the user may do that.

I would like to be able to store the paths to documents on the local machine within fields. Then I would like to be able to click on the field and have it open the document that is at the path. Anyone know if that can be done?

Here I have a sample setup with Timecode in and out and duration field, even I dont like the way this solution works with timecode I have no option because I cant figure out the real way of doing it so I use Time fields insted, the only issue I now run into is the time formats as "0:05:46.999999" instead of "00:05:46". dvready_2.06_TC.fp7.zip

I hope this is the right section for this question, it seemed like the most fitting place. Quite awhile ago I inherited a database that was written by another developer. The database is currently using Filemaker 6. The problem I am having is that this developer liked to use different types of special characters to mark different types of fields, and now they are causing problem when trying to make a web solution out of the database. The special character in question is "ƒ" which she used to designate calculation fields (that is some fancy looking "f" just in case the special character doesn't show up on here). She also used "£" to designate lookup fields, but that …

I have a field, called ExpireDate, that I want to have give me a date 6 months after my StartDate field. Then, I want to be able to display all records where Current Date - ExpireDate is between 4 and 6 months [edited for correction after 1st reply]. How do I go about this? I'm not very comfortable working with calculations and dates. Thanks.

For ease of explanation, let say I am creating a checkbook register. I have two fields "Credits" and "Debits". What I want to happen is if I already entered a value in the "Credits" field and I then put a value in the "Debits" field the value in "Credits" would be removed or vise versa. I have tried many attempts using auto enters and calculations but to no luck. Any direction would be most appreciated. Thanks

I am creating a header for the office stationary which included name, address and telephone. Was trying to embed a font icon of a telephone into a calculation just prior to the phone number to avoid writing the word telephone. Actually the calculation is very easy to do with TextFont(text;fontName{;fontScript}) but what I can't find a Font symbol for a telephone icon that is supported by my LaserJet 4000. Any thoughts,comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Hello, I have a number field called [Days before alert] and a date field with the expiration date. Days before alert = 5 Expiration date = 7/17/2006 Today: 7/15/2006 My alert calculation 1 should start a count down for 5 days up to the expiration date, then the alert calculation 2 should go on. Please see the attachment Thanks. Alert_test.zip

I have a claculation If ( (accomtype = "Residence") and (IsEmpty ( Res Alloc::Apt Num ) = 1) ; "No" ; "Yes") what I want to do is if the accomtype field is set to residence and the field Apt Num in the Res alloc table is empty then it should equal no otherwise yes at the moment it always says yes.

I'm trying to make a sales report that lists all our customers and their sales total for a certain period and sorts the customers by sales. I had been doing this sort of thing by using a complex relationship between customer and invoice line items with globals for the date range and a calculation field that summed the line items. That worked, but was pretty slow and I though it wasn't the "FileMaker way" since I wasn't using Summary fields. I also need to do some other reports where this approach was getting too complicated. So I'm trying to do it with Summary fields and it's mostly all good except that I can't sort by the sales totals. What's up with…

How is it possible to assign fields to repetetion field. I have 8 fields in a db that should be listed in one field with 8 repetitions. Each field in one line! I assume its a calculation with 8 repetitions but whats the script for that! Thanks

Hello, I'm working on finalizing my database -- I've come a long way! Regrettably, the wall I've recently hit is a pretty big one. A lot of my calculations in one file take AGONIZINGLY long to compute. I even tried to store them, but I'm unable to do so. I have the entire file zipped up and posted here -- if you check it out, look at the file called "Players" - and then, check out the layout copy #1 -- the time to refresh the screen is horrible. If anyone can help - please email me at [email protected] - I look forward to any suggestions that can be made to speed up the calculations. Thanks! Chris My_Progress.zip

:blond: I am a mid-level FM designer so I know when I get the answer to this it's gonna be a 'doh!' minute, but I can't quite figure an elegant way to do this. I've got seventeen number fields in each record - N1, N2,....N17 (representing the players scores [6 regulars 11 guests or former players]) I've got these numbers totalled and averaged. I'd like to automatically identify the high scorer. So what kind of script or calculation will i.d. the high number? Doh! in advance. Thanks.

Is there any way to define a calculation that will add several summary fields together?

I want to put a message on a layout based on the condition of a field in the same layout. eg Cond_field= Case field_a=1; "Do this"; Field_a= ""; "" I would like for this to be seen on all stations on server. I am having trouble getting this to work. Ideas! IW

I can't see how to do this in FileMaker - it's easy in Access. After a user leaves a field, I need to 'proper' the data just to ensure that they did not have the Caps Lock on. How do I do this? TIA

Hi I have managed to get to values from two different field to come togther to form a pop up menu but I am getting the attached pop up message staying "This action cannot be performed because this field is not modifiable" does any one understand what this means as dont want to edit it....... looking forward to hearing what people think Cheers Damian

I am trying to get a field to show a total of payments in the current fiscal year. I have a table set up to show the fiscal years, their start dates and end dates. I have a field in the payments to show the fiscal year. My first questions is, should I have a calcuation in the fiscal field to determine the fiscal year and how would I do that or should it be a lookup of the fiscal year? Second, to total the fiscal year what calculation would I need summarize this amount? How would this summary know to change from fiscal year to fiscal year?

Hi: I set up a simple DB to illustrate a method I propose to use to Auto-Complete typed in data. I did not want to have an extra record on the DataEntry layout. So I created a record in the table TypeAheadText to hold the Auto-Complete copy. That record is viewed on through a portal the DataEntry layout and copy is formatted in the Data field. The reason for all this is that the DB is used (along with Applescript) to create ads in Adobe InDesign. Is this the best way to use the Auto-Complete feature for this purpose? DataEntryTest.fp7.zip

I'm building a database for my cabinetshop. We fabricate in millimeters but communicate with the customer in inches. We use the Extend function to convert inches to millimeters. If you type in the value 36 inches it displays as 915 millimeters. I would like this value to display in both inches & millimeters, but I would like it to be done with just one field. Is there a way to trick a repeating field into using one calculation for Repetition (1) and another calculation for Repetition (2)? Thanks for any tips, Jarvis

Hello everyone, I swear I've seen this topic before but can't seem to find it now. If someone could point out a post or help me I would appreciate it. I have four tables, Customer Quote Quote Item Job Quote Item has both a QuoteID and JobID. A job are items that were quoted that need to be processed. This so far has worked well. I can print a quote report for all items and then if it is a job, I can print anther report to process it. What I'm can't seem to do is sum total Customer orders. I want to track a "capture" rate on Customer table. How many actual dollars am I getting from quoted dollars. I'd like to do this for each customer. …

Is there a way to do a calculation that says If X is BLANK (where blank is an empty field) then so and so... Looking for the Syntax of BLANK (empty field). Thank you! Moosh

I have been through this website a little and it seems as though many discussions touch on one or two elements of my problem, but none ever really help me. Not to mention - I don't really do well with reading instructions. It helps if I have a walk-through so I can perform the functions I need when I am learning something new. Here is my problem: I own a trucking company and I need to keep track of which states my truck operates in and how many miles it operates in each state. I also have to record how many gallons of fuel is put into the tank in each state. This info gets reported to the gov't each quarter. You will see in the file I have attached (which is an …

Hello all, This should be so easy but for some reason I can't get it to work. Here is my calc Case ( Thickness ≥ .12 & Thickness ≤ 1.5 ; (Rect_Width + .5) * (Rect_Length + .5) * Thickness * .2836 ; Thickness ≥ 1.625 & Thickness ≤ 4 ; (Rect_Width + 1) * (Rect_Length + 1) * Thickness * .2836 ; Thickness ≥ 4.25 & Thickness ≤ 100 ; (Rect_Width + 1.5) * (Rect_Length + 1.5) * Thickness * .2836 ) The first two parts work perfect but for thickness >= 4.25, it still returns the second calc. results. I've used the "case" fuction before and have never had this sort of problem. Really, I'm just looking for some troubleshooting ideas because I c…

I'm having a problem with the arithmetic for a "subtotal" field that totals up a series of repeated fields. In designing an invoice form, I have repeated fields for product id (linked to a product table with a matching product id field), price, quantity, discount and extended price. I've got the formula working to calculate the individual extended prices, but I can't get the "subtotal" field to work using the "summary" type and then, total on the "extended price" field. the calculation is way off base and I can't even figure out how it is generated. I read something about "context" but I can't seem to figure this one out. Needless to say I'm a be…