Jim Carr

I'm sorry but that just wasn't clear to me. Let's forgewt about the portal for now. What I am really asking is how can I make a script to out to an external table and search for a variable -- without operator input?

This seems like the most basic Find function but I can't make it work. I need a script to go from my portalled Invoice to the related Line Items database and find all the related records. They are related by Invoice Number. In other words once I am in the Line Items, I need to be able to enter find mode, and somehow use the Invoice number as the Find criterion. Seems like in Filemaker 5, I could just enter Find mode, then tell the script to go to the Invoice Number field and Paste the contents of the clipboard, then perform the Find. Well, the field never gets pasted into. I can't find any way to script a find request by using the contents of another field, either. So what works?

I have an invoice which looks great in browse mode, but when printed or viewed in preview mode, the content of several fields disappears. I'm stumped. Please let me know if you need more information, and thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have!

Wow. The Fitchmeister! That was the problem. What can I say? Duh. This forum is just awesome. I still wonder why the problem occurred only above a certain number of records, but, at least the mistakehas been discovered. Thank you to everyone who looked at my problem!

But how many records are you summarizing? I have discovered that the records themselves are sorted and grouped alphabetically by dealer, then re-ordered by Total Sales for the report and preview. And that the true totals for the top-selling dealer are being replaced by the totals for the first ALPHABETICAL dealer! I wonder if this gices anyone a clue? I have created abbreviated versions of the necessary data. I don't want to post them, but will send them to anyone willing to take a look at the file.

Thanks for looking. No, I don't have the "running total" box checked.. Should I?

And no scripts are needed to make this problem happen. A manual find and sort is ll it takes. It seems to be only the size of the found set that makes the difference.

I made the fields; no wizards. And what really burns me is, it works fine with,say, 450 records. But not with 550! How can that be?

I hope this is the proper forum for this: I have a simple sales report. Each line item summarizes the sales activity of a given dealer. There are no Body parts in this report. The summaries are sorted by dealer, then by total sales -- best performer at the top. Viewing the sorted report in Preview mode, the report works perfectly, with one maddening flaw. When (and only when) there are more than 500 to 510 records in the found set being summarized, the TOP dealer on the report shows incorrect summary totals-- Switch to single-record Browse mode and the correct totals are displayed! But go back to Preview mode and these first-summary totals are way smaller-- but as I said, ONLY if the found set is over 500 records or so (it varies with the found set). Omit a few records and the totals start showing correcly again. The top-selling dealer always appears on top, even though the incorrect totals shown should put him way down on the list. That is, he's sorted as though the correct totals were indeed being displayed. All of the fields are easliy large enough to display all content, and they do in browse mode. I hate to confess that I am utterly mystified. Any ideas? An illustration is attached. FileMaker Version: 5 Platform: Mac OS 9 FileMaker Version: 5 Platform: Mac OS 9

The first upload didn't work FileMaker Version: 5 Platform: Mac OS 9

I have a simple sales report. Each line item summarizes the sales activity of a given dealer. There are no Body parts in this report. The summaries are sorted by dealer, then by total sales -- best performer at the top. Viewing the sorted report in Preview mode, the report works perfectly, with one maddening flaw. When (and only when) there are more than 500 to 510 records in the found set being summarized, the TOP dealer on the report shows incorrect summary totals-- Switch to single-record Browse mode and the correct totals are displayed! But go back to Preview mode and these first-summary totals are way smaller-- but as I said, ONLY if the found set is over 500 records or so (it varies with the found set). Omit a few records and the totals start showing correcly again. The top-selling dealer always appears on top, even though the incorrect totals shown should put him way down on the list. That is, he's sorted as though the correct totals were indeed being displayed. All of the fields are easliy large enough to display all content, and they do in browse mode. I hate to confess that I am utterly mystified. Any ideas? An illustration is attached. FileMaker Version: 5 Platform: Mac OS 9

Well, here are some sample validations I'm using: #CHECK FOR A VALID PART NUMBER If [isValid(ValidPart::Part No.)=0].... #CHECK WHETHER A VEHICLE HAS BEEN SOLD If[ Derbi Vehicles Inventory::INSTOCK FLAG="SOLD"].... #CHECK WHETHER SUFFICIENT PARTS EXIST IN INVENTORY If[Derbi Parts Inventory::Quantity - TempQuantity < 0]..... THERE ARE 4 or five similar validations in the script, all written like these. I don't do any Finds.

In an inventory and invoicing system, I have an invoice with a complex validation script, which is activated by clicking an "add item" button on the invoice This script first checks that data exists in all needed fields, then: -- determines if the number is for a part or a vehicle -- if a vehicle, checks the Vehicles database for a valid number -- checks the Vehicles database to assure that the vehicle remains unsold If the number applied was a part number, the script : --checks a 13,000-record parts database to determine that a valid number has been entered, -- checks that the re-order point has not been reached --checks that the quantity ordered is indeed in stock, (of course the Parts database itself is dependent on the Line Items database to make this determination) When all items pass muster, the numbers and quantities are added to the Line Items database and automatically appear in the Invoice's Line Items portal. All this take about 1.5 seconds on the hosting machine, but takes 3 to 4 MINUTES on the client machines. I can't figure out how to speed this up. Any ideas?

I have a set of databases I designed on a Mac, but is now running on a windows LAN. It runs fine on a single computer, but gives slow performance for network guests. (There are 3 network clients). The way I have it built, one opens on the serving machine, a master "Contacts" database, which has been scripted to open all of the other 14 inventory, invoicing ordering and related line items databases at startup as multi-user. For the client machines, I just have a "shortcut" to the remote and running Contacts database. The shortcut automatically opens Filemaker and connects the client machine as a guest of the serving machine. My question is: Is that method of client acess somehow slowing the network performance? Do the clients need to be using the Open dialog and Hosts button somehow? How would you recommend automating this procedure so that the client user gets one-click access? Thanks so much for any help you can give me.

In my clients database i have a portal to a Notes database. When I open the Contacts database on my Mac, I see in the Window menu the Notes database in parentheses as hidden. This is fine, but in a Windows environment, the database shows up, although minimized. Is this normal behavior? I prefer my user not see this Notes database, or have access to it at all except through the portal.

Within a scripted loop that validates a user-found set of records, I'm trying to maintain a list of the records which fail the test, then later generate a report based on the list, kind of like this: LOOP If (Field A is empty), Add its Record# to the end of an Omitted List (a repeating field?) Add 1 to Omissions Count Set field Reason Omitted to "Field A was empty" Omit the record from found set End IF Next record END LOOP Now we process all records not thus omitted, then here's that list again: Find each record# in the Omitted List (by accessing successive repetitions X number of times by loop?) Sort Go to Exceptions Report layout Print Report with record #s and reasons for omission from batch. My probem is with the list. I am trying to use a repeating field, pasting each successive entry right below the previous one. I am not having much luck with doing that. How do you do this? Or you probably have a better scheme than the repeating field. I hope so. You have bailed me out before. Any ideas?

Yes, this is the case. I have the user fill out all the temp fields, then hit an "add" button which triggers the validation script. For the part number field, I want that script to validate part numbers by scanning the parts inventory database and triggering an error message if not found. What is the best way to do this?

I want to format a price field, such that when a Customer Type field has radio button "Dealer" clicked, the price will be $X, but when "Non-dealer" is selected, the price will be $Y. The button needs to be "live," not an auto-enter at record creation based on a selection that hasn't been made yet. But the price must be overideable by the user. How can I do this?

In a very complex Invoice validation situation, I need to avoid all field-level validation. Therefore, I am collecting and validating all the data by script. One of many validation parameters is: The part number entered in the temporary gPart# field must be a number contained in a field in the Parts database. In field-level validation this would be easy. But in a script, how can I say something like: If(Part# is not a member of Parts::Part#), ShowMessage [This is not a valid number] End If I can't find anything in the manual that I could do, short of scripting a full-on Find request and error message collection.

This sounds like a great plan, but is there some reason why the temporary entry fields have to be globals? Seems like I could accomplish the same thing in a script using standard fields, which have more sophisticated validation tools, then zero them out at the end of the script. I'll bet there's a very good reason, but before I write the script i just wanted to check. By the way, your service here is absolutely wonderful. Just want you to know I appreciate it very much.

I have a relational database where there are: 1. A parts inventory database 2. A vehicles inventory database 3. an Invoices database 4. A Line Items database, among others. On the invoice (within a portal creating new records in the Line Items database), my user will enter a number in the "Quantity" field. I need to validate this quantity based on several parameters, and generate various error messages depending on the parameters violated. Since both Parts and Vehicles may be ordered on the same invoice, we first have to determine upon entry whether "Quantity" is to be subtracted from the Parts Inventory or the Vehicles Inventory, then make further validations based on that determination. So. Here are the parameters I want to check upon entry into the "Quantity" field within Line Items: 1. Numeric data only, if not, generate message "Numeric data only." 2. Is a number is entered in the "Part No." field (Indicating that this line item will be a Parts order)? If Yes, check the Parts Inventory database for the amount in stock. If the number being entered in "Quantity" in the Invoice (Line Items) exceeds the number of parts in stock, generate message "Out of stock." Alternatively, if the number entered would bring the number in stock below the number in "Re-order Point," generate message "Time to re-order this part number." If no number was entered in the parts Number field, then: 2. Is a number entered in the "Vehicle ID" field? (Indicating this line item will be for a vehicle)? Check the Vehicles database record for this vehicle; if the Sale Flag field reads "SOLD", then generate message "This vehicle has already been sold." I have been unable to figure out a way to display a such range of eror messages based upon the validation resources available in Filemaker Pro. I am sure it can be done. Perhaps with a script? Can entry into a field trigger a script? Help!

LiveOak: Your solution soounds exciting! I have three questions though. 1) You say I can "enter the information for each line item in the Line Items file via a portal from the Invoice file." I don't see how new records (line items) can be generated in the Line Items file without actually going into it and entering each Line item there as separate Line Items records. How can I accomplish this through the portal? Are you recommending the use of a script to prompt the user, collect the information and generate the new line item? 2)You say "To print and invoice, use the Line Items file with related common information from the Invoice file." If I am working directly in the portal on the invoice, no related common information (probably the invoice number) is being entered in each line item, unless I repetitively enter the invoice number into each line via an Invoice# field. Again, I must assume you are recommending a script to generate the line items? 3) To print an invoice, it seems to me that the user would only need to print the invoice with the portal showing realted line items, and a summary, rather than what you wrote, which confused me: "To print and invoice, use the Line Items file with related common information from the Invoice file. This involves 1) finding line item records (use a go to related records, show only related records from the Invoice file) and 2) using a layout with a trailing summary to total the Invoice." I sure would prefer that the line Items file be transparent to the end user here, just letting him create and type into an invoice. Regarding the difficulty of the project, I you're right, it is difficult, and although I have completed numerous other projects in Filemaker, this one has taxed me to my limits. Still I've already committed to it, so I hope you can see me through this one rough spot, or at least recommend where I might get some quick reading or education that will help me get it done. They are willing to do the adding and subtracting of parts themselves, but I think that's dangerous and want it built into the forms themselves. Me and my big mouth!

Maybe this is a simpler way, but I still can't figure out how to do it: See my earlier post below for the repeating fields attempt. I want to list multiple items and quantities sold on an invoice record. Let's just use multiple fields on the invoice instead of repeating fields as I tried earlier: Item 1, Item 1 Qty Item 2, Item 2 Qty Item 3, Item 3 Qty ... Item 25, Item 25 Qty Various part numbers will be entered into one or more the 25 Item X fields, and various quantities into their corresponding Item X Qty fields. Easy enough. But next I want to view and total up, in another database, a subset of these quantity fields based on the contents of their companion index field, Item X. If and only if Item X contains a certain part number, then I want to list the adjacent Item X Qty from that record (Invoice). Then on the next line of the portal for the next found record, where an Item X field was found to contain the part number, same thing. I get a nice list of "withdrawals" for that part number, based on the invoice activity. In other words, I want my portal relationship to deliver me not just a subset of records but to further search through and deliver to me only the LINE ITEMS -- subsets of fields based on the contents of the index fields. Then I can total up the quantities to get the total of number of these parts ever ordered. Easy enough in a summary, but hard to view in a portal! All I am trying to do is create a live and automatic inventory counter which scans the multiple entries on the invoices in a database for relevant numbers, and adds it up! It sounds so basic. But I am stumped! Come on you guys, It has to be possible!

In a parts sales operation, I have an Invoices database with repeating fields for Item No, Description, Quantity ordered, and Price arranged straight across as line items. Customers typically order numerous line items per invoice. In a related inventory control database, containing a tracking record for each part, I want to view in a portal only Invoice line items (especially quantities) matching a given Item no. I made a portal to the Invoices database, related by the matching item numbers. It successfully turns up all invoices mentioning a given item number. Non-repeating fields list fine: Date, Customer name, etc. Now the hard part: In the portal, from the repeating fields on the invoice, I need to view only repetitions of the line item fields corresponding to the part no. Of course, this part number turns up at a different line, or repetition, on every invoice where it appears. Say an invoice lists some Item 99998s sold at repetition 7 of the Item No field. Another invoice shows some 99998s sold at repetition 3. The info I want to view in the inventory database portal, then, is in the repetitions 7 and 3 of the Quantity Ordered field. I want to list those specific repetitions and only those repetitions. But I can't find any function which return to me the repetition number of the found item number. How can I make Filemaker pick out and list only relevant line items (repetitions) to display in the inventory portal? I realize that a relational database would be the ideal way to view this info, but I can hardly send out a separate invoice for every part on a customer's list. They HAVE to all be on one invoice. This means doing something with repeating fields. Thanks for your help!