axis

thanks i understood that perfectly. so what i did was to relate the two files by a field i defined called User ID. when i'm in the computer file, which i my main layout or master file (is that right?, i mean one should be the master right?) and i want to add a computer, say a new one, then i add a new record (in the computer file)... this file has a field for the Username... but i can't enter the Username... so i change the view from list to layout and grab the User ID from the other file or wherever i can and enter that in the new record that's now showing in the table view... then when i go back to list view the name is there. when i sort the file (Master/Computer file) in list view it does this: userA B C D E then if there are repeats of the same users with more thyan one comp. they start after the initial "'Sort' by UserName'", like this: A,B,C,D,E... B, C, B, D,D, E, F, F, F, G...etc. i want, AAA, BBB, CCC, or whetever, but all together. i don't understand why it won't Sort right -something "designed in" i'm sure Thanks.

i posted a question about my rdb in another section and edited about 6 times.... now i've made my little db into what is, i guess called a "flat file". (?) except with FMP (5.5 Mac OS X) i can have a beautifully functional layout with searchability, value lists, pop-ups... loys of great functionality for flat file. basically i started out to impress my boss by cataloguing all our computers and their users and some other information about both. and of course have it on the web, searchable and printable results... and sortable! i started with what would be 2 tables: one for people (users) and one for computers -actually i started with 3, the computers were destops and laptops. deciding on 2 files (tables) -users and computers- i set out to define the relationship. long story short? i've simplified the thing into one file, as i said at first. so now i ask the pros, the gurus ... why would i, in this situation, might want to "go relational"? i guess part of why i'm asking is because i can see how FMP can do so much with one file (one table), i'm wondering about why have more? now i know that in database land when you start talking about a huge table (mine is not, i think) with everything in it, it's an automatic "no-no"... let's start dividing and relating; but i can't imagine someone would do that just to create a more difficult (and complicated) task requiring lots more time. i know i should read up on it, but i'd like to hear what you have to say. thanks.

hi, thanks to you good folks and all your help i have a little rdbs going! however, when i sort -in a Table view- by "Username", in this case, i get about half or so of my records sorted, then there is the rest of the records sorted, by Username, again. this seems to be because those Usernames that are appearing in the "latter sorted section" are also Users who listed in the first, i.e., i have Usernames appearing multiple times -which is fine, BUT in a sort by Username is seems that it does each name once then the multiples appear (sorted) -even if there are 2 more occurances of the same Username they WILL then be "together". how can i get them ALL together? i can't seem to use the User ID because i want them to be alphabetical and some IDs are created, naturally, after others. i don't understand why a Username sort isn't producing the desired aphabetical listing despite multiple entries of the same name (same ID). here is an illustration with 4 Usernames -9 records: user1 user2 user3 user4 user2 user3 user3 user4 user4 i want them to all be together, i.e., 1,2,2,3,3,3,4,4,4. what could be some possible causes for all of the records not being "sorted together"? any ideas at all? what might i look for? i would LOVE to send this small file to someone to advise me just a bit -i would learn SO much! use no spaces: g e t 8 6 @ m a c . c o m (if you would have a look?) TIA [ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: axis ] [ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: axis ] [ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: axis ] [ October 17, 2001: Message edited by: axis ]

how about this: i have a file -one file. i know how to serve it with Instant Web Publishing using Web Companion and the default FMP "intro" page, with the file name on it as a link. i know how to make web pages and serve them. right now i'm serving my file with Instant Web Publishing and Web Companion, as I stated. What is my file's url (is like any other file path, i.e., i simply link to it from a web page?)? What do I need to turn off -if anything, i.e., Web Companion?

is there a way to set up a link (url) into a database from my domain? or a website? or my own "index.html"? (i'm saying those three things all trying to express a singular thought.) i tried to change the port to 80 (but then i realized that i was linking to a file like any other and not using FMP's (5.5 OS X) server... and i tried copying the url from the browser when i was using the web companion... i combined all that but couldn't get it working. is it possible? what are the steps? [ September 26, 2001: Message edited by: axis ]

thank you!

i'd like my file to have a field for a running total (i guess it's called "running"?) of all the records in the file. so if i have currently 50 records then every record will have a feild showing the number "50". and if i create a new record that feild will auto increment by 1. how do i do this? FMP 5.5 OS X thanks in advance.

reduce the spacing betwwen the lines? http://homepage.mac.com/theaxis/PhotoAlbum.html thanks in advance. [ September 24, 2001: Message edited by: axis ] [ September 24, 2001: Message edited by: axis ]

tthank you very much. i notice that you don't include the computerID as the foreign_key in the person file? am i corect in assuming that that relationship must be made (lest that becomes a key of no use, correct?)? i'm still at somewhat of a lose as to how a bunch of computer records appear in a portal -i know how a portal works- i'm just not clear on the above question and also on what fields i would put in the portal? _________________________________________________ i have a name field in the person file -is there a way to tie that in with the personID field, e.g., when ever i add a record the personID field for the new record will automatically be filled in with the next available number? thanks for following up. [ September 22, 2001: Message edited by: axis ]

so besides the personal information (in the master file) -you say i should a portal in the master for all the computer records to be shown that are associated/related to that person? how do you suggest to relate the records, since more than one computer record may be related to one person? Thank you. (p.s. i'd like to *study* [not do yet] repeating fields too, if that is a way to get more than one ralationship from multiple records to show in the same field of a master file.)

i've got two files: one of people, one of computers. no problem causing the (as in "one") computer's information to show up in the master file -people is the master. i have laid out the related fields in my layouts/report. my problem is: (and i guess there are several "looks", but i just need one good example)... how should i relate and put/insert the related fields in the case of one person having several computers. (i guess this like a one-to-many, no?) i can't believe that of all these books i've got they only have either only 2 files, which i can do or they have a whole bunch. i really really need rthat intermediary step GIVEN to me. ./rant if anyone wants to send me any files please do: g e t 8 6 a t m a c d o t c o m. i tried to upload my files to a site but the net was so messed up around here. thanks very much. Mac OS X, FMP 5.5

should i retain my "people" file? if so, are you suggesting that i use the the value of the name (person's name) field -have a person's name field in each (people & computers) file- as the match fields (and not record IDs)? TIA [ September 17, 2001: Message edited by: axis ]

computers come in and i enter their info into a file. right now the only thing unique in the files are auto assigned/auto incremented (by 1) record numbers. i have another file with records of people (individuals). again the records are auto number. it's easy enough to match the record number fields of the two files to get a view of who has which computer or vice versa (which is also important -using a search). my problem is this: some people have more than one computer. how do solve this? i want the db to operate as it does now, i.e., i can find computers or i can find people (don't ask me -all i know is it works now and i want to add the capability of more than one computer as a possibility per person. TIA

here was the solution: to stop all sharing and web in OS X then start Web Companion (or change WC's port -which was my problem) then restart OS X's sharing items -FS and Web.

when i try to change Web Companion's port to 81 it says: Web Companion can't share files over the web... either because it does not enough memory or can't start TCP/IP networking." i've got maxed out memory or maybe i can increase Web Companion's, how? (i forgot). also, and i suspect this is more likely... i use my built in Apache to serve web pages and it is set to port 80. how can i get this going? (p.s. i actually had this work once upon a time, so i know "it will", i think thanks in advance.