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David, Sounds like a great solution! Very neat. It does sound as though we are coming to this topic from slightly different angles. From what you describe I understand you have specific search layouts that are entered in find mode. The user is navigated to these pages when they require a search. My layouts remain in browse mode but have a search field at the head of each layout. The user enters their search criteria in this field and [through scripting] this criteria is entered into multiple find requests and returned to the user. Interesting...all 3 separation solutions we've discussed will work in both of the above scenarios. C

David, After a weekend of thinking this through and working up some solutions my thoughts are as follows: Method 1 - Your first solution involving pre-set reports seems to be the most efficient method of printing standard information. It's very quick to set up. However it does not deal with results from random search criteria in the UI file. Method 2 - A solution to this issue seems to be the use of a global [in UI file] and find script [in Print file]. In the UI file have a global search field [eg 'gsearch']. The user enters their search criteria then clicks a neighbouring button to execute the external find script in the Print file. This script enters 'gsearch' into various fields [you choose which ones] over multiple find requests. The script then executes the find, enters preview, prints the report and returns to the UI file. Both methods have their merits. I'm using Method 1 to generate lists of current staff, current projects etc. However, where random user searches are required - such as contacts that are male and have a name beinging with 'C' - then Method 2 seems to be a good solution. I'm still not familiar with script variables but I'm sure they could be implemented here. Questions I have are: - Can script variables can be passed over multiple files? - In a multi-user scenario are the script values held by the server or user? These are issues for another forum. I'll let you know how things develop. Thanks again for your input. C

David, Thanks for your response - very much appreciated. Yes - my inital thoughts are that much of the DB structure contained in the UI file would be used in the Print file. In this respect I'm tempted to duplicate my UI file and start from there. This leaves the question of how to pass search results from the UI to the Print file. For instance - In a contact list scenario how do you pass a found set across to the Print file for printing? One solution I can see is that there are set scripts in the Print file that find predetermined sets eg All contacts begining with 'c'. These scripts are executed from the UI file. But this doesn't resolve customized search results in the UI file. For this to occur the search parameters would need to be passed to the Print file. Easy enough for single criteria but for multiple criteria eg Contacts that begin with 'C' or are 'male' .....? I think the benefits of this additional separation are significant. Particularly when generating solutions for multiple clients. The UI & Data files mature through all client intput while the Print file can be modified to suit each client's needs. Any thoughts would be great. Thanks C

All, My separated DB currently involves 2 files - "Data" & "Interface". The "Interface" file currently contains layouts for printed documents/forms. I'm planning on extracting these layouts into a new file "Forms". The intention being that this file can easily be updated or easily subtituted for different Clients. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. I imagine a great deal of scripting is involved. C

Thanks for your help - much appreciated. The command line option looks great - but unfortunately I'm not looking to reboot the server system. Just FM is fine. The practice also file shares from this server. So Timbuktu or Remote Desktop look like the answer. I've had a quick surf and T looks as though it will do the job and a reesonable $. Thanks again Chris

All, I'm developing/managing a remote inhouse db for a small design practice in an opposite time zone. It's a separated scheme [interface & Data]. The DB is up and running - so the data is live. Both sides use OSX 10.3 and FM not FM server. I'm occassionally updating the interface file as change requests come in. This is achieved as follows: - Make changes on my local file - Request [via email] the practice admin to quit FM - Update server file via a VPN setup - Request [via email] the practice admin to re-start FM The question I have is whether the quit/start of FM can be done remotely? This would make life so much easier!! Can this be scripted? Or do I need something like Remote Desktop? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Chris

I've also run into this issue. http://www.fmforums.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=150774&an=0&page=0#150774 Has anyone attempted to generate the global and calaulated key in the UI file and form the portal relationship on that basis? I'm thinking that all will then be native to the UI file. But I assume this process would require a 'dummy' table of vaules in the UI file. Oldsneekers - this sounds similar to your [non-script] solution. But did you require this table in the UI? I'm keen to hear if anyone has experience with this or any other work around. C

See discussions in Separation Model forum. http://www.fmforums.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=139870&an=0&page=1#139870

Thanks Ralph - much appreciated I'll take a look at it C

All, Probably a simply question.... Is there a text function that returns all the values [not summarise] of a field across multiple records selected by a given value? Thanks in advance C

All, I think I'm missing something in my current setup so any help would be great. I have 2 DBs - Interface and Data. In the interface file I commonly use a global Keyword field [KF1] to filter portals. This filter is based on a relationship to a calculated Keyword field [KF2] in the Data file. KF2 uses various text functions to establish keywords for a each record. It retrieves words or parts of words from various fields. But it also includes retrieving text from a value list. This value list only exists in the Data file and relates to another table within that file. All of this seems to work fine with the expected dynamic results in KF2. My problem comes with the filtering of the portals in the Interface file. Basically when information that effects the value list in Data is modified from the Interface file, the value list [and consequesntly KF2] is not updated. Furthermore sometimes the filter returns no records at all when the realtionship with KF2 shows that it should. I'm thinking that this could be the result of a couple of things: 1 - The value list is not truly dynamic and tending to 'choke' 2 - It has something to do with the storage of KF2 [currently set at never] 3 - A quirk with FM [i just had to put this one in!!] Hope this explains the problem clearly. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks C

All, I think I'm missing something in my current setup so any help would be great. I have 2 DBs - Interface and Data. In the interface file I commonly use a global Keyword field [KF1] to filter portals. This filter is based on a relationship to a calculated Keyword field [KF2] in the Data file. KF2 uses various text functions to establish keywords for a each record. It retrieves words or parts of words from various fields. But it also includes retrieving text from a value list. This value list only exists in the Data file and relates to another table within that file. All of this seems to work fine with the expected dynamic results in KF2. My problem comes with the filtering of the portals in the Interface file. Basically when information that effects the value list in Data is modified from the Interface file, the value list [and consequesntly KF2] is not updated. Furthermore sometimes the filter returns no records at all when the realtionship with KF2 shows that it should. I'm thinking that this could be the result of a couple of things: 1 - The value list is not truly dynamic and tending to 'choke' 2 - It has something to do with the storage of KF2 [currently set at never] 3 - A quirk with FM [i just had to put this one in!!] Hope this explains the problem clearly. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks C

All, I think I'm missing something in my current setup so any help would be great. I have 2 DBs - Interface and Data. In the interface file I commonly use a global Keyword field [KF1] to filter portals. This filter is based on a relationship to a calculated Keyword field [KF2] in the Data file. KF2 uses various text functions to establish keywords for a each record. It retrieves words or parts of words from various fields. But it also includes retrieving text from a value list. This value list only exists in the Data file and relates to another table within that file. All of this seems to work fine with the expected dynamic results in KF2. My problem comes with the filtering of the portals in the Interface file. Basically when information that effects the value list in Data is modified from the Interface file, the value list [and consequesntly KF2] is not updated. Furthermore sometimes the filter returns no records at all when the realtionship with KF2 shows that it should. I'm thinking that this could be the result of a couple of things: 1 - The value list is not truly dynamic and tending to 'choke' 2 - It has something to do with the storage of KF2 [currently set at never] 3 - A quirk with FM [i just had to put this one in!!] Hope this explains the problem clearly. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks C

Thanks Q Go it to work but with an additional line of script... Go to Field [DB::Field] Go to Portal Row [Last] Thanks again C

Not sure if this is the correct forum but here goes... I have a layout with multiple portals. These all work fine and I can add/edit/delete rows in each portal. My question is really to do with adding new portal rows. At the moment new rows are created by clicking/entering on the last row of the portal. This works but is not very intuitive. What would work better is a button above each portal that creates a new portal row. I know that using Go to Portal Row [Last] will do this. However this only seems to work for the first portal. Buttons above subsequent portals incorrectly add new rows to the first portal only. I know this script is dependent on the position of the portal in the layout. But is there a method of telling FM which portal to insert the new row. Any help would be great. Thanks C

Comment Yes - I think this conecept is a neat method which exploits the new relationship model of FM7. Also the removal of the calc fields may make things run a bit smoother. As you suggest this method will only produce a set series of events. The user will be able to control the start, end and frequency of the series - but not individul events in the series. I guess this will be fine in most circumstances and VERY easy to set up. If more control is required then perhaps it may be worth setting up a new table for recurrences of each event. One way could be that a calendar event in one table has a relationship to multiple records in another table based on an ID. The series would have to be created/deleted using script but individual events could be editable through a portal arrangement. Again limited amount of calcs & repeats involved. Well time to put this into practice. Let me know if you have any further ideas. Thanks C

Thanks - thats exactly what I was looking for! I'm guessing you can then control the duration [no. of repeats] of the recurring events by correctly defining the relationship between your keyfields ie the relationship exists for events after the first occurance and before the last. C

All, I'm looking at integrating recurring events into a calendar. I think this can be done in 2 ways: 1 - Using a repeating field in the calendar data that lists each occurence. This could be achieved through calcs [complex] and the field would the basis for the relationships with the calandar portals 2 - Or perhaps create a second table that lists the occurrences based on the event id. I imagine this would be a messy solution particulary when modifications are made to the recurrences. Basicially I wondering if anyone has had experience with this and can share the fundamentals behind this concept. Thanks in advance C

All, Is there a way to align a layout to the centre of a window rather than to the left as standard? Besides appearances in FM this could also be used when publishing to the web ie Have a block of graphics similar to FM or Apple web site. Any thoughts? C

All, Has anyone had any success with this? I've got a contacts DB that I want to sync with my Sony Ericsson T68i. I know I can sync the phone with the OSX address book through Apple's iSync but what about FM? Any ideas? Thanks C

Ed Thanks for your help again. Much appreciated. Anyway - I've finally got the modem to re-direct. It was a lot easier than I thought. The trick is the modem will not re-direct on my local network. You have to be external - literally coming into the modem. As you probably found with the 510, the 530 is easy to configure. Under the NAT settings there is a default server option. Just enter the IP of the web server and there you have it!! Alternatively you can customise one or many redirections using the method described above - keeping in mind you can only have 1 server on Port 80. Cool!! Anyway thanks again for your help. C

Thanks Ed. The advice is really appreciated. I've had a look at the config site and there seems to be 2 options - either the default user defined server re-direct or a custom config requiring Incoming and Outgoing IPs and Ports. The default option doesn't seem to work. In fact when I enter the modem ip [expecting to be redirected to my web server] I got nothing, just the standard search error in IE. I'm not sure on the custom config. The help guide doesn't really explain it well. I'm guessing the Incoming IP should be my web server [10.0.0.1] on Port 80 and the Outgoing should be the default [0.0.0.0] on Port 80. What do you think? Does it sound similar to the 510? My modem is the 530 - sorry about the typo. Any ideas would be appreciated. C PS - got to luv becks ;-)

All, I've posted this query here as I think it has more to do with my internet configuration rather than serving fm. Anyway here goes... I've recently 'invested' in an ADSL connection. The new modem [speedTouch 350] works perfectly for browsing/email and is assigned a dynamic IP by my ISP. The modem serves an ethernet network. I'm running OSX. Now I need to serve my FM dbs to the web. I know the dynamic ip will mean that I don't have a static site, but I can get around this by using the re-direction technique provided by no-ip.com as suggested in a previous post. The problem seems to be in directing incoming web connections to the web server rather than the modem. Eg the modem has IP XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX and the server has static IP 10.0.0.1. When I browse to the modem IP I get the modem config site - not the 10.0.0.1 site. I'm sure this a generic issue that has been covered before - but as a newby this is new ground. Any assistance would be great. Thanks C

Gary - your a legend! The Raw encoding worked. I misinterpreted the HTML encoding. Thanks Chris

Probably an easy one... I have an e-mail DB that can send + receive using a commercial plugin. Amongst other items, the message of the email is contained in a 'Content' field. When a plain text message is received this is correctly rendered to the browser using a -field tag. But when messages are in rich text/HTML format these are also only rendered as text. The question is - how can these messages be shown correctly? Any ideas?