kcdot

Thank you so much for your in-depth reply! Here's the thing. What you have outlined is what most databases do that I have found for storing grades. The problem is, I have a college with a 14 month program where a group of students starts in "Modeling 1" and then moves on the "Modeling 2", etc. The students are in 2 classes per month - one that meets T/TH and one that meets MWF. Each class has pretty much the same assignments every time it repeats (with a new group of students every other month). So I need a link between the assignments and the class title. And, really, I don't need to store student info in this database - that's kept elsewhere in the College. So really, I just need a list of students I can assign to a class for a month, have the relevant assignments fill in on thier "page" when i select the appropriate class title, and fill in scores for them. i have a portal in the "students" database wherein the assignment and the grade weight for each assignment fills in (relative to the class title selected), but I need to then ENTER the grades in the "Student" database. So how do I get at the info that has filled into the portal row to calculate the grade using the score (entered in the Student database) plus the weight (brought into the portal from the Assignmetns databse)? Any ideas? I don't need to select it, and that seems to be the only tools I can find "getPortalRow" and the like. I am lost! k.C.

I have a db with different classes different assignments listed, including the weight of the grade for each assignment. I have another db for specific students with a portal wherein, upon selection of the class title, the assignments related to the class fill in, as well as the related grade weight. NOW, I need to enter scores for each assignment in this student database and then calculate the appropriate grade based on the weight. I am lining fields up by the appropriate portal row, but I cannot seem to access lines or rows or fields in this portal to perform my calculations. Is there a way to do this? or am I going about this all wrong? Thanks for any suggestions! K.C murphy

hello! i am new to this group and new to FileMaker 6 - I think I used it last about 6 years ago... SO, I downloaded a set of databases called "Classmate" which addressed some of the issues I needed to address with a database, but the problem was, it was for a school where one kid is in one class ("grade 4") for an entire year. I teach at a college where 20 kids are in multiple classes that repeat every other month. What I need is for the student's name to be related to the assignments which are related to the class title. So Steve Smith is in 3D Modeling and DVD Authoring. the assignments remain the same every time the class repeats, but of course I need to keep Steve's grades for the class with Steve. i have a "Grades" database, where I enter the grades and the assignments in relation to Steve, I have an "Assignments" database wherein I define the assignments and the class title and term. i have a "Students" database wherein student info (age, address, and grades and class title are available) is listed. I cannot figure out how to say When i am in the student database, and I pick Steve, i need to ALSO pick the class title to get the grades for the assignemnts for THAT CLASS. So 3 things need to be related! i am confused. Is this too much for a message group?! i hope not - any help or places for me to go for help would be appreciated! thanks! K.C. Murphy expression center for new media