shellas

Is there a way to convert data in a text field to date? I have a text field with the data 2009-10, which should read October 2009. How can I convert this data to a date field (Oct 2009)? Thanks.

Hi, No, I am using the File --> Print command. I've checked and rechecked the settings in the Print Setup but can see nothing out of place.

Hi, I am using a Star receipt printer to print retail sales receipts. I've adjusted the font and margins in layout mode and everything is within the margins. However, when the actual receipt gets printed, the words run off the sides of the receipt paper. I've set the printer settings for receipt paper, and set whatever can be set in Filemaker in regards to print options, but to know avail. Can anybody suggest anything else I can try? Thanks.

Hi, Attached are my files. Please take a look at the changes. I basically wanted the correct price to be pulled up from the price list file based on the quantity ordered, but I have not been able to get that done yet. Please take a look and let me know your suggestions, ideas, solution. Thank you for your time. Invoice_Test.zip

Hi, I've been able to come up with a partial "solution" for picking out the prices within records, and have altered my files a bit. I am still trying to make it more intuitive though. I will post my files here later on today.

Hi, I am sorry for the delay but I was called away from my desk last week. Here is the attachment with sample files. I'd really appreciate whatever help you can provide. Thanks! Invoice_Test.zip

I am not able to attach my files here, since even after altering the size of the files they still have about 36mb, and I am only allowed to upload 1.05mb here. I'll see if I can reduce the size of the files further.

Mr. Osborne: I made up some fictitious examples as I thought a 'simple' question would more likely be answered than a 'complex' one. I will attach my file later today. Thank you.

I am not sure if I've posted on the right forum but I hope someone can help me here. Basically I am trying to set some kind of tag within each record so that the correct price can be picked out based on what quantity the customer gets. Record 1 Description Field: Doll Price Field1: 1.00 Price Field1 unit of measure: EA Price Field2: 10.00 Price Field2 unit of measure: DZ (For this product 'doll', if the customer buys 1 the cost is 1.00, but if the customer buys a dozen the cost is 10.00) Record 2 Description Field: Volleyball Price Field1: 25.00 Price Field1 unit of measure: EA Price Field2: 140.00 Price Field2 unit of measure: 6 (PCS) (For 'volleyball' if only one is purchased the cost is 25.00, but if 6 is purchased, the price would be 140.00 for all 6) I know there is a way to do this but I can't seem to get it. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you swf, dwins, and LaRetta. Thank you sbg2 for showing us your method. I have a trial version of FMP8 so I was able to open up your file. However, I have not had a chance to actually analyze it. We had an accident at work that has 3 of our most valuable workers on sick leave, so I'm extremely busy filling in. But I want to let you all know that I appreciate your interest in helping.

Hello aaa, Thank you very much for your willingness to help. I've tried retrieving just the "wrong" part, but the file is linked to 3 other files. Since all types of calculations are embedded within I have not been able to extract just the part pertinent to my query. I will keep trying and update you when I am successful. I mean no offense and hope that you understand.

You've struck the nail on the head, LaRetta. I've been trying to come up with a solution from a looonng time ago, but just couldn't figure out how I'm going to "disintegrate" the pricing levels for certain items. I've had to create a different file for wholesale prices and do calculations to split the prices from the UM's. Moreover, I've had to set those wholesale prices field as repeating fields because for some items different quantities purchased mean different prices. I have wholesale price and wholesale UM fields. One of the more complicated entries look something like this (all wholesale price information in one text field and all retail price information in another text field): Description: Candles by Pack Wholesale Price: Credit 26.00 dozen 78.00 case (40 pks per case) 720.00 10 cases Cash: 75.00 case 700.00 10 cases 1575.00 25 cases Retail price: 2.75 pk 2.25 pk taking 2 pks For the wholesale part, I've created another file that breaks down the pricing structure as below: (Layout Split in 2 sides - credit & cash) Under credit side in the following order as 3 repeating fields: Unit Price, Readable Price (readable so we can see the amount that we usually refer to)& Qty Range 2.1667 26.00 12 1.9500 78.00 40 1.8000 720.00 400 Similar calculations are done for the cash side as well. And by the way, I've had to do all this manually. These are necessary as wholesale orders are entered in another file called the invoice file, where I've created a layout to choose the item by words or item numbers, and then selecting the one desired, at which time the appropriate price is pulled up due to the quantity chosen. For the retail part, I've created a layout within the same all-in-one file that I originally have, extracting and separating the price value from the retail UM value. The only thing is that I've written a script for it and was running the script everytime we add new entries to the database, which sometimes can be as much as 500 items. (The solution swf had suggested was readily available but somehow I didn't even consider that method.) In the retail price layout, I have a retprice field that holds the number part of the price, and a ret UM field that holds the UM part of the price. The information in this layout is called upon from another file called the "Retail Price Menu", where when the barcode is scanned in, the information is retrieved from the original price file, and the price is set in the price field. I can then choose how many the customer wants, override the price if so desired, and give a discount in either percent or dollar amount. With this method, however, only the first retail price would be pulled up. I would like to get some ideas on how to pull up the other parts as well. I also have the problem of not being able to identify each item by a unique number or upc, as not all items have item numbers or upc's. And the people in charge here are not interested in putting a unique identifier on everything. Instead, I was asked to create solution where, if more than one item have the exact same item number (mine you, it's the 4 or 5 digit item number and not the upc), all items with that number would be shown, and the user can choose the item desired, and the correct pricing structure would be pulled up. I still haven't been able to get this done yet. The solution I've created can only pull up the first available item that matches the number, but not the second or third one. Likewise, if the item does not have an item number or upc, it will need to be looked up according to keywords, and chosen from the resulting data shown. The project and the solution are complicated. I hope I haven't confused anyone with what I'm trying to get across.

Stanley, Yes, I can print to all other printers from FMP. These include a HP1320 Laserjet, a HP7350 Photosmart, and a Xerox XD100. I am wondering, however, whether I need to get a plug-in for FMP to write to the COM1 port, as it is connected to the computer via a serial port. If it is necessary, I would like to know how to program the software to communicate with the serial port.

I finally get a solution and I'm back to let you know what the problem was. First off, the software that downloaded for the Star printer had drivers for all different printers manufactured by Star Micronics. I was clicking through the installation too fast and didn't realize that I had "picked" the TUP992, thus the printer was recognized as such. After the posts here my experience with the printer had gone from weird to strange. I had to install and uninstall numerous times with no effect. When I got in touch with Star Micronics support, the technician had me open up the Phillips screw at the bottom of the printer and set the DIP switch to proper alignment (one of the pins was set to "off"). After doing this adjustment I was able to print from Windows application. I still cannot print from FileMaker, however. Can anyone give me pointers for this?

Thanks, swf. I don't know what I have been thinking, or not thinking! for that matter. I have used this exact same method in other calculations, and yet I haven't thought of that. I guess my skills are not that "intermediate" after all. Next thing, some of these retail price fields (btw, they are set as text fields) have more than one "set" of data in them, meaning the field entries look something like below: 3.95 EA 9.50 PK In that case, the above solution will not work properly, as the result would be "3.95" & "PK". Can anyone help me out with this one?

I have a field that holds the retail price of products. Unfortunately the database was poorly designed. The price as well as the unit of measure got entered into the same field, for example, "3.95 EA." Now, I have something like 18,000 records that I need to separate the price from the UM. Is there a script that can be written to automatically separate the number (3.95) from the UM (EA)?

Thank you aaa. I have downloaded your file and am still analyzing it. It got sorted fine at first (meaning the item number along with the description) but for some reason afterwards it wouldn't sort properly (meaning the item number got sorted separately from the description). I'm also trying to get the fields (price, quantity, extended price) which are included in the same portal to sort along with the portal row. I think I'm missing something somewhere and I'm still analyzing it. But you've been very helpful. Thank you so much. Of couse if you or anyone else can give me some more tips or guidance I would really appreciate it.

I have successfully incorporated this method into my work, but I realized that it doesn't quite do what I intended. The item number and description fields are set in a portal, with a script to pull up the correct price for each item based on the unique item number. When I sorted each field, the prices invariably got all mixed up. Therefore, I am actually looking for a way to sort each portal row based on the item number field or the description field. Anybody knows how to do this? Thanks.

Thank you. I am currently looking over your file and will try to incorporate this method into my present solution.

I have an invoicing file with several fields (item number, description, unit price, extended price) in a portal. It can be automatically sorted by setting the "sort related records" in the portal relationship. But I want to set buttons above each heading, so that I can click on whichever heading, and the fields in the portal will be sorted by that heading, just like in table view. For example, clicking on the button for "item number" will cause the fields in the portal to be sorted according to item number. Likewise, clicking on the "description" button will cause the fields in the portal to be sorted by description. Does anyone know of a non-complicated way to do this?

Thank you for your comments, Stanley. I tried printing something from Excel, but again all gibberish gets printed. I did see, however, that the manual states there are some codes which need to be inputted or entered in order to print correctly. I will look at those today and see if I can find a solution.

I finally get it to print! I was installing the printer on the wrong port. I installed it on Com 1 port, but it actually works on the Com 2 port. However, on the Com 2 port the printer is no longer identified as Star SP512, instead it is identified as TUP992. And after the test page prints, the printer prints all gibberish. Does anyone know why this is happening and how I can fix the problem?

I am trying to develop a pos solution in FM6. I recently got a Star receipt printer SP512 and attach it on to the serial port of the computer. While the printer is recognized under "Printers & Faxes" in Windows, I cannot get it to print even the test page. Anyone has the solution to this? Any suggestion or help is appreciated.