mike60640

omg... so simple, why have i not seen that. thanks

Is there a way to use the content of a text field (field names typed in as well as & "text" strings) and place it to be used AS THE calculation to generate a text result? I have a calc field that generates a text string of various fields and some added punctuation and spaces. The user grabs this text to paste in another application. The thing is that this formula may change over time. And instead of having the client "open up" the database to change the calculation, I thought I could create a layout where they might be able to edit a text field which then is used as the calculation. I would provide them with the field names and syntax as well as instructions on the layout. I tried this but the calc field only returns the text field's content as text... not as the calculated text result. Any thoughts?

We've seen it all the time on websites... In a untouched field it gives some sample data grayed out to let you know what format to enter your information. Once you click in the field it disappears never to show again, even if you don't enter information. Is there a way to do this in Filemaker?

Thanks, good idea. I'll consider that for later. But for now, this is a small place and the field is not expected to be used much. It's for problem solving data entry errors. thanks again.

Thanks What do you mean by this? The records data should not change even if the user's account information or login changes. Are you talking about creating a whole lookup for StaffID #s to use instead so if login changes they will still be under the same ID?

Hello, I have not worked much with server side authentication and only delt a little bit with file security settings and all of that was years ago. So I'm back now building a bigger project. I am designing a database and want to auto enter who created each record. I know later on I'll be dealing with each users privileges and log-ins. So, what is the difference with (when defining a fields auto entering criteria) "Account Name" and "Name"? Thanks

You are right, the Line item doesn't need to replicate data already in the Product table. I was thinking of the next step, when this is a NEW product (no existing product was selected) and that data will be needed. I guess I can use some global fields in LineItem table for data entry, If no matching portal products were selected then will create a new Product and create a Line Item w/the same unique ProductID.

There are more layers to this DB than I have not divulged. The Line Item info needs to be retained because some samples may come in damaged while others do not. The Product info that I'm pulling details for are specific to that product, but then that particular sample will then be called upon to be shipped back, while other samples (of that same product) may stay around.

Yes, I think all are needed. The idea is they are entering all the data for a incoming product. At any time I want them to see matching data in existing Product table, and if they see something matching they can pick it to auto complete the data entry and that will also assign that item the same [hidden] serial number. Clients send in merch with one or two of these numbers but never all of them at the same time, hence the more complex relationship to view existing records.

I think the problem comes from the relationship. I have ClientName, ProdNumA, ProdNumB and ProdNumC in both tables. And when you recommended making a relationship to the new cProdNum field in Products, then to which of those ProdNum fields do I relate? Right off the bat I did ProdNumA. That's why it appeared to be the only one working. Should I then make a cProdNums field in LineItem table to use in the relation? I did this and AFTER entering ClientName it works. The portal shows the products regardless of which ProdNum field I use to enter another ProdNum data into. This might be ok. I need to discuss with my client all the clients possible data. But what if I wanted to ONLY show results when entering the ProdNumA into ProdNumA field? Like I said before... when entering one ProdNum (A, B or C) into it's correct field them the portal shows matching records, then when entering another field the portal will narrow down the portal results.

Thanks Comment. I have FM v.11 Advanced now. I've been away from FM for the versions in between. This helps but it doesn't work the way I need. example entry... Product 1A data: ClientName = Sears ProdNumA = 001 ProdNumB = AAA ProdNumC = 11AA1 Right now when entering ClientName the portal come up empty, but would rather it show me All the Sears products. Then enter ProdNumA and will show Product 1A. When entering ProdNumB and ProdNumC data doesn't efect the portal at all, either with ClientName or ProdNumA data present or not present. But, right now if I enter JUST the ProdNumA it shows All products regardless of client (this is good). I guess I need to consider all 4 of these fields as equal and when entering one of them the portal shows matching, then when entering another one the portal will narow down the portal results. Does that help? I really appreciate your help.

Comment, The numbers (actually need to be text fields) may theoretically be generated and be the same, but that is statistically unlikely to happen. They are all generated separately for different purposes and then for us to get that particular product is a long shot, but could happen I guess. Yes, when we get a number we do know which number it represents.

Although I think it would be nice to give the person a pick-list of existing products to pick from that match... It may let them confirm the other details of the product before confirming it is the same item or it's a new item to be added to the Product table. But if I can't do this successfully, maybe another way to enter the existing matching data is using look-up tables but this is not prefered

Hello, Sometimes when I'm planning a database my head starts spinning and I get stuck. Can anyone help me think? I have a Product table and each product has a client name and 3 different product numbers (each means something different). I then have a Receiving-Line-Item table to check in products. Products coming in may have one of the numbers and not the others. When entering in the Receiving-Line-Item table I would love to have a portal showing matching existing data in the Product table. When entering the client, then the number of items in the portal would go down and only show those clients. Then entering ONE of the other numbers would show even fewer choices in the portal. Obviously the single portal can't show "this relationship" AND "this relationship" AND "this one". What fields to add or calculations to do. I'm stuck. Is this possible? Any thoughts?

thanks for the help. I did open a copy of the file and looking at the scripts I see some command lines that are blank (like a few that are within an IF-THEN command). Looks like those might represent unsupported script commands. I think i need to somehow get an upgrade then before committing to make the changes to their file. On a similar note then... If i decide to spring for the $$ and upgrade, and then brush up on my FMP knowledge, Is there work as a FMP developer these days or is it a dead program (as one friend put it)? I'm currently unemployed in the photo retouching buisiness and when i worked on designing databases for my last studio i loved it and could see doing it more if there is work out there.

Hello all, A friend has a FMP file they have been using in v9 at thier office. The file is for an art gallery (inventory, sales and invoicing)... all integrated into 2 seperate files (the 2nd file containing only the art images). No online functions or anything seeming that complex... just LOTS of seperate tables, relationships, and billions of fields and scripts created by probably 4 previous developers. They need some cosmetic work done on some layouts. I think i can do the changes they need but only have an older version (v7) available to me. And, I'm not familiar with what has changed with the file formats since v7. I do have the file and it opens fine without ANY alert message. And, it seems to work fine although I don't know all the functions they built in under the hood. Can I open the v9 file in version v7, make the slight tweeks and not effect other features when they reopen it in v9? OR.. Does anyone know of features that are effected when opening a v9 file in v7? Any help would be great. Thanks