hillborne

More evidence of your expertise...even without all the info, you can make some very insightful suggestions! I will try to implement this on a test relationship and see how it works. Superb, thanks!

Hi Comment, It works! And more importantly, I understand how it works. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me. I took a look at your horizontal portal example and it looks very nice...and efficient! However, contrary to your name, it will take me some time to figure out what everything does and how the filter and script interact. I regret to say that my portals are presently filtered like this: PROD::__kP_Product_ID = GetValue ( prod_PROD__grid::g_FoundProdIDs_t ; (zGLOBALVALUES::g_Portal_Matrix_n * zGLOBALVALUES::g_Portal_Page_n - 9) ) I have a self join of the Product table based on a global field of script-populated PrimaryIDs. I couldn't figure out a way to abstract out the incrementing value. No biggie, I guess, but I know it's not the 'right' way. Thanks, again, Comment.

Hi All, I know you shouldn't be using repeating fields for data since it complicates things but I'm guessing it's okay to use them in user interface aids. What I have right now is a layout that somewhat resembles a webpage. As you can see in the top half of the attachment, there are 12 product images numbered 1-12. The upper right of the image shows that you are seeing page 1 out of 26. Originally, the client was happy to have these arbitrary 1-12 numbers as visual aids for a customer to call out "I like #3 and #9" and then those products could be added to their 'like list' that you see on the right. After reviewing the first page, you can go to the next page which would show another 12 products like in the bottom half of the attachment. Now, the client wants the numbers to be incremented per page so it's not confusing for the customer. So on page 2, the numbers should go from 13-24 and so on. The relevant fields I have right now are 2 globals: g_PageNumber and g_Matrix (which is the number of boxes, so 12) From my research on the forum, I think I need to use some form of repeating calculation and possibly Extend() and GetRepetition as well as in Layout mode to show only repetition 1/12, 2/12, 3/12, of the field etc. but I just don't know the right way to go about pulling it all together. If you can help me understand the proper way to use repeating values, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Hi Comment, That sounds promising! So, for final clarification: On LineItems I will have a subtotal calculation that takes the retail price from Product and multiplies it by the quantity in LineItems. Then on the customer/quote table I use SUM on that subtotal calculation? I just didn't know how to put together the three fields and three tables (Price, Subtotal, Grandtotal vs Customer, Line Item, Product) Thanks, again. You have been super helpful.

When you say: It makes me concerned that I can't do the grand total calculation from the customer table because it would still be trying to refer to quantities from the join table and would still only pull the first related record. So if you have just switched perspective in a many-to-many relationship, it'd still be 'broken.' Does that mean you really have to put all the calculations in the join table and the 'quote' is a layout based on that join table? Ug, still confused.

Hi Comment, That example and your explanation are very helpful, thank you! I think the flaw in my model is that I'm running the calcs and summary on a layout based on the product table. I would do a search in products to find all products that are related to a customer and then switch to a quote layout based on products. If that is the flaw, can you explain why the calcs only select the quantity that is 'first' in the join table? I would just like to understand the fundamental mistake I've made. Since I don't need to track multiple invoices/quotes, would you agree that I can use the CONTACT table instead and put the calcs there? Once again, thank you for your help.

Hi Vaughan, The 2 monitor interface works and the 12 portal matrix acts just like a website with 'next page, previous page, goto page,' etc. The data model was working and at first even the 'quoting' function seemed to work. It wasn't until 2 customers liked the same product that I saw the problem of the quantities of the 'top most' customer in the portal being used all the time. I'd imagine that what I'm trying to do isn't that different than a Customer-Invoice-Product database? If anyone has experience doing calculations through join tables, they might be able to help me. Where do you have the calc fields and from what perspective do they calculate?

Hey all, I'm working on my second database and coming off a filemaker bender of twenty five consecutive 15-hour days. My mind is fried and I'm missing a very simple concept that's causing this problem, I'm sure. I have learned an important word this month, though: featurecreep. Based on the attached picture, I'm hoping someone can guide me through the correct way to set up a quote based on a quantity of products a customer has chosen. My trial and error approach to fix this failed. I'm going to try to sleep and hope not to see the relationship graph in my dreams...again. If anyone can help, they might just save my sanity.

Hi Fenton, Once again, thank you for your time! I am sincerely appreciative of the effort this forum, and you in particular, expend in sharing knowledge. I 100% agree that the scope of this project is beyond my abilities at this point so I am re-adjusting it as I go. I am starting with the ability to just filter the central portal navigation table based on the user or privilege set and will worry about the cross company access later. I can make do with reporting the data to the necessary people myself because anything is better than a flat file excel doc with 50,000 cells (including images) which is what I'm currently using. I went to your website and see that you are a consultant. Is this still the case? It seems like you are busy at the moment but hopefully not too busy to entertain a business proposal? If you are interested, I'd like to see about an arrangement for consulting. Please contact me at travis at g mail if you are free.

Fenton, Comment, I truly appreciate your input and responses on this. In general, I'm unclear when to use a User table and when to rely on the accounts/privilege options. Comment: Regarding the pop up window--creating a new window, naming it, and selecting it are allowable script steps in IWP so if on every layout, I had an icon to bring up the Navigation window, I can show the user through filtered portals where he could go, right? How do you feel about a pop up Navigation window in general? It would save me from having to copy/paste/re-context every current and future layout. The amount of mouse clicks are the same. I am still considering how and if to use the accordion and the nesting/hierarchical techniques for navigation versus 2 filtered portals. I still trying to piece together filtered portals, User table + privileges, as well as a navigation script in order to have a solid system that is both client and IWP friendly. Fenton: Whoah...okay...well I will start off slowly on a project by project basis and after the high level users get accustomed, I will ease into a more granular access. You mentioned you have a simpler navigation and access system and I'm so curious to see it! Your theoretical construction seem great to me but I learn best by playing with things. Having too many large, abstract, and unfamiliar elements rattling around my skull leaves me in a spotlight deer trance.

The nested tab control object was my first thought I wasn't sure if you could show or hide the tabs depending on the privilege settings. I want to avoid giving the user error messages when they try to do things they aren't allowed to do. Can you give me your opinion on using this portal navigation system integrated into each layout versus a separate Navigation window that pops up and then disappears after the user makes a choice? What about having the pop up navigation be a hierarchical portal? I saw that and it looked pretty cool but it might be out of my grasp for technical reasons. Also, if anyone were willing to send me a simple example file with any working method showing 2 accounts/privileges (Admin account showing all menus and another showing half the menus) plus 2 Main menus + 2 submenu examples, I will send you an Andrew Jackson via Paypal. I'm crunched for time and need to get a prototype working and populated in the next 10 days. Thanks for your help and consideration!

There are several companies that would access the database on shared projects and I need a way to let company A see a portion of company B's records but not company C's. In addition, certain employees of each company would only be able to do and see certain records of the different companies.

Hi Comment, Thanks for replying. Understood about the security. I was reading another post about ersatz permissions and how they aren't as secure as the built in privileges in FMP. There might be half a dozen companies with 1-3 levels of use...so about 20 sets. Horizontal portals seem to be fine in IWP...what other issues were you thinking about regarding viewing it on the web? If you have any suggestions on a central, easily replicated navigation method I'm interested in your...comments!

Hmmm....is something like this even possible? How about practical? After seeing this link I have my doubts: http://filemakertoday.com/com/showthread.php?t=19229 Any suggestions for easy permission based navigation? Related value lists in drop down menus? How about a separate navigation table that pops up?

I'm coming back to FMP after a long absence so please consider me a newbie. What I want to do is create a menu system that is based on a User so that at the top of each layout are MENU and submenu options depending on whether the User has permission to see them. After clicking on a menu, the menu name gets passed as a script parameter to a Navigation script I have that works and takes the user to another layout. Attached in 'A' is an example of what I want it to look like assuming the User had full access--2 horizontally oriented portals set to display 1-1, 2-2, etc... I understand that the menu positions and maximums are going to be fixed (7 Main, 8 Sub) Looking at 'B' I know I need a User table and I believe I need a pink Menu table listing all the 50 menu options with perhaps an attribute field to denote Menu or Submenu status. I'm a little fuzzy about how Menu will relate to Submenu. Do I need a join table between them? Perhaps a self join? Note: Submenu options will be unique to the Main menu they spawn from. In 'A,' QUOTES will only ever appear under PRODUCTS. It seems like the submenu portal will have to be filtered by setting a global to be whatever main menu was chosen, right? Ideally, I'd open up Bob's User record and put checkboxes next to all the menus and submenus he's allowed to access. I'm unsure about how to actually setup the relationship between the User and Menus. In the green join table called Menu Access? So from the user table there is a portal into Menu Access...or into Menu? The user interface for this is a little confusing. Finally, it seems that this whole blue Menu Group will have to be attached to each and every other base table in order for the menus to show up? I'm making this anchor-buoy style so it's not a big deal but if you have any suggestions for simplifying this I'm all ears. This will be served via IWP. If it's easier to send an example file I'll gladly learn from that as well. Also, if you are willing to accept a paypal re-imbursement for your time on this and possibly future questions, please send me an email. Thanks! Travis