basically, the question is simple. . .

I need to make a directory of sorts of companies. Each record will hold the companies address info and special features, etc. so each record would have all the same fields, but not all the fields would be filled out for some companies. . . so far, easy. . .

next we put them into columns, three per page. . .

Problem #1 - can i do columns with records in filemaker? i haven't ever had too. . .

Problem #2 - if i can, then i don't want records to wrap, i.e. - if it doesn't fit in the alloted space at the end of the column, the WHOLE record goes to the next column.

after that. . . we need an index.

Problem #3 - pagination. . . if each record has a record id, how can i have a field in the index layouts that tells me what page of the directory it's on. . .

is this even touchable in Filemaker? the more i think about it, the more i think not. . .

jeremy

To get multiple columns in FMP, go to the Layout Setup options. Note: columns only appear when printed or previewed. Records are never wrapped across columns.

This might be a situation when it's faster to export the data and do the layout work in PageMaker or some other decent dtp tool.

There is a file on Database Pros called "Create and Index". You will need to modify the technique to fit your solution. I have found that it can be quite slow when creating an index for several thousand records. By slow, I mean hours. Also, if you are on Windows, there is an issue with preview mode showing a different number of pages than actually prints when fields are set to slide up and reducing the enclosing part. This will make your index incorrect. If you are on a MAC, you shouldn't have to worry about it.

thanks for the help so far

as for columns: okay, in my 3 years of Filemaker i've never had to use columns, so bear with me. When i do columns, i need some sliding... let me explain. I have to make the column in the layout tall enough to accomodate for the largest possible record, using merge fields of course, so that all the info slides up nicely. Problem i'm having is that the body won't slide up no matter what i try so instead of having the next record close against the one above, i'll get a huge gap between them. . . this isn't good for us.

Framemaker: yeah, i've got it right here. Never used it, no one in my company has ever used it, don't have time to figure it out for this project (though, knowing my boss, he'll have me figure it out anyway for future reference, which is fine by me.)

Indexing: Oh my, forget 1000s of records, this thing has about 7000 records. . . maybe we should send this one out, and get the next one, the deadline is tight. Too bad they just gave the project to me. . . none the less, i'll check that solution out that you mentioned.

Thanks for the help, any more advice on the columns or indexing would be greatly appreciated.

jeremy

got the sliding thing to work. . . don't know why it wasnt working, but i got it working now. . .

still messing with the indexing.

jeremy

Create a Number Field "TempPage"

In your script you use to find and sort your records add steps to

1. go to preview mode

2. replace c_page = Status(CurrentPageNumber)

go to your index layout that should contain the ID number and TempPage and other information you need and you can sort by page number and print. You can then replace the TempPage with "" if you do not want to retain the page numbers.