I am using a value list from another file with the ID as the first field and the name as the second field. I want the ID to appear because when chosen, the ID fills in a series of other fields in the file. However, if I try to sort by the second field, the value list gets all weird, it sorts some alpha but leaves the ID in front of some. If it sorts by the second field, no ID populates the field either. How do I keep the ID as the first field so that it can populate but sort by the second field? I tried a filtered relationship but that doesn't seem to work because my fields are not indexable. I also tried a couple calculations. Any help would be awesome here!

From your explanation, it is clear that something is amiss, but based on the information available, it's a little difficult to say exactly where the problem lies. It is possible, however, that the issue is related to a mis-match or mis-allocation of the data types of your fields.

It is also not clear whether the two fields you are using are in the same file, but if they are not, you will experience problems. If that is the case, you should consider creating a look-up field to bring one of the values into the same file as the other, then base your list on two fields from the same file (either the current file or the related file - either would do).

If your the above comments don't help, then perhaps you could provide a little more detail about how your fields and databases are set up in relation to one another, and what it is you are trying to achieve, then one of us here may be better able to make suggestions...

Sorry for the vagueness...it's monday morning!

I have two files: Equipment Repairs and Inventory.

The value list is from both fields in inventory: Inventory ID and Inventory name. However, both these fields are calculations since I only want Multimedia equipment ID's and names to appear in the value list.

The field I am attaching the value list to, I want to be populated with the Inventory ID. In order for this to happen, the ID has to be the first field in the value list. If I try to sort by the inventory name as the second field, it sorts some of them and drops the inventory ID altogether or leaves the ID there and doesn't sort.

I tried to not have the fields as calculations and instead create a filtered relationship by multimedia. Maybe this is more the way to go and I just need to change the relationship. Then I could sort the relationship by the second field.

If the second field's values are not unique, then wierd things happen when FMP indexes the values: it won't display any but the first record with the field value.