Relationship problems (circular)

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Sorry if this post is so long...

I developped a Database using FM Pro 5.5 for my Ceramic Tiles Wholesaling business.

This DB is constituted by 20 other single bases (Products, Inventory, Client, Producer, Quotation, Sales Order, Buying Order, Transport, Delivery, Invoice,...) and one "Central Base" that compills all the main informations from the other base.

15251 records are registered in my PRODUCT BASE, all these products having an automatic seria Number.

I created that database thinking that my employees would use the Product Number as the main key to import the product specifications (Collection, Designation, Size, Price, Packaging,...) into the CENTRAL BASE when they have to sell this product.

But, due to the kind of activity we deal with (products exposed in our showroom constantly change or are eliminated), it is quite two long to seek to the article code.

I then create a new layout in the CENTRAL BASE where they can select the collection using a list field issued from PRODUCT BASE. When selected, another field automatically appears in list, using "collection Name" as a relationship key from PRODUCT BASE to CENTRAL BASE, that permit to select the "Detailled Product" (This field is a calculation in "Product Base" using "Designation" and "Size"

At that point, it imports the "Product N

[falkaholic]

Not sure what you mean, but if you want a more gracful way to select records from a list. I use this method.

Say your products have a catagory defined for each product.

In your invoice or which ever database (ie invoice) have a layout with a global field called something like gCatagory, make a relation from that to the Product catagory. Then have the gCatagoy a popup list or menu with the same popup for catagory in the Product DB.

Then Make a portal of the new gCatagory->product relation.

The portal will show all the products of the catagory selected. You can then make a button in the portal that does anything with the product the users chooses, like add it to an invoice (it will take some scripting)

HTH

[Ugo DI LUCA]

OK.

How come the idea of a portal didn't come to my mind!!! I must have at least 50 to 60 portals already made in the layouts of my Databases

Here is what I have done using your advices.

Remember that all my invoices, quotation and "executive files" are related to a Central Database,

I didn't use the global field (why should I use it ? - please answer) and created a portal using "collection Name" as the key, with a button "Copy the Product N