How can one populate a drop down value list based on portal data (entries) in a related file? Is this possible?

Basically I have one file containing departments and another file containing employees with a relation :departments. In the department file I have a portal that contains employees from each department. In a Third file I would like to make a drop down containing the names of employees in one particular department.

Maybe portals isn't the best way to do this.

Thanks!

What you are looking for is a value list based on related values. In the value list setup, select "Use values from field" then in the next dialog, select "only related values," and then select the appropriate relationship.

What kind of relationship do I need between the Third file and the departments file in order for it to populate the list with people from only one particular department?

Thanks

You'd need a relationship which is based on a unique department identifier (eg department code) in both files.

With such a relationship in place (and defined as the basis for a value list) only values residing in the designated field (eg staff name) on a record where the key field (for the relationship) is the same as the corresponding key field value on the current record, will be included in the value list.

Ahhhhh........ I see where you are coming from. Cool! I'll give it a try.