Unsure about how to use the answer

[Robbydobbs]

I have a question similar to another question in this Forum. I have a file (Customers) with 22000 records containing last name, first name, company name, address, phone number and customer number. In the main file (Data Entry) I need to do a find for the records in the Customers file. I should be able to do the find by either of the fields mentioned above. There was an answer given in an earlier Post that said:

Your process will be something like this: get the search data in the other file, then use Set Field [] to put this data into a global field in the main file. Your search data is now in where you want. In the main file, enter find mode then use Set Field [] to insert the global field data into the find request, then perform the find.

Make sure that neither the Enter Find Mode [] nor the Perform Find [] script steps have the "restore find requests" option selected.

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Vaughan Bromfield

Sydney, Australia

I'm not quite sure how to go about doing this, if this is the correct answer to my question?

Dobbers

[Oldsneekers]

If you do not want the user to specify the data type (last name, first name, company name...) by which to do the find, and you want to keep the search criteria simlpe, create a calc field in Customer File that contains this info (last name field & first name field & company name field...), In the data file, put this related field on the layout and now you should be able to do the search.

If you want to be able to do more complex searches (all Josephs or only all Josephs that wok in company X) you will need to put all the related fields for find criteria on the layout in Data file.

Good luck

[LaRetta]

Hi Dobbers

Hmmm, by the sound of it, I tend to think Data Entry currently isn't related to Customers? Or do you already have a relationship established? You can relate the two dBs on a key set to '1'. In Data Entry create gCustomer.key (global number = 1) and in Customers create cDataEntry.key, calculation, number STORED =1). This will allow you to search all Customers (as previously suggested by Oldsneekers). Then when you create a new Data Entry record, you can grab the correct 'found' Customer and insert the CustomerID into your data entry record.

It's probably silly for me to mention it, but some sort of relationship is necessary. You might want to explain your structure a bit - what the relationship is, before you implement any suggestions, however.

LaRetta

[Robbydobbs]

LaRetta, Thanks for your input. I'll try what you suggested and see if it works.

Dobbers

[LaRetta]

Hi Dobbers!

Yikes! It would be better if you explained your existing structure (what relationship currently exists, if any) first. I would question why Data Entry is called Data Entry (instead of Invoices, or Contracts or whatever), and why it's not related properly to begin with.

I'd hate to feel responsible for you having problems, Dobbers!! Please perform a BACKUP!

LaRetta

[Vaughan]

If I remember correctly, that quote was for a person who wanted people to be able to enter search criteria while in Browse mode -- at least that's what it'll do. I doubt whether that will help you in your original question.

I think LaRetta has hit the nail on the head: is your data structure correct? What you want to do isn't difficult at all if everything is set up correctly.