Newbie Question

[laxx]

Hi,

I am a newbie on FMPro, and I have a question:

I have a field TURSPEED with contains values 0 to 5. These values have specific meanings 0 - none, 1 - Very Slow, 2 - Slow, 3 - Medium, 4 - Fast, 5 - Very Fast.

I wonder how I can represent the Text Speed in a form layout where instead of numerical values, the actual text is shown (eg. Fast).

Of couse, it would be easier to hardcode the speed in text into the field rather than numbers, but then I would lose sorting/index ability on the numberical field.

My current thoughts of approaching this is:

a. use another table/file/DB to represent the relationship of TURSPEED numbers to the text.

b. use a calculated field and script the text values from the numerical values.

Both solutions a. and b. seem like an overkill to a simple problems, how are the FMPro experts doing it ?

TIA

laxx

[Lee Smith]

I like option b. Use a value list for the speed selection and attach it to a new field and then change your field TURSPEED to a calculation based on the results put into the new field.

TURSPEED = number rusult

Case(NewField="none", 0, NewField="Very Slow", 1, NewField="Slow", 2, NewField="Medium", 3, NewField="Fast", 4, NewField="Very Fast", 4, )

Besure that the values in your value list match exactly the values in the case statement.

HTH

Lee

[laxx]

Hey Lee Smith,

thanks. I tried it out and it works!

actually, i realised one thing about Filemaker, there is no concept of variables, there is only fields, hence, probably alot of sub-calculations have to be done at the field level.

I have a question here, Global variables, do they occupy alot of space ?

I am creating flags to be tagged to a particular vehicle, the obvious way is to create a container for each record, which would take up space, however, I am thinking of using global variables for each country flag, and a calculated field container for the flag for that particular record. hence the question: do global fields occupy space at each record or is it stored only once hence the term global.

tia!

laxx

[Lee Smith]

Hi laxx,

[color:"blue"]

> actually, i realised one thing about Filemaker, there is no concept of

> variables, there is only fields, hence, probably alot of sub-calculations have

> to be done at the field level.

I think you will find a lot of things that they are useful for.

[color:"blue"]

> I have a question here, Global variables, do they occupy alot of space ?

They will take up the same space as any other field, which is dependent on what's in them. One thing to remember is that Global fields become local when they are in a shared environment.

[color:"blue"]

> I am creating flags to be tagged to a particular vehicle, the obvious way is

> to create a container for each record, which would take up space, however, I

> am thinking of using global variables for each country flag, and a calculated

> field container for the flag for that particular record. hence the question:

> do global fields occupy space at each record or is it stored only once hence

> the term global.

Global fields have many uses, as you will see by reading the different questions and answers in these forums. Storage of graphics is one, interaction with relationships is another. And the list will grow as you read.

HTH

Lee