I own a multi-media business and I am working on streamlining the bid process.

I am trying to create a database that will allow my clients will choose the (project) options that they want (via radio buttons). There about a dozen sections that they will choose from, with three (radio button) options for each section. (basically low $, med, and high)

When they click "submit" they will be taken to a "totals" layout that will show all of the sections but only the final options that were chosen by the client with the proper dollar amounts.

I need to be able to easily modify the dollar amounts and info for each item as part of my bid research.

Can anyone point me toward info that will help me to wrap my brain around this process?

I am not the ultimate FMP power user, but I am pretty good in the app.

Thanks a bunch.

Matt

Without some more detail, it's pretty hard to point you in a direction. Is the goal a printed bid or an on-screen display? Is FM to be accessed directly, as a runtime or over the web? What are the elements of a bid? How are they costed?

-bd

Thanks a bunch for the reply. It is pretty straightforward. Directly in FM. No bells or whistles, I just need to be able to easily assign variable $ amounts to each of the items , then allow the client to choose which option for each section using radio buttons, and carry the $ amount to another layout for totals. The client will probably print the totals page.

a simple template (of only two sections) as follows:

Radio Button (RB)

------------Page 1 - Layout for customer multiple choice

Section 1

item 1 description ($250)) (RB)

Item 2 description ($500)) (RB)

item 3 description ($750)) (RB)

Section 2

item 1 description ($250)) (RB)

Item 2 description ($500)) (RB)

item 3 description ($750)) (RB)

etc.....

------------Page 2 Layout for TOTALS

Section 1 = $ 750

Section 2 = $ 500

TOTAL = $1250

If each record in your file is a separate bid, I would probably:

1) If this is single user, you can store you costs in global fields

or

2) If this is multi-user, create a separate, related Costs file.

I would generate the totals page using calculations (for example):

Item Description (calc, text) =

Case(

Select = 1, Description1,

Select = 2, Description2,

Select = 3, Description3,

"")

Have a select field defined as a number field with the value list 1,2,3. Format it as radio buttons, arrange vertically, and narrow to show only the buttons (no numbers). Put this to the left of your options (so each button is opposite one selection). The same type of formula as above can be used to set the cost of the selected item.

-bd