General Database Design and CDML...

[Walter Chisenski]

Hello all,

I'm new to FileMaker Pro (and database design for that matter).

I'm looking to create a very simple knowledge base to use on our Intranet. Wanting to do the right thing, I was thinking of creating at least 3 files and try to normalize the data. Below are the fields created in each file.

FIle-1:

Title

Issue

Solution

Additional_Information

Document_ID

Creation_Date

Modified_Date

Product_ID

Module_ID

File-2:

Product ID

Product_Name

File-3:

Module ID

Module_Name

Now, with the following files I have created relationships between the main file (File-1) and the Product ID to the Product ID in FIle-2. The name thing for the Module ID and FIle-3.

A couple of questions.

1. Is this a smart database design? I know it's simple, but I wanted to try to normalize the data, hence File-2 and File-3. What should I do different.

2. My MAIN question, how do I then display the data in File-2 using CDML, when most of the data is coming from FIle-1. I can do this from FileMaker by just creating a field in my form, picking the file and field I want to display. I have not been able to get this working using CDML. Some of the things I've tried is:

Product Name: [FMP-Field: File-2::Product_Name]

Product Name: [FMP-Field: ::Product_Name]

How do I associate this using CDML? Any advice would be great. Sorry if there's too much or not enough detail in this post.

--

Walter

[Walter Chisenski]

Sorry folks -- I didn't see the CDML forum before posting here. If I don't find the answer in that forum, I will repost there.

Thanks,

--

Walter

[Unable]

Once you get going, you will find that either portals or inlineaction will allow you to access data from the second db with CDML.

You may or may not find something useful in the SampleFiles forum. Several CDML solutions have been offered for free there.

There are many threads on the Internet forums which address this.

Good luck.