I'm having trouble getting relationships to work on an invoicing program I'm setting up. The three files are "Invoices", "Customers", and "Products".

"Invoices" is the main, and I can use the "Customers" account number to autofillin the pertinent info into "Invoices". The problem I'm having is getting the "Products" to do the same thing. I've set up "QTY" as a "number, repeating", "Item" as "text, repeating, and then it looks up the "description", and also the "Cost". However, as I add more items, it still looks up the "description" but will only look up the "cost" of the first "item".

All "repeating" fields are set to 20. I can't figure out why the other "items"'s costs do not show up, even though there are spaces in the layout for them.

Any help with this problem would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Bob

DON'T USE REPEATING FIELDS! USE PORTALS INSTEAD!

Okay, yes, I'm yelling. I'm yelling because you're only about the forty-eleventh person I've said this to, and I'm one of many folks on these boards to make this point.

Create portals to enter multiple lines in your invoice, then create sub-summaries in the related file to print the invoice. Yeah, I know, it's more involved, but this should get you started.

Boy, have I been told off!!!

I'm a new user, and I was trying to modify one of the sample "Purchase Order" files that comes with FMP6 for my purposes. It uses repeating fields, as does the example in the book "Filemaker Pro 6 Bible" by Steven A Schwartz. I'm sorry, I played with "Portals", and I can't find any way to do what you are suggesting. Can you please show me a file with some examples or something?

Please excuse the dummy who needs a little help.

Bob

I agree with Dan's point if not his tone. If you don't set up your db the "right" way you'll probably regret it later. Other than Google, I recommend:

http://www.filemaker.com/ti/103734.html

http://www.filemaker.com/ti/102582.html

http://fentonjones.com/FM101.html

http://www.jedi.apana.org.au/~hiltonb/ARTICLES/9804/9804TXT.HTM

The last link looks like an especially to-the-point step-by-step article.

As for your original question, not sure why your Cost is not looking up. If your files aren't too large, go ahead and upload them and I'll take a look.

By Jove, I think you've got it! I've downloaded the sample files, and now I can see how portals work, although I don't know how well they'll do opening up a list of several thousand line items, and several thousand clients, but it's a start. Thank you for your help.

Bob

Hi,

Not sure what all these links say, but just in case they don't; here is another Shout.

DON'T PRINT PORTALS, PRINT FROM THE LINE ITEM INSTEAD

You go, ugo!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

The long version is: Create a sub-summary part in the line item file so that you can print reports based on whatever the sub-summary part sorts on (PO_Number, Client, etc.).

Hi Dan,

You go, ugo!

I know, I know, I know... I accept your apologizes

From one of your post :

Non to mention LOL and ROFL, which don't show up often in these boards, but maybe they should.

ROTFLMAO