CTRL+N seems inconvenient for data entry navigation to a new record. It's simple enough to make a button with a script, but I have not been able configure a button so it could be tabbed to and "pressed" with ENTER and I prefer to avoid the use of the mouse for data entry.

Is there, perhaps, a way to make a button "pressable" with ALT+[first letter of the button label]?

Or, more to the point, what is the cleanest way to allow data entry navigation to a new record without the use of the mouse or CTRL+N?

make a script "New record", check include in menu, then you are able to access it with CTRL+1, CTRL+2,CTRL+3 ... depending on the order of your scripts.

This is, however unsatisfactory for most other scripts, as there are only 9 shortcuts.

So you could make Script #1 as follows:

If "Status(CurrentLayout)="Entry"

your command here

end if

Another if for another Layout ...

I'm confused. If I understand you're question properly, you do not want to use the mouse for navigation. This I understand ... if you are typing away, pausing to grab the mouse can be disruptive. So, you want to create a "button" to go to a new record. You suggest ALT + anykey. How is this different from CTRL + N?

Create a selfjoin relationship based on an empty text field (ie, create a dummy field). Check the "allow creation of related records" option. Put a one line portal with a scroll bar on the layout, size it to the full size of the layout and place all your fields in it. The fields will have to be related ones with the same relationship as the portal. As you tab out of the last field in one record, a new record will be created and the cursor will go to the first field in the new record.

Thanks for the replies. Cjaeger's suggestion is clear, but I am trying to implement BobWeaver's solution. I do not completely understand the precise definition of the self join relationship. If I have the following fields, what should the self join relationship be?

Keyfield (non repeating serial number)

Textfield1

Textfield2

Dummytextfield

Thanks!

I've attached an example file. I wasn't quite accurate about the Dummy Text Field. It actually does need to contain a value. It's simplest to set it to autoenter some constant value (ie, "1").

By the way, I'd like to give credit to the person who originally came up with this method. It was in a post somewhere on FMforums a few months ago, but I can't locate it. Anyway, you know who you are.

TabToNewRec.fp5.zip

Good for barcode readers!

RE: This is, however unsatisfactory for most other scripts, as there are only 9 shortcuts.

It is actually 10 shortcuts

Wow! Great example download, BobWeaver! Nicely documented too! I haven't explored it completely yet, but if I can't understand the answer to my question from what you've sent, I probably should not be out unsupervised. (Now watch me have to ask a follow up question later.....).

Many Thanks again!

Just to add my 2cents.

If you reverse tab order of portal fields in example Bob gave you, than hiting TAB while holding shift key will put the cursor into Name field of the last portal row (the record to be created)

Dj