Value list Sorting ?

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Hi,

Well, there seems to be another solution...

I could have posted the test I've made but I thought it would have been somehow unrespectable as it is a direct adaptation of Ray's GroupRanking files.

In his file, each customer, part of a group is given a rank based on an amount. While I would have thought this wasn't feasable without a script, or some kinds of previously defined relationship, he just prooved the contrary by indexing the amount using some other keys...and the smartrange technique...

Now, just using his file, I concanated the Group and the Amount into a text field I called ID, and used a value list showing these new text IDs.

It worked like a charm without involving any other sort key.....

What can be done therefore is to extract the num part of the ID and use it with Ray's Ranking method, then reuse this index number with the text to keep the ID Unique.

For those interresting who would like to test it, and /or interrested by some other clever approach of ranking, check this thread where the solution was given, and from where you can download the GroupRanking sample.

Ray's GroupRanking

[djgogi]

Right, I didn't follow the thread , I've just gave it an quick look.

So in case the requests are those you've mentioned the methode i've suggested is not appropriate.

Dj

[Anh_Tran]

Thanks All

You guys are expert. I have learned alot from you guys since I feel myself very limited in FM.

Thanks All

Anh Tran

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Well,

Here is the sample working, waiting for Ray's comments and accurate explanations.

I felt that if the numerical part of the ID was indexed, you could recover the entire ID as an indexed ranked ..... but I'm not "smart enough" to give the explanation about these "smart range"...

VALUELIST SORTED.zip

[CobaltSky]

Ugo,

I'm afraid that the adaptation you posted is not working as you think it is.

For example, if you enter more than one record with the same number value (but a different text prefix) only the first will show up in the value list.

This is because the sorting of the list in the file you've posted is controlled by the fact that the calc which concatenates the ID component values is defined as a number field. It has nothing to do with the other ranking calculations which also happen to be sitting in the related file.

I note that the first suggestion Christian made was that the field be defined as number, and the flaw in that approach was subsequently pointed out.

FileMaker, as it stands, provides better control over value lists and value list sorting than many other programs, but the options it offers are predicated on the assumption that users will want to provide an intuitive interface. When someone requests something which is somewhat counter-intuitive, such as the requirement under discussion on this thread, an alternative mechanism for selection of the related value would be more appropriate.

Rather than attempting to make value lists sort in improbable ways, I would be inclined to recommend instead, that Ahn use a pop-up 'dialog' selection window which presents a portal listing in a layout in a related values file (scripted to lock the window as a dialog, prompt the user to click on a value to select it, and automatically dismiss the pop-up, place the value in the appropriate field of the current record and return the user to the original file as soon as a selection is made).

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Hi Ray,

My apologizes for both the use of your files and the bad use of your files

I was so convinced....that I just forgot the obvious, though Pete already pointed this out.

Well, I retain that your ranking solution is awesome, and I'm pleased if more people may have discovered it while following this thread