Sample file for record locking?

[Michael Allison]

Hey all,

New to the forums and relatively new to FMP. I'm looking for a sample database for record locking. Basically, I have a billing sheet DB that I want users to click on a button to submit their daily billing sheet. After submitting, I want editing of this record to be locked for the user but to be turned on/off by an administrator. I haven't created a multi-user solution before so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[HazMatt]

The way I handle this is to have a number field called "lock_status". There is either a 1 or a 0 (or nothing) in it. Then I have a container calculation field that goes like this:

= If (lock_status = 1, resources::locked_icon, resources::unlocked_icon)

Note: I use a relationship called "resources" that helps me keep track of graphics or whatnot in a seperate database. You could use global container fields in the database in question to get the same result.

Basically if the lock_status field has a 1 in it, the icon shows a locked lock (in red.) If it doesn't, it shows an unlocked lock (in green.) I set the lock_status field with a script that toggles the value of 1 in the field or not. This is all worthless until you define all the fields you want to keep locked down with the "Validate by calculation" part. For a field to pay attention to the lock status, use this:

= lock_status = 1

FileMaker 6 has a feature where you can lock records at the record level for individual passwords (as opposed to the per-field method described above.) This may be what you want, as you would not have to specify each and every field to validate by calculation.

[HazMatt]

Woops, forgot the attachment. This is what it looks like on the layout. I have a script attached to the container calculation field. Basically click the lock to lock it, click again to unlock it. The images are overlapped just to show both of them.