Hello,

I'm new to filemaker and have a problem I can't seem to solve.

I have a fairly normalized db using numerical 'IDs' as the primary keys.

Specifically, my problem is that I have a file for info about people,i.e.,

age,sex,haircolor,etc. This is file 'tblpersons'. It has a field 'HairColor_ID'.

Then in tblhaircolors is both 'HairColor_ID' and 'HairColor'. So I define a

related value list in the layout of 'tblperson' where I need to select the hair

color from. I can get the list to display both the HairColor_ID and HairColor

such as:

1 black

2 blonde

3 red

Problem is that once selected, the field only shows the number. The only

solution I can think of is to not be so normal and not use IDs. This is NOT

what I want to have to do.

Can someone please give me a hand

What I suggest that you do is place a copy of the HairColor field (sourced from the tblhaircolors file via the relationship from the HairColor_ID field in tblpersons to the HairColor_ID field in tblpersons) on the layout immediately to the right of the HairColor_ID which has the value list attached.

Also, turn off the 'Alow entry into field' option for the copy of the HairColor field on the layout in tblpersons. This option may be accessed near the bottom of the Format Field dialog which may be summoned from the Format menu when the field is selected in layout mode.

As soon as a value is selected from the value list, you will then see the ID in the key field and the corresponding description in the HairColor beside it. The HairColor_ID field can be made quite small since it need only show the code, so that the overall effect can still be compact and space efficient.

Thank you for your assistance. I will do what you suggested.

Hi,

Ray is correct, this is the simpliest method.

If really you don't want the "haircolorID" to show, you could also turn off "allow modification" on both fields, use the same size for both fields and place the "haircolorID" behind the "haircolor" field.

Then set the "haircolor" to be a button with a script attached :

Goto Field ("HaircolorID")

You need the Haircolor field to not be transparent.