Yet Another Portal Filtering Question

[lcurrie]

So, I've been reading and reading and reading all the portal filtering posts. Somewhere along the line I must be missing something and I'm hoping someone can let me know what it is.

I've got two files: user.fp5 and jobs.fp5.

What I'm trying to do: filter my users by usertype to show only certain classifications of users in certain fields in the job file.

I have the users in user.fp5 defined as one of about 5 values in a value list using a pop-up menu: designer, copywriter, etc. The field name is user_type

In jobs.fp5 I've created a global field, designer_id that contains designer as its value and a relationship using that global field and user_type. I've indexed the user_type field in users.fp5.

In jobs.fp5 I've created a portal using the above relationship. In that portal is the name field from the users.fp5 file. I've made the field a pop-up menu using the name field. I also have the name field indexed.

I want only the names of records that have user_type=designer showing. I'm getting all names.

Any thoughts on where I've gone wrong (or am I completely missing the mark on how to do the portal filtering??)?

Thanks for any help you guys have!

Lynn

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Hi,

Instead of reading the "filtering portal" posts, you should have search for "basic mistakes".

Don't worry, we all did this, and I'm still doing it sometimes.

Your fields in the portal aren't coming from the same relationship. Double click in them inlayout mode, and switch to correct relationship.

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Ooops...sorry I MAY have answered too quickly.

This also happens a lot.

"I've made the field a pop-up menu using the name field."

Which one ?

"I want only the names of records that have user_type=designer showing. I'm getting all names."

In the list or in the portal ?

You should already have them listed in the portal. Why do you want a list of these names to appear in the list.

Though, still checks the portal relationship and the fields relationship.

[Lee Smith]

Make an Enity Relationship Diagram of it. I'll bet that it will all make more sense once you have put it down on paper.

Lee

[lcurrie]

Wow, guys. Thanks for the quick responses. I may be a little more confused now. Bear with me.

Ok, to start answering questions...

"I've made the field a pop-up menu using the name field."

Which one ?

The name field comes from the user database. Did I understand the question?

"I want only the names of records that have user_type=designer showing. I'm getting all names."

In the list or in the portal ?

The list of names is in the portal.

You should already have them listed in the portal. Why do you want a list of these names to appear in the list.

I don't want the full list of names in the portal, just the designer's names.

Make an Enity Relationship Diagram of it. I'll bet that it will all make more sense once you have put it down on paper.

Can you point me to an example of this? I'm not sure how to do it. Are you talking about a flow chart of sorts?

I'm also attaching the two databases/tables that are relevant. Maybe that can help you answer my questions.

Once again, thanks!

Lynn

[lcurrie]

Here are the files.

portalProblem.zip

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Back your files...

What was wrong ? There was no portal inside

I've changed Jane to designer as you to see how it worked. 2 records in portal

portalProblem.zip

[Lee Smith]

Hi Lynn,

It looks like Ugo has pinpointed your your error in this relationship. I haven't read the entire posts by him and you either for that matter, but this will not probably help you much now.

Making an ERD is a suggested step when sitting down to create a solution. Yes, it is a flow chart in a matter of speaking, but it is a lot more than that too.

For a good book on this subject, you might want to purchase (or borrowing) "Special Edition Using FileMaker Pro 5" by Rich Coulombre and Jonathan Price.

Lee

[lcurrie]

Thanks for taking a look at that!

ok, the portal filtering is working when it is a multi-row portal. Is there a way that I can make it a pop-up menu with only the found values in it?

By the way, the portal that is in my file is a one row portal to the right of "full_name". I think it isn't working correctly because I had the value list attached to it.

You guys are the best!

Lynn

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Hi,

You don't need a portal for this. What you'd use is a related value list.

1.Go in Define Value List.

2.Create a list called "filtered Users VL"

3.Then choose "values from file" - "User.fp5"

4.Select "related only" - use the relatonship you did use for the filtered portal.

5.Pick-up the UserName.

6.In layout mode, format your field to be a pop-up list using the "filtered Users VL".

Back in Browse Mode - Et voil

[Ugo DI LUCA]

In addition, I agree with Lee about some ERD to start all db.

I was sure he would recommand some good books as usual

Attached is a sample of a very simple ERD I recently made...

ERKane.pdf.zip

[lcurrie]

Perfect! That did exactly what I needed!

All the advice you guys offered was great!

Lynn