Help with field calculations

[lostboyca]

I'm new to this filemaker and I would like some simple calculations on how to calculate fields. If anyone can help me with the script or ways to do this calculation I would be very greatful.

Can I calculate Repeating fields? I have a field where I would like to do an if statement which contains Pass, Fail, N/A. I would like it to calculate all the Pass which each pass would represent 1. and I would like it to cacluation all the repeating fields. If the repeating fields have 10 then it should calculate all 10 Columns to verify which box has Pass.

Thanks,

[Lee Smith]

Hi Lostboyca,

Sorry I can't be more help here, as my use of repeating fields has been for user interface purposes.

> Can I calculate Repeating fields?

I can say this, stop using Repeating Fields, and you will make your life a lot easier. They are mainly there to accommodate earlier versions of FileMaker for backwards compatibility. They still have a limited use for other things such as holding graphics for user interface, but they were made obsolete when FileMaker became relational.

> I have a field where I would like to do an

> if statement which contains Pass, Fail, N/A. I would like it to calculate all

> the Pass which each pass would represent 1. and I would like it to calculation

> all the repeating fields. If the repeating fields have 10 then it should

> calculate all 10 Columns to verify which box has Pass.

It's not really clear to me what you are wanting. Do you want to count how many times Pass occurs in your fields (i.e. 10) or do you want to find all of the records containing Pass (10)? AFAIK, FileMaker will only look at the first repetition of each repeating Field unless you tell it to Get Repetition numbers as part of your calculation.

Lee

[CobaltSky]

Hello lostboy,

Lee is correct in saying that repeating fields are a legacy from earlier versions of FileMaker. It's true that often there are other better ways of achieving similar results in current versions of FIleMaker (eg using relationships instaad of repetitions). Notwithstanding that, however, if you prefer to persist with repeating fields, you should be able to calculate multiple results (one for each repetition) quite simply if you:

1. Make sure that your calculation field is defined to have at least as many repetitions as the source data fields you are using in the calculation, and

2. Enclose any non-repeating fields that are referenced in the calculation within the Extend( ) function.

You will then find that the calculation field (which can itself be displayed as a repeating field on your layouts) will produce a separate result for each repetition for which there is data.

[lostboyca]

OK to make life easy maybe I'll just use fields to calculate. I have about 20 fields and those fields would consist the text Pass, Fail, Block, Marginal, N/A. For one calcuation I would like it to calculate all the Passes within those fields and then I would like to get a percentage breakdown on how many fields where pass. Hope this help if not I can post an excel sample of what I'm trying to do.

Thanks,

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Hi,

Go one step further....

A good design would be to switch from fields to records.

There is in my opinion little difference from repeating fields (mutlivalued) and repeating fields (10 fields with same content) !

Then, you'll establish some relationships from these records to global fields populated with your 5 values.

The counts would be simple, accurate, always updated, ....

Just forget about repeating fields and go relational.

[lostboyca]

I do not understand what u are talking about. This is new to me. I have a layout can I e-mail you directly on what I'm trying to do with some examples?

Van

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Yep.

[email protected]