Multiple Relationship Results

[Pacman]

Hello all,

I am currently working on a database for my company that connects Employees to -> Hardware -> to Software.

I have an existing database of all the information I need (Names, Serial Numbers, Versions, etc.)

I have created an Employee database, that based on a match field of the computers name, fills in specs about the computer / hardware they are using from another file.

In this same employee database file I want to link in software info based on a match field of the registered users name. My question is how can i get FM Pro 5.5 on Mac OSX, to display multiple related fields based on a match field that has multiple matches?

Example: User "Steve" has computer "Comp_023" and has several pieces of software registered under his name, "Steve." When creating related fields to the Software database file it only shows the first piece of software matching his name in that file.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

-Paul-

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Hi Pacman,

What you are describing is a One To Many relationship, and you just discovered that these relationship aren't easy to set within 2 files.

The first solution would be to implement a field holding the Ids of the related records separated by a carriage return....

But experience shows that you'll certainly face a Many to Many relationship as soon as a user will be affiliated to a second computer.

One user ----Many Computer----Many Softwares

And will come again more complex when the same computer would be shared by a second user

Many User----Many Computer----Many Softwares.

This is the common siuation for implementing a Join File or a Line Items which are the generic FileMaker terms.

So make a search for both keywords here on the Forum and you'll have enough to read for about 2 months.

But this is worth.

Welcome here and have fun....

[Pacman]

Thanks Ugo,

I appreciate the help.

-Paul-