looping w/ a variable name

[Sabrina]

My goal is to loop through some variables and set them to zero when a button is clicked. What I want is the FMP equivilent of:

for (int i = 1, i < total_questions, i++) {

g_questionNum [ i ] = 0;

}

I figured out that I can do

Set Field [count = 0]

Loop

Exit Loop If [count = total_questions]

Set Field [count, count + 1]

*****This is where I have problems . I want to use Set Field [g_questionNum(count) = 0] but obviously that isn't working.************

End Loop

I can set each question equal to 0 seperately but that's a waste of space and my time when I have 50+ questions on a questionnaire. (Not to mention carpel tunnel from the repetitive motions!) Help!

[ernst]

Hi Sabrina,

Are all questions in the same record but in different fields?

If so, then you could change your database so that each question corresponds with one question and then loop through the records that you want to reset.

Anyway, Filemaker does not have a 'set' command which uses a variable to determine the target field.

Regards,

Ernst.

[Sabrina]

Hey Ernst,

Yes, the questions are in the same record, but different fields.

There is actually a database for questions which is linked by a foreign key. When the key matches, then the set questions are inputted into the second database which is for the answers. The answers database is set up so that each record is for a particular respondent. If I was to set it up so that there was a record per question per respondent, I would have an unweildy database. Put it this way . . . I have usually 10 respondants per case and usually around 30 questions per respondent. That's not too many records (10 x 30 = 300) per case, but I have around 400 cases to input eventually. (300 x 400 = 120,000) Managing a database with 120,000 records compared to managing a database with 4,000 records is undesirable, but the limitations of FMP might make it necessary.

I can do the long hand method I mentioned but I was hoping to avoid the repetitive motions and wasted time. *insert big sigh here*

Thanks!

Sabrina

[Fitch]

If you want to go from one field to another on a single record, you don't necessarily need a counter. Just loop with a "go to next field," and Exit Loop If (Status (CurrentFieldName) = "theNameOfYourField")

[Sabrina]

Fitch,

If I did a go to next field, can I still set the next field to 0 with out manually setting the increment?

Sabrina

[Sabrina]

Fitch,

I just played with the idea and I cannot easily set the field. The issue I have is wanting to set an incremented list of global variables to zero without having to script SetField for each one. Having a script with 50 Set Fields does not appeal to me, but if I have to, I will. I was just hoping there was an alternative.

Sabrina

[ernst]

Hi Sabrina,

That's indeed a lot of records. Though I think Filemaker can handle this without a problem, I can imagine that using seperate field has got something to say for it.

Luckily there is this very good suggestion by Fitch! You could set the Tab Order so that it goes through all your questionfields and have the script do something like:

goto field (select, firstquestion)

loop

insert calculated result (select, "0") <-- dont specify a field here

exit loop if (Status (currentfieldname) = lastquestion )

go to next field

end loop

You could add an extra 'outer' loop if you would want to reset severtal records in one go.

Regards,

Ernst.

[Sabrina]

Ernst! Cool!

OK, for clarification "select" is similar to Java's "this"? In other words, leaving it as "select" means the current record?

Gosh I love this site! Ya'll are awesome!

Sabrina

[Fitch]

Enter Browse Mode

Go to Field []

Loop

..Go to Next Field

..Set Field ["0"]

..Exit Loop If [status(CurrentFieldName) = "TheEnd"]

End Loop

The trick is, do not specify a field in the Set Field step.

[Fitch]

"Select" in this context just means that the contents of the field will be selected as if you had highlighted the text. I.e., what's selected will be replaced by whatever you're doing in that script step, vs. the script step would append its data if the field contents aren't selected.

Set Field on the other hand will always replace the entire contents of the field. Also, Set Field in general does not require that the field even be present on any layout; however, in this case, the fields have to be on the layout and in the tab order for the script to work.

[Sabrina]

I didn't know that you could leave that blank! You and Ernst are awesome! Thanks for your help!

Sabrina

[cjaeger]

hi sabrina, instead of typing, why not use export/import. Sice every global has a corresponding field in the 2nd database, just do a scripted import (if there is just 1 record in main db, or omit other records first before import by using as selfjoin gotorelatedrecord based on unique record id).

no need for carpal tunnel syndrom here.

[cjaeger]

There are better ways involving lookups or relations to accomplish this task.

also, have a look at the open source file "Test generator" at www.fmfiles.com on how to set up a test/survey database.

[Fenton]

It sounds like you've got it working. If not, one "gotcha" when using Go to Next Field, Set Field [""] is the Tab Order.

It uses the Tab Order of the current layout.

Use Exit Record first to start at 1st field.