Value List Help Solution

[DigitalDreamer]

I hope i am posting this question in the correct section. I seen this done in a runtime solution so i can not look at the way this was done or post it here to show you what i am talking about. I thought it was a neat way to do a help system or FAQ section. Anyway here it is:

There was a layout that had a drop down value list that had predefined questions in it for example "How do i add a new record?" and when you chose that question it would give the answer in a text field right under that. It appeared to be a text field with a scroll bar. Does anyone know how to perform this? I tried searching the posts but i don't think i am putting in the correct search terms. Thanks for any suggestions. Take care.

[ernst]

Hey Dreamer,

One method would be to have a calculationfield as your answerfield, and define the calculation like:

Case (

Question = "How do i add a new record?", "Choose new record from the menu",

Question = "How do i delete a record?", "Choose delete record from the menu",

Question = "QuestionText3", "Answertext3, etc. etc.)

But this becomes unhandy if there's a lot of questions and/or if the answers are long.

So a i.m.o. better solution would be to have a database with a question field and an answer field.

You could then create a global question field with a valuelist derived from the values of the questionfield.

And finally make a self-join-relation from the global questionfield to the normal questionfield which would act as a kind of selection mechanism for the related answer.

Well that was quit a long description, hope it's sort of understandable.

If not let me know, so I can build a small sample...

Regards,

Ernst.

[DigitalDreamer]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try your 2nd suggestion and let you know how it turns out. I think this method is best because i am not sure how many questions i will put in. I sometimes think of more questions as i am getting into the creation of the project i am working on. Thanks again for the help.

[LaRetta]

Hi DigitalDreamer,

You will need a Help db (of course) with text fields - Question and Answer. Then create a Value List in your Help db based upon field contents (Question).

In your main db create a global text field called gQuestion_txt. Create a relationship from gQuestion_txt to your Help::Question. Create a value list (in Main) and base it upon value list from another file and choose your Help value list.

Place the gQuestion field on your layout. Assign it to use a pop-up through field format and base it on your new Value List in Main.

Below that, place your related Help::Answer field. You won't need a portal because this (gQuestion to Help::Question) is a 1:1 relationship. Also select 'show vertical scroll bar'and set it's field borders and background to transparent. That should do it!

The answer will disappear if gQuestion is blanked because the relationship will break.

Now, that's the easy answer. However, if your questions are very long, the relationship may break because of FM's limitations on key fields (20 per word 60 per key field), so you may want to use a HelpID instead of the question for the join. But personally, if you are using a pop-up, you don't want the Question field contents very long anyway so this should work fine for you.

There are probably other ways - but using a global will allow you to break the relationship so the Answer field disappears. And it's easy then, to include a global pop-up based upon your Help Value List in ALL of your dBs.

Update: I didn't realize Ernst posted - I stopped to eat lunch but I decided to leave my response because it goes through every step. Someone may want to know the specifics!

LaRetta

[ernst]

Hey Laretta,

Nice to read your step by step description.

Gave me a sort of "get out of my brain!" sensation.

Regards,

Ernst

[DigitalDreamer]

LaRetta thanks for your help that is exactly what i needed. Thanks for the detailed help also. Relationships are kinda new to me so it took a few times and a bottle of tums but i think i finally got it. Thanks for everyones suggestion. Getting this to work really opens up alot of new ways to make my solutions look more professional and saves alot of room on a layout. Thanks again and take care.

[LaRetta]

Hi Digital Dreamer,

Glad you found my comments useful. Sometimes I think I overkill with the specifics but it seems simpler to list an entire process than have a thread with 20 posts of clarifications

BTW, something I wanted to clarify ...

saves alot of room on a layout

I hope you don't think that, just because your Answer field disappears, that the same space can be used for other things. The disappearing trick simply looks cool and eliminates some clutter which Users find pleasant.

All my best,

LaRetta