Can Filemaker condense identical records?

[SJSLovechild]

Hi All

I'm a Filemaker newbie and I was wondering if filemaker could examine the fields in a databases records. Compare them and condense the ones that are the same while keeping track of how many there were originally? i.e.

Name #

pasta 1

pasta 1

pasta 1

turns to

Name #

pasta 3

this is probably a simple question, but I'm new to databases. Is this something that has to be custom written or is this something that is built into Filemaker?

thanks

SJSLovechild

[Ugo DI LUCA]

You may create a Self Relationship on the Name field, using the Name field on both side of a relationship.

Then use the Count(SelfjoinOnName). This should give you the number of times this name appears.

Now, the big draw back on names is that they aren't unique and that you will be returned SMITH 4 times, even if the first was John, the second was Lee,...

If you have a way to identify this field by a Unique_Id, it would give you more accuracy.

[SJSLovechild]

I think I understand what your saying, but I don't think I stated my problem correctly.

Say I have a list comic books

Name

spider-man Issue#-1 #of copies-3 In Boxes-2

Hulk Issue#-5 #of copies-1 In Boxes-10

Batman Issue#-156 #of copies-4 In Boxes-3

And further down the list in my database the Issues appear again, but in different quantities.

Name

spider-man Issue#-1 #of copies-10 In Boxes-4

Hulk Issue#-5 #of copies-5 In Boxes-2

Batman Issue#-156 #of copies-1 In Boxes-8

I want filemaker to be able to look at the "Name" and the "Issue #". If they are the same then add the "# of copies". And place the "In boxes" values in a comma separated list.

Name

spider-man Issue#-1 #of copies-13 In Boxes-2,4

Hulk Issue#-5 #of copies-6 In Boxes-2,10

Batman Issue#-156 #of copies-5 In Boxes-3,8

The Name, Issue#, #of copies, In Boxes. Are named columns and so if i understood your post they can be compared?

[Ugo DI LUCA]

If I understood correctly, still a selfjoin on the Comic Book Title though....

TotalCopies =Sum(Sefjoin::Copies) would give you your total copies.

Total Boxes = Sum (Selfjoin::Boxes) for the number of Boxes.

Then the calc should be a text calculation :

Comic Book Title& " "& Issue # & " of copies -" & TotalCopies & "In Boxes-2" &","& Total Boxes