Spaces in calculations

[PiedPiper]

ok, dumb question but I can't stand it. Some times when entering a formula, I forget to space. It takes it but I keep trying to put spaces, thinking itmight not sometimes and cause a problem. I'm always wondering if its okay to leave them out or whether its a problem with some of them.

okay, I can't give a good example now, but it's always happening and I keep making sure spaces are between everything but ive seem some formulas without spaces and I don't know if it's okay or not. Did this sound as dumb to you as it does to me? But it's driving me nuts, always going back and adding spaces even though it excepts the formula. If it excepts it, does that mean that its okay or could it cause problems?

Please don't blast me for this ... I searched for hours and even check manual and help. No answers.

Pete

[Lee Smith]

HI Pete,

Not a stupid question.

AFAIK, there is no set rule, but I've seen it done both ways. IMO, putting spaces in the calculation just makes it easier to read, and break to the next line at logical point (I pefer it to no spaces, that's for sure).

Besides spaces, I use paragarphs a lot to make the calculations eaiser to read. follow, and compare to the other parts.

HTH

Lee

[PiedPiper]

Thanks Lee. I like the paragraphs idea too. But my calcs aren't long enough yet to need it :-) What is AFAIK. I see people using these types of things and it irritates me that I have no idea whats being said.

lets see ... nope no idea. thanks again.

Pete

[-Queue-]

AFAIK => As far as I know

IM(H)O => In my (humble) opinion

HTH => Happy to help

Any other acronyms you're not too sure about? Feel free to ask.

[Lee Smith]

HTH

Hope This Helps

[-Queue-]

Yeah, that one works too. Himalayas Too High?

[PiedPiper]

Thanks IWYJTE - I wish you'd just talk english

okay its true ;.. I use BTW sometimes.

P

[IdealData]

RTFM

[Lee Smith]

Nice way = Read the FileMaker Manuel

Crude way = Read the F**king Manuel

[CobaltSky]

Hi Pete,

Sounds like you might benefit from having a bookmark for:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/

[PiedPiper]

Hey thank you. this is really good. I mean it ... i need something like this.

You don't know value lists by any chance do you? I got a doozie i need solved by Monday or im dead meat.

If you could try i'd appreciate it.

P

[CobaltSky]

Value Lists? They're cool.

What's your question??

[PiedPiper]

Well I thought they were cool to, but I guess my files bad. Que says it's probably bad. But I think it may be because it's a new record and it can't grab anything to start with because it's based upon there being stuff in the file. I get no list defined but its there. Really it is. I see it.no related file or anyting - just name and phone number.

popup menu won't take anything and list takes it but eats it. I posted what I did in value lists section. Could you try for me? Cool? Uhhh, maybe. but i've become a donkey butt to work today. Never had this happn before not that ive done this that much but ive changed many sales files to popups and it works. Now this file won't work.

Pete the donkey butt

[-Queue-]

Pete, if you select 'include other' with the menu in field format, then you won't get the 'no value list defined' error. It is true that it isn't defined on your first record because you haven't entered any data yet for it to be based upon. I would say that's logical, wouldn't you?

[PiedPiper]

okay, makes sense I guess. Which brings me back to starting the darned thing if theres nothing in it. Maybe i'll sneak into office this weekend and create a custom. Except I don't know what they want to put in them. and why won't it take it when I chage it to other? Then when i change to list, both edit and other won't let me check them. Maybe it's the computer and not fm (or me).

I've created many of them in sales but stuff was in the file already. Always works before. But sales is in other office. Girls use windows 98 system. Maybe its just too old. Is 5 a good version with 98? Sales uses 98 too but I just change to 6 two weeks ago. Me ... mill ... beer, yep. You should have seen them when i left . they were saying I probably was the one that broke the copier too. i get no respect not that i deserve any. but fm is great and theyre wrong to blame the fm program, right? it DOES WORK, i know it does!

Pete the future mill worker

Pete

[-Queue-]

Slow down a bit, man. I already said that this is logical behaviour, or at least the way FileMaker DOES its thing. Lists don't allow editing. Menus do. If you create a new file and format a menu and don't allow editing, you WILL receive the undefined value list error. There is nothing odd about that. However, if you DO allow editing, your first record will show 'other' rather than the error. If you use a list, you won't get an error, and it will expect you to enter the data in the field, which it will display the next time you click into the field or create a new record. Make sense?

[PiedPiper]

THAT'S IT QUEUE, I think. The combination of new record. No value defined. Then I changed it but didn't select other. Then I deleted the records. Then ... and I was changing it to the List which came up blank. I think thats what happend. I did every step wrong changing it from one to the other and deleted the records in between. THANK YOU ... I owe you bigtime. I hope thats what happend. I'll still go in and test, test, test.

Pete the sales manager again.

[-Queue-]

Hey, well, now you know; and knowing is half the battle. You can take what you've learned and go in the office Monday, and show them what a stud programmer you really are. And then you can tell them to get on their knees and grovel at your feet for forgiveness, and then....oh, sorry, I was having one of those 'programmers ruling the world' fantasies again. <sigh>