Search Email field. @ and . separate words?

[Krishan]

Hi all

I'm searching an Email field for email addresses on the web. I make the search an Exact search (i.e. the operator is equal). But I find that the "@" and the "." separate the words in the filemaker field so it's not an exact find.

So if I search for "joe", I will still find [email protected] because the word "joe" is a separate word in that field (since the @ is like a space)

If I search for "joe@hotmail" I will find [email protected] because the word "joe" and "hotmail" are separate words in that field (since the @ and . is like a space)

Does anyone know what my problem is?

Thanks in advance.

Krishan

[Steve T.]

Hi, Krishan! Ugh... Off the top of my head, I cannot remember exactly but I think the @ symbol is (or was) a reserved character in FileMaker. I believe it inherited it from very old versions of FileMaker before the popularity of the Internet. I could be wrong, though... maybe someone else knows more.. Where did you find out it was like a space character? I don't know about the . character, sorry.

Maybe you could split the email field into 2 or more parts?

--ST

[Leb i Sol]

"Maybe you could split the email field into 2 or more parts?"

--

and then join them with "@" sign to display and other field with joined (eg. and [address])but WITHOUT "@" to do the search!

[kenneth2k1]

Hi:

the @ character is a "wild card" character find. In Find Mode, it will find any character in its place. It's good if there are unknown characters.

It sounds like what you want to do is a literal text search. In find mode, put the address you are looking for in quotes (""). So, instead of finding a wild card charater in place of @, it will look for literal "[email protected]"

Later

[Unable]

This can also be accomplished with a "field contents match" as found in the symbols of the db status bar during a db find operation.

Assuming your field is named "email", your code, in part, could look like:

<input type="hidden" name="email" value="==">

<input type="text" name="email" value="" size="35">

Good luck

[Krishan]

Thanks a lot everyone for your input!

I'm just using separate form parameters splitting the [email protected] to

joe

hotmail

com

then my next page is taking those form parameter which are required to create a string [email protected] and searching that. My problem was if only "joe" was searched on because it would bring up the first joe@ email address. But now with the three required form params becoming a string which is then used to search the email field, it works alright.

I guess! But thanks for all your contribution. krishan

[Unable]

"My problem was if only "joe" was searched ..."

That (your solution) is amazing since the "field contents match" would return no records unless one of them was only "joe" in that field, in which case it would return the only record with "joe" in that field. And the "field contents match" will find a string which includes the characters "@" and ".".

All I can say is, you are doing it the hard way. Good luck.

[kenneth2k1]

agreed

[Leb i Sol]

Hi gang!

I like Un_Able's post/idea!

out of currisity...would this do any good and how would results differ?

<select name="search_options" id="search_options">

<option selected> -- Search Type --</option>

<option value="=">Exact Match</option>

<option value="""">Literal</option>

<option value="==">Content Match</option>

</select>

<INPUT NAME="emil" type="text">

<input name="-find" type="submit" value="Search >">

just a thought...

[Unable]

First I would suggest that the difference between the "exact match" and the "content match" (or "field content match") has alread been explained with the search on "joe".

Next, to meet the search criteria as originally posited, the search must include in the text input data string an "@" and a "." and successfully result in a return of the individual record. This, as I have indicated, is covered by the "field content match". And as earlier noted, the "@" and "." did not work with the "exact match".

Finally, regarding the "literal" (""""), as a developer perhaps you would been better served to have tested this yourself to see how the pair of double quotes is entered into the same field as the "text" entry and reported your observations. I believe that you will find that a "litereal" is not possible because the text input data does not locate between the "literal" parameters. But I could be wrong on that because, after all,

[Leb i Sol]

Unable:

"as a developer perhaps you would been better served to have tested this yourself "

well when I need it I will test it...but Until then I just ask those with time/will/experiece to explain. my questions are (hopefully ) also for the original poster's further idea develepment.

Thanx Unable!

all the best!

[Unable]

"well when I need it I will test it..."

My, how generous of you considering you raised the question.

"Until then I just ask those with time/will/experiece ..."

time -> like everyone, you have 24 hours per day. You found the time to forumlate and submit your question. You found the time to post jokes. You found the time to respond to me. Creating a solution to test it should not have taken more than 20 minutes - 1 db file with three records containing data in one field, 3 format files and run it. No time for that!

experience -> 600 posts should indicate some of that. Oh wait, that's you, not me.

will -> with FileMaker I infer that to be the desire to achieve successful yet elegant solutions as a developer.

Had you served yourself as a developer, you could have provided the answer to the original poster , which answer could have furthered "the original poster's ... idea develepment" equally as well as your query.

But I could be wrong on that, just as I could be wrong on the "literal" answer above, so don't count on my voice of experience ; for it may not be.

After all,

[Leb i Sol]

Unable:

but I am NOT a developer ...didn't u notice that by now ....and besides no one needs to answer my questions.(600 of them)

If I had tested it...I would have found a solution and would have given it to the poster...."There is a difference between giving directions and driving someone"

but ME? - I am sitting in the back seat and making observations and pointing out the road signs

All the best!

[Unable]

"...but I am NOT a developer..."

Then why ever did you come here?

If you are developing or have developed a solution with FileMaker, then you are a developer, like it or not.

Are you in denial? If so, I'll have to charge you for counselling (or for fishing with a FMPro license).

Denial is not just a river in Egypt.

[Leb i Sol]

Unable:

"Then why ever did you come here? "

-- HE works in a misterious ways....I wanted to learn new things but I most definetly don't make living of only FM...like many true developers here do.

I did a few things...lerned few things...and now I am trying to share what I lerned....post a few snips of the code I used etc......that is why I am still on this forum. oooo and of course, all the nice people

"Denial is not just a river in Egypt. "

-- heheheh I guess not

well, anyway...thanx for responding to my annoying questions!