Scripting Finds (So I can repeat same find)

[Jarvis]

I am trying to make a simple address book.

There is one layout that captures all kinds of data about this contact.

We have their email address, home phone, dog's name etc.

A second layout is in columnar format and has a field which concatenates first and last name + phone number.

I would like to add the alphabet script at the top of this layout.

When I hit the letter "C" it should find all the permutations that start with the letter "C".

I would like to be able to do this without having to re-enter criteria into a find field.

Is there a way to script repeatable finds?

Thanks,

Jarvis

[HOnza]

Solution #1

1. Perform your find (i.e. for a letter "C")

2. Create a new script containing only the Perform Find script step. Turn on the "Restore find request" option for this script step.

3. Every time you perform this script, it will perform find with the same criteria.

4. Create a button on your layout and attach it to the script

Disadvantage of this solution is that you have to create a script and a button for every letter in the alphabet.

Solution #2

1. Create a global field called "gSearchLetter"

2. Create an indexed calculation field "cFirstLetter" calculating Left(firstandlastname, 1)

3. Create a self-join relationship (current and related files being the same), matching gSearchLetter to cFirstLetter

4. Use portal instead of list view

5. Use pop-up menu or radio buttons for entering data into the gSearchLetter field

This solution involves two clicks instead of just one to find the matching records but you don't have to create 26 scripts and 26 buttons.

There are other solutions, mostly mixture of the 2 mentioned above, just give your imagination some space.

HOnza