Subtract values of record 2 from record 1?

[Mabou2]

Hi all,

probably a dumb question...

Two records and results fields in footer.

I need to be able to subtract the values of record two's fields from the same fields in record 1 and show the results in the fields in the footer. There are about 15 fields that will be compared and the results for each will either be a negative number, 0, or a positive number.

[ernst]

Hi Mabou,

You could do this by defining an extra serialnumber field (auto-entered) and a calculated field, with calculation (serialnumber - 1)

Then define a relation to the file itself, with the calculated field on the left side and the serialnumber on the right side.

Now you can use this relation to calculate the differences between a given record a the one preceeding it. Definition of such a calculation field would look like: YourField - Relation::Yourfield

Hope this helps,

feel free to ask if you don't get it.

Regards,

Ernst.

[Mabou]

What I don't get is why it is so difficult to do a simple subtraction of the same field in two records. I can automatically do many things with these two fields, why not subtract? seems like a stupid problem.

In answer to your gracious reply, I don't get any of it. I am a freshman databaser and this is a flat file (no portals, relationships, etc).

[ernst]

Hey Mabou,

Because you started a new thread I replied to that one.

Ernst.