Blank search fields

[The Mad Jammer]

I have created a sub summary report that is broken down by year and name. Some of the names are blank and my sub summary displyas a blank field with a 0 next to the set of blank names. I would like the summary field to count the blank names as well as those with text in them. How do I do this?

Thanks

The Mad Jammer

[-Queue-]

Use a constant calculation field, always equal to one, then create a summary field that is a Count of this constant.

[The Mad Jammer]

You lost me on that one with the constant calculation. I've used them before but I fail to see how it will differentiate from a blank or a name. I don't want a 1 showing up in the name field on the data entry layout every time a new record is started. Perhaps you could explain in more detail what you are getting at.

Thanks

The Mad Jammer

[The Mad Jammer]

Perhaps a little more explanation on my part is warranted as well. I used the columnar list/report wizard to create my 2 level report. Basically it is an aggregate of sales by salesman by year. It looks like this

2001

0

Salesman1 $ xxx,xxx

Salesman2 $ xxx,xxx

Salesman3 $ xxx,xxx

Salesman4 $ xxx,xxx

Salesman5 $ xxx,xxx

2001 Total $ xxx,xxx

[-Queue-]

Count() and its summary equivalent return the number of fields with data in them. Counting a constant calc of 1 ensures that no matter what is in the name field, the record will still be counted.

[The Mad Jammer]

I understand how a constant calculation works but I'm missing the concept behind your implementation. I've attached a screen shot of the report for you to view (MS-Word). You can see the blank name fields on the report and, as you stated, there is a zero next to them because there is no data in them. I would still like to aggregate by year and name and I don't see how using a constant caklculation will give me the results I want. If my sub-summary count is looking at the constant calc, when will the report know that the name has changed and to reset the sub-summ counter? And why doesn't FMP count the blank fields?

Thanks

The Mad Jammer

[-Queue-]

Oy. Just try it. Summary fields apply only to each group of records that comprise each subsummary. It's no different than with summary fields that sum values which are different in each record (such as price), except in this case 1 is added for each record in the group instead of a variable cost, etc. So sort and summarize by whatever field you desire, and this will still be valid.

There is no attachment, by the way. But I don't need to see it, if you're expressing your need correctly.