Placing Curser inside a text field

[Dominique]

I have a text field on a layout which users record notes relating to events associated with the record. These notes are recorded by the user in sequential order. I would like to be able to do one of two things.

(1) have a text field automatically display the last x number of lines instead of the first x number. or

(2) have the ability to place the cursor anywhere within a field so that new comments can be entered at or near the top.

The scroll bar is enabled, but I rather the user be able to see the latest notes at a glance without needing to click on the field.

Any suggestions.

[BobWeaver]

You could create a calculated field cLastNotes with the formula:

cLastNotes = RightWords(Notes,100)

Then place this field directly over top of the notes field. Make sure the cLastNotes field is opaque and formatted to not allow entry.

This will display the last 100 words of the field, but when the user clicks on or tabs to the field, it will bring up the actual notes field to edit.

[Riley Waugh]

It may be that the most appropriate thing here is a related file.

In many solutions I make, it is important to deal with the notes, chronologically, by creator, by creation date, etc. and sometimes to allow only the user to see his own notes, etc.

If you make a related file that contains the note entry, along with a few fields for date and time of creation and creator, then you can use a variety of relationships to deal with the note.

My primary field is police work. Notes are tied to case numbers. The relationship is made in the crime report file and related by Crime Report number (CRN) to CRN. I allow creations of related records.

In the report file a portal is placed containing the note fields. When a user clicks in the portal to make a note, a new record is created and the CRN in the note field is automagically completed with the current CRN from the report file.

So, you could do the same with user name, job number, whatever.

A sort in the portal will sort which ever way regarding creation order. then you script to the last record.

In short, with related file you have a lot of control.

[Dominique]

Thanks Bob and Riley for your comments. What I didn't mention before is that I already have a calculation field sitting above a number of different text fields. The calculation field would display the contents from whatever comment field was relevant to the user at the time. I will try a variant of your suggestion Bob and modify my calculation field accordingly.