Set field depending on changing value lists

[Sabrina]

OK peeps, I have a conundrum here . . . I need to track entries with a summarized (not summary) field next to the fields.

For example:

Name: Robert

Field 1: There wasn't enough light

(summarized) Field 2: light conditions

The Field 2 needs to be tracked with a data validation so that the summary lettering is always the same so that I can send Field 1 ("There wasn't enough light") with the name (Robert) tacked on the end to a collection field displaying all the comments under the title of Field 2 ("light conditions").

Here's the problem: The solution I thought up for the data validation is to have a pop-up menu or list set without entries and have "Other" selected in the main screen so the first time a person goes to the field, the pop up list says only "Other" and the "Other" menu pops up giving a blank screen for the data entry person to enter the first summarized title.

Now the catch: I need to write a script that will look at the first value (light conditions) in the value list and send all the statements to the collection field with light conditions as a summarized field. I can figure out everything except how to get FMP to capture the individual values in the pop-ups. Is it even possible? In a purely scripted language, I would store the summarized titles in an array and simply access the individual portions of the array.

Here's the other catch: Only about 20 records will have the same titles in Field 2. When all the data entry is done, there will be thousands of records so hard coding is not an option. There is no way for me to anticipate all the summarized field entries needed and even if I could, it will be in the millions and invariably, my boss will ask me to change something making me go insane because I have to go through the hard code (which shouldn't be done in the first place) and my poor son will have the stigma of having a lunatic for a mother. If not for me, please help for my son. :

Any suggestions? A work around would be OK if what I want isn't possible.

Sabrina

[Sabrina]

Even more to the problem . . . I've been playing around with this and discovered that if I leave the value list empty and try to access it from somewhere else, I only get the first entry.

Ya know, I'm getting a little frustrated . . .

[djgogi]

For creating array of summarized values, the self relationship on field2 will do the job.

Anyway you can't validate entries (at least not in clean manner) in field2 based on values in list obtained from the same field.

Without flagging (explicitly stating the entry as new one) for ex, what could be used as a criteria for allowing new entries in field2?

Dj

[zincb]

I attached a zip file that uses two files to do what I think you want. In the "Another View" layout, you can enter any category you want into any portal and the relationship will straighten it out after a refresh.

[Sabrina]

Unfortunately, there is no way to track the criteria because it all depends on the group of people being quoted. For example, some groups are presented with questions of fruit while others are asked about car oil brands. No, I cannot change each group to their own file because I would end up with thousands of files and messy architecture but I do need to find someway to sort what the fruit group says about the aspects of the fruit shown to them. Because we don't know what each individual is going to notice about the fruit we cannot program that in. Also, because almost every group of respondents are given different things and scenarios to evaluate, I need a way to quickly change the field without having to change the hard coding all of the time. I won't be here forever.

I hope that all makes sense!

Thanks!

Sabrina

[Sabrina]

I don't see those files . . . Am I going blind too?

Sabrina

[zincb]

Sabrina said:

I don't see those files . . . Am I going blind too?

Sabrina

No you are not going blind, but I am going crazy... Let me try again... This time I will take the check mark out of the "I want to preview my post and/or attach a file" box after I have the file attached -- that could have been the problem... No it turned out that it was beacause I am on a Windows machine and the zip file was on my desktop, which is buried wa-ay down in the Windows file structure. By moving the file to the root of my C: drive, it attached okay.

tryme.zip

[Sabrina]

OK, I see where you are going with your files . . . thank you! It's pretty gal-darned close to what I need.

You're a scha-weet heart!

Sabrina