Typing the same but different...

[murray]

Can someone let me know if this can be done (easily hopefully).

I need to enter data into a text field which, once all the data has been entered will be copied and pasted into another application which doesn't support importing or stylised text. I am using buttons to enter text strings which correspond to symbols normally used instead of the text string but which can't be displayed in the other app. The problem is each symbol has a "short" version and a "long" version of it's string (eg short is "FMP" and long is "FilemakerPro").

What I would like is to type into one text field but simultaneously generate an identical one except that when a symbol's appropriate string is pasted in, the short version goes into one text field and the long into the other, and the user can choose which they prefer.

At the moment I am using a single field for entry and pasting the short version in, and at the end doing a find and replace from short to long and pasting the finished version into a second text field. The trouble with this is that for every symbol there is a separate find and replace script required.

If anyone has any ideas I'd appreciate it.

Cheers, Murray

[Lee Smith]

Hi Murray,

A gang of the Substitute function would work, but it could end up being one heck of a long calculation depending on how many of these special symbols you have.

Field2 (Calculation field), (Text Result) =

Substitute(Substitute(Substitute(Substitute(Substitute(Field1,

"FMP ", "FileMaker Pro "),

"Inc. ","Incorporated "),

"Co. ","Company "),

"Tel. ","Telephone "),

"SVP ","Senior Vice President ")

As you can see, each symbol requires its own set of parameters by the use of a "Substitute(" ganged as shown, and a parameter for "find", and a parameter for "replace". Be sure that you pay attention to the ")," at the end of each set, except of course for the final one.

HTH

Lee

[dbruggmann]

Hi Murray

I think there are several pssible ways for this. It depends, how your database is set up and how the data entry is accomplished.

1) You could set up your FM File that it automatically generates the text string equivalents to the symbols on the fly (by using calculation fields).

2) You could use a script to do this afterwards manually for all records together or for each record.

3) You can use lookups.

This all works if the list of text strings/symbols you are using is defined and limited. Then you could set up a separate file for them (one record for each one with the fields