Time restriction data entry into value list

[Triodes]

Hello,

I have a problem with the entry into fields with value lists defined to them. When I click on a field to display a field value list that was setup for it under Format Field, I can enter te first few characters of the value so that the list will automatically go to the first record containing this value. I.e. I type in "hotdo" and the list will jump to the first value to contain these letters, say "hotdog".

The problem is that when I look away for a second or so to see what the next letter is, the value list already jumps to the value before I can enter the new info. hence when I type in de last few characters, the field lists sees this as a new lookup and displays items with only the newly typed characters.

We use product codes like BBCD60NGFX-####, so you can imagine te operator will not be able to remember all this and enter it at once to see what items contain the extered text. He/she will type BBCD, then look to the paper and try to enter 60NG. To his/her frustration the list has already displayed all values starting with BBCD, and when the second strig of characters was enterd, the value list jumped to the values beginning with 60NG instead.

The current wait time befor eshowing the values is about 1 second. is there any way to increase this time to say 5 seconds?

I hope you get what I am tryin to say..

Thanks!!!

[Lee Smith]

This is the expected behavior for a Pop-up lists in FileMaker. You have to be able to type a 150 words a minute without delay, or use the up and down arrow keys to advance to your desired words once you get to the BBCD (plus or minus a character). I can usually get three characters before the list starts to jump to a different part of the list.

A popup for a list of alpha numeric characters such as BBCD60ONGFX-#### may be the wrong approach for entering the information in this case. How long is this list anyway?

Maybe a Conditional Value List, or something else would be better.

Lee

[Triodes]

Hi,

Thanks for the quick answer.

The list contains product numbers, a little over 13.000 pieces at this time. The operators enter a few characters from this product code to jump into the list and then select them while scrolling thru the few remaining options. The problem is that there can be a few hundred items starting with the same 2 or 3 characters. ex: ABCDEFG-001-Blue or ABCDEFG-120-Blue. By the time they enter the fourth or fifth character (looking at the order form etc) to narrow the list down, the list has already jumped and anything they enter after will send them to a wrong position in the list.

A reason why I want to keep using this function is that product codes could be entered wrong, with spaces or dashes etc, while not being entered the same in the database. The field value list will restrict them from entering codes that do not exist in the system already. ex: ABCD-EF-120 or ABCDEF-120 or ABCDEF 120

The solution right now is to have one field that they can type in to (no value list) and a copy of that field that does have a value list. It's either/or right now.

The solution would be to have two fields, one temporary and one product code. Typing in to the temporary field and then showing all product codes starting with what has been typed so far in a relational portal. The problem is that relations are only made on the whole field, not the first number of character (also variable) that have been typed in so far.

example:

typed: HOT

list returns: hots, hotmore, hotel, hotep, hotdog, hotdogs, hotdodo, hotday, hotdiggidy, hotdillema, etc etc etc etc

typed HOTD

list returns: hotdog, hotdogs, hotdodo, hotday, hotdiggidy, hotdillema

typed: HOTDO

list returns: hotdog, hotdogs, hotododo

typed: HOTDOG

list returns: hotdog, hotdogs

The way to accoplish this eludes me, I was hoping the entry delay could be set in a .ini file somewhere perhaps .

Kind regards,

[DanBrill]

I think you want to have a global entry field where the operator enters the data, and a portal that displays the products. The relationship would be something like, if there are three characters in the global field, then show all the products that match those first three characters.

I don't really know how to set this up yet. Just thinking out loud. I'll noodle on it a bit.

Dan

[dbruggmann]

Triodes said:

The solution would be to have two fields, one temporary and one product code. Typing in to the temporary field and then showing all product codes starting with what has been typed so far in a relational portal. The problem is that relations are only made on the whole field, not the first number of character (also variable) that have been typed in so far.

Hi Triodes

There are ways to do what you are looking for. It's usually called something like

[Lee Smith]

Hi Triodes,

Take a look at these tip files for some ways in using maybe a Type Ahead or Clairvoyance approach to finding your list information.

Clairvoyance by: John Mark Osborne at:

http://www.databasepros.com

Type Ahead by: James E. Mastrianni and

TypeAhead2 by: Steve Wilmes at:

http://www.fmfiles.com/tnt11.html

Handy Bits by: Russ Baker and

Type-Ahead Portal for quick finds by: Ugo DI LUCA and

Finding Names by: Russ Baker at:

http://www.fmforums.com:Sample Files

HTH

Lee

[Lee Smith]

The link to our Sample File area will not find the files (duh), just do a search in the Sample File area for the file names or contributor

[Triodes]

Hello,

The clairvoyance did the trick.... Thanks a lot for the tip!

Jim de Kort