newbie - related value fields

[zinneken]

Rather new to filemaker and the forums here, so forgive probably the basic question.

I'd like to link 2 pop-down menu's together, but with content depending on each other.

For example, if the value in the first pop-down is 1 i'd like the second pop-down to show the values of value list A. But, if the value of the first pop-down is 2 i'd like the second pop-down to show values of value list B.

How can I do this in FileMaker?

[Lee Smith]

What you are describing is called Conditional Value Lists.

There examples of how to do this all over the net. If you do a search of the Forum, you will find some example files.

Here are two links:

Here

and

and Here

HTH

Lee

[Lee Smith]

I should have also said that these links are to other discussions about CVL, and that you want to look for the replies from andygaunt in both links.

To download the sample (example) file, click on the word Attachment in the header by the Subject.

HTH

Lee

[zinneken]

Thanks! Got it to work so far for anything that doesn't contain spaces. But it doesn't work when an item in the list has a "space" (Like for example "South Australia" - the space would prevent it from showing up in the list when coming from the calculation). How can I solve this?

[Lee Smith]

Hi,

If I'm understanding your question, a space in a Value Lists doesn't prevent the second word to show. In your example of South Australia, it should appear in your list under your "S's" i.e. "South"

If you want it under "A's", i.e. Australia, then redo it to read Australia, South.

If I have misunderstood, maybe additional information will help.

HTH

Lee

[zinneken]

Apologies for not having been more explicative (attaching the example I'm working on so you can see what I mean).

I want to make several DB-es with CVL's, every DB going a level further (this is so that I wouldn't have to re-type or go through huge lists).

Fields are:

country

Region

Sub-Region

Sub-Region 2

In the DB it goes like:

France

Bordeaux

Margaux

Works perfectly.

But then, you have some regions that have spaces in them, so here it goes:

Australia

South Australia

Mount Lofty Ranges

Here things go badly in geo4.fp5

Australia - no problem (since not based on the calculation field)

South Australia - no problem (since not based on the calculation field)

Mount Lofty Ranges - doesn't show up (since it is based on the calculation field - it is present in geo3.fp5, so normally should show up since "Margaux" with no space shows up).

Sorry if I'm not entirely clear, I'm not used to describe computer problems ...

Thanks for helping out.

[ESpringer]

I'm not sure why you'd need multiple databases here (to hold the data for your value lists)... I wonder whether you're really making too much complexity, which would certainly explain a proliferation of difficulties.

Check out the model files... What you want is to have one file whose records specify all of the geographical levels at once. So, each record would correspond to just one sub-sub-region, or whatever your smallest locality is, and specify in separate fields leading up to it all the levels from continent (or whatever your highest-tier is) on down.

You don't have to retype: while you're inputting several Europe-France-Bordeaux-________ records, you can duplicate the last one and just change the subregion2 field. You can also use the "Replace" item in the Records menu if you have a bunch of records in your found set (make sure you have exactly the found set you want) and you want to adjust what shows up in ALL of them in a certain field, to match your current record. (So, if you decided to switch Burma to Myanmar, you could do it for a bunch of records at once.)

[zinneken]

I've learnt by trial & error that it is (probably) not the spaces that are the culprit for the "random" "pickyness" of VCL in filemaker, since taking the spaces away does'nt help. How is possible that there is no problem for a couple of items and that others don't show up? Is this normal? Has anybody else experienced this?

[dbruggmann]

Hi

In your sample files (geo3.fp5 and geo4.fp5) your calculation fields C_CR have the wrong format: you defined them as number, but they must be text. Correct it in the calculation dialog (below the input box) and all works as wanted.

[zinneken]

Oh my god! Where were my eyes??? Of course. Thanks for all the help and for putting me right :-)