I have looked around and search for a way to do this but havent been able to so far, I apologize if it has already been mentioned!

I have a database of 1800 records, for each of these records I need to be able to search a set of fields for the same data. EX:

Client 1 wants to be listed in category: architects/design

Client 2 wants to be listed in categories: architect/industrial, architects/design , general contractor,

client 3 wants to be listed in categories: general contractor, architect/ industrial, architects/design

and so on

So say there are 9 different records that are all supposed to be in category "architects/design" but each one has "architects/design" in a different "category" field, heres the problem, since each client has a different 1st category i have to do a search for each category in each of 12 "category" fields. Is there a way I can find everyone that wants to be in category "architects/design" regardless of wether that is in field "category 1" or field "category 12"

Hope that makes sense.... THANKS!

You can either create a calculation text field that concatenates all category fields, i.e. category1 & " " & category2 & " " & category 3 & " " & ... & category 12, though this might be too many characters to index.

An alternative is to create multiple find requests via script. If a user enters the search criteria in a global in Browse Mode,

Enter Find Mode [ ]

Set Field [category1, global]

New Record/Request

Set Field [category2, global]

New Record/Request

Set Field [category3, global]

...

Perform Find [ ]

ok that actually sort of helped, got me closer anyway.

The concatination worked perfectly.

Now I just need to export the records, i suppose I can create a new database for each category....

Hi Madapple,

I guess you misunderstood -queue- first sentence of his reply. A concatenated calculation is nothing more than calculation field where you add the fields together by using the "&" sign. In other words,

YourField, Calculation, Text Result =

Field 1 & Field 2 & Field 3

You can put a space between the fields, as shown by -queue-, to make it easier to read

Field 1 & " " & Field 2 & " " & Field 3

HTH

Lee

yeah, just after i posted that i realisd what he was saying.

got that workign now i just need to figure out how i need to sort it so i can export it the way the designer needs the info

You can still sort by the original fields and export either the combined calculation or the individual fields. How exactly do you need it to export?

I need to get the info in this format:

Category

The Store

Mr Joe Person

Owner

1993 Street.

City,TN 38104

PH.(901) 555-5700

FAX(901) 555-1334

http://

[email protected]

The Other Store

Mrs Sally Sombody

Owner

2150 Avenue way.

City,TN 38104

PH.(901) 555-5700

FAX(901) 555-1334

http://

[email protected]

I have figured out how to do that part easily, now I am going to try and get the heading to load properly for each listing. Only need one category listed for each client.

what i am going to do is just have all the categories in th etop of each listing and delete them.

Now i need to find a away to export them as just plain text, not as delimited text.