Using Portals

[Agent Shooter]

What I'm trying to do is place multiple dates with one record using portals. I'm not sure I'm going about this in the right fashion so any help would be great!

I have one record say an invoice number which = 1.

Now with this invoice number 1 I need to keep a history of contacts made with the client. So somehting like:

___________DATE____________Comments

________- Jul 10/04_________Client wanted information

Invoice 1 - Jul 12/04_________Information Client wanted was mailed

________- Jul 15/04_________Client called to confirm information was received

Any help?? (The lines are only there for editing this post)

[Lee Smith]

Hi Agent, and Welcome to the Forum.

If I'm understanding your question correctly, It sounds like you are using, or trying to use, the Invoice Number as the bases of your relationship. It would be better to use the Client ID.

If I'm not understanding you, or if you need further clarification, please say so.

Lee

[Agent Shooter]

I'm really not sure how to approach this problem at all. I'm just started to use FileMaker and don't really know any of it's features.

I'm trying to set it up to add multiple lines per record. So one invoice could have 4 contacts (each with a date). I'm not sure how to set this up and was thinking about portals but not even sure if that would work.

If you would like picture it like a directory tree:

the invoice at the top then branching down to the dates and contact information (comments). It will only go to these two levels but how do I get file maker to do this.

[Lee Smith]

You can only view information one level deep in a portal. In other words, you can't have a portal within a portal.

I made a quick example file (it's ugly) to show you one way you could arrange your portal.

Open the Contact File.fp5 to start with.

Also, if you want to print the information in the Invoice file, you would want to create your report in the Invoice file. Also, FileMaker includes some examples of invoices with their application.

HTH

Lee

RelationshipsClientID.zip

[Agent Shooter]

Now how would you add another line to the portal?? I've tired to add another one but it didn't seem to show up

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Hi,

Define Relationship>Allow Cretation of related records (checked)

Or a button with a script attached that trigger an external script "create record and set the ID to the InvoiceID".

Now, why won't you create a Notes.fp5 file, which could be accessed either from your Customer File, your Order file, or any other (Invoices for sure) where needed, still based on the CustomerID.

Subject would be either Invoice#1 or Quote#5...

My 2 cents.

[Agent Shooter]

Ugo DI LUCA - Not really sure how to do what you say (your 2 cents). I really just need a place to write multiple comments for a particular item number (this is a unique number).

I'll have to figure out how to add (for the people using this system) later. Deadline to meet!!

THANKS EVERYONE

[Lee Smith]

Hi Agent.

Ugo mentioned a couple of ways to add records.

The purpose of my ugly files, was to establish in my mind, if this was what you were meaning by your post. I agree with Ugo, you will want to approach your files differently than what I did for you here.

FileMaker is probably one of the easiest, if not the easiest, database application to learn and use, But, don't be surprised by the fact that there is a learning curve. The sophistication of your end results, will be directly tied your knowledge of how FileMaker works, and your ability to put that to practice.

Caution: Do not attempt to short cut your learning curve in FileMaker, you will not be happy with your end results.

Depending on how much time you can commit to your learning curve, should dictate your course of action. If you have a lot of time, then fine. Take that time to read the Manuals, work though the Tutorial files, and even purchase books about FileMaker such as, Special Edition Using FileMaker Pro 5 by Coulombre and Price. If you don't have the time to learn it now, then you should either purchase a commercial product that meets your needs, or hire a professional developer to create your solution for you.

Here are a few of my favorite resource sites that have an abundance of how to, tip and trick, freeware, shareware, and commercial products available:

http://www.fmfiles.com/

http://www.databasepros.com/

http://www.dwdataconcepts.com/

http://www.fentonjones.com/

http://www.nightwing.com.au/FileMaker/

And don't forget to search here at the forum too.

There are others sites, but this should keep you busy for awhile.

HTH

Lee