I have a database with 3 text fields: area, goal, objective. Area is a value list, and there are about 10 choices. Goal is often repeated exactly on several records. Objective will be unique to each record. I'm trying to set up a way so that "area" is selected, the corresponding goals will show in a portal. I've got it working, but because a goal can be repeated several times with a different objective, I get duplicates showing in the portal. Is there a way so that only one instance of the goal is visible in the portal?

I've tried creating value lists based on goal, but the list is really too long to scroll through.

You need to create a "qualifier" that will tag the first instance of a goal as the "master occurrence" then use this field for your portal.

For instance if your goal was "go to mars"

you could create a qualifier field that said "go to mars" for the first instance of that goal and blank for all other instances.

You can set up your "master occurrence" field by sorting the file by goal and running a script like:

Sort restore

Go to record first

SetField(globalfield, goal)

Loop

If (globalfield does not equal goal)

SetField (master occurence, goal)

SetField (globalfield, goal)

End If

Go to record next(exit after last)

end loop

Phil