Looping records in a portal...

[Dave_G]

Need a little fundamental help. I've developed a database solution with one master layout file, and 4 data files. The master layout file contains only related fields from the 4 data files. What I'm needing to do is on one of the layouts in the master file, create a list of records from 3 fields out of one of the data files.

Can I do this within a portal? Can I script a loop somehow? I'm not too adept yet at ScriptMaker, so be gentle.

Thanks!

[Brian Davidson]

Kind of depends.. Do you plan on printing this? and How many records in each list are we talking?

[Dave_G]

No on printing. There are two layouts in the master file, a List and a Detail. The List layout needs to displays a list of returned records from one of the related DB's. There is no limit to the number of records - could be 5, could be 50, depending on each client's needs. The layout won't really allow defining a grand summary part, which is why I was thinking along the lines of a portal.

Thanks for the help!

[bruceR]

You don't mention what version of Filemaker. FM7 changes things completely for this kind of situation.

[Dave_G]

Sorry bout that - using FM Dev 6.

[Vaughan]

It's always much, much easier to use the Go to Related Record() step and then do the processing in the related file, then pop back when you're done.

[Dave_G]

Thanks for the info, but the related file exists on the clients machines already and modifications cannot be performed on it (only replacing the layout file). I can add files to the solution, such as a join file, but I'm not certain how I would perform what I need to perform while not touching the 4 "core" data files. Any thoughts?

Thanks!