I am trying to write a script to alert me when a person orders more then one widget so that I can combine shipping. So far I have the script written so that it sorts all the records and marks all the duplicate ship to names. What I need to do next is figure out how to have the script combine the widget name with the persons address.

It is best explained by example:

Record 1:

widget: widget 1

Ship to name:Dan Smith

Address: 555 f st

City:Folsom

Zip: 95855

Record 2:

widget: widget 5

Ship to name:Dan Smith

Address: 555 f st

City:Folsom

Zip: 95855

Record 3:

widget: widget 3

Ship to name:Dan Smith

Address: 555 f st

City:Folsom

Zip: 95855

Record 4:

widget: widget 1

Ship to name:Jill Smith

Address: 111 D st

City:Salville

Zip: 92677

Record 4:

widget: widget 8

Ship to name:Jill Smith

Address: 111 D st

City:Salville

Zip: 92677

So for Dan smith I would like the database to combine item names with the persons address in a new field like this:

Widget1, widget 3, widget 5

Dan Smith

555 f st

Folsom

95855

Can anyone help guide me through it. I am using FMP6. Thanks for reading.

First I would suggest that you create a unique customer number so that you have an easy way of identifying each customer regardless of similarities in names and that you maintain the customers and customer information in a separate table/database so that you can relate the orders and the customers on your shipping form. Your shipping form should also be in a separate database/table so that you an have only one shipping record for all product sent on a given shipment. The products would be displayed on the shipping form in a portal related by the customer number and a "has not shipped yet" flag.

If I understand the way you've expressed this you have each order rekeying the customer information in a very flat file format.

With your current structure you could try creating a concatenated field combining the customer name, street address and expected shipping date, to create a unique identifier that won't pick up previously shipped orders.

Then create a self relate on the concatenated field and a portal based on that relationship to show you all orders placed by a client that will ship on a given date.

Hope this at least gives you a place to start.

Phil

Yes, you would do well to develop a relational structure for your data. Not only will it save you shipping labels, it will save your users data entry time.