I have a file called Product Catalog that contains about 3000 different products. This file is used by everyone in the company for reference, placing orders etc. Needless to say, this file is getting rather large. I have one user that needs to access about 21 different layouts and 10 scripts to print individual pricesheets. They are the only person that will use these layouts and scripts. I would like to take those scripts and layouts and move them to another file that only she will use, but will access the information in the Product Catalog.

So I made 2 files out of the 1 Product Catalog. Problems: 1. I am not sure what is the best way to form a relationship between the two.

2. I need to be able to seperate the product buy their manufacturer and sort them for their appropriate layout.

Any suggestions on this would be appreciated, even if it is to change ideas completely.

Thanks

Are you using 6 or 7? It is real easy in 7 just to hide the scripts/ layouts from the people that you don't want to see them. That way, you wouldn't have to maintain two files while maintaining simplicity.

I am using 6. I have been hiding everything from the other users. my concern is that this file is increasing in size very quickly and the items in mention take up a hugh portion. But if it is too difficult to seperate it, I can just leave the file the way it is.

Hi Eliz309.

Please update your profile to reflect the platform, operating system and version of FileMaker you are using. The link is just below your name on the left and is colored blue "profile"

Lee

Sorry about that, I was sure that at some point I entered that info. Guess not.

If volume is the issue, I guess separating unlike records into different files is the answer but this means restructuring relationships based on some quality of the product. eg: fileAProducts contain plumbing, FileBProducts contain Electrical.... The match field would be based on the category field.

If you just want to display Products to, say, Orders or other file: to get all the products in a portal in the second file, in Products table and the other table, make a calculation universal match field (MfUniversalCc set to contain "1". (I don't like using auto enter text as somewhere long ago, it was said the auto enter feature may fail. This could be wroing now though. ) Then use this universal matchfield in the relationship.

I hope my rambling is understandable.

Good luck.