Problem creating text field

[Mark@siu]

I am trying to develop a medical database that gives choices for a physical examination.

ie I have check boxes ie

DEVELOPMENT (Normal Delayed)

I want the print out to say

a. DEVELOPMENT (Normal) or

b. DEVELOPMENT (Delayed) or if no box is checked I want the print out to say nothing as below

c. however if left unchecked, the print out will look like:

d. DEVELOPMENT ()

Selection d. doesn't look nice so I'd rather have nothing. Is there any easy way to do this?

I've tried using a script to input data into a DEV2 field as below

If (Devlopment = "")

Set Field (Dev2; Dev2 = "")

Else

Set Field (Dev2; Dev2 = "Development: " & Development)

End if

but the result returns as "0" no matter what is checked

I've also tried to use Dev2 as a calculation field as below:

Case ( Development = "" ; "" ; Development = "normal" ; "Development normal" ; Development = "delayed" ; "Development delayed")

but nothing shows up in the Dev2 field

Can any one help

Thanks, Mark

[Vaughan]

Look into the IsEmpty() and PatternCount() text functions. They might help you get the calculation field working.

[MoonShadow]

Hi Mark, welcome to FM Forums.

You might consider radio buttons instead of checkboxes (which allow multiple selections). Your post indicates you only want one choice. Try an auto-enter calculation on your Dev2 standard text field. Unclick the box under the calculation 'Do not Replace Existing Value' in Auto-Enter so it will change if the User changes the data:

If(not IsEmpty(Development); "Development (" & Development & ")")

In FM7, If() produces 'blank' on the Else if unspecified (unlike prior versions). And the largest % of records should be evaluated first (branch prediction) because FM quits evaluating after it hits the first true so it's more efficient (also unlike prior versions). I originally started with If(IsEmpty... and then caught my thinking error.

Your Case() calc would work even if incorrectly formatted as number. I suspect it didn't work because more than one value was in the field; which is why radio buttons are better for a single choice.

Your Set Field [] calcs produce '0' because you have Dev = "" in the calc box (and the 'equal' produces an evaluation). FM asks, Dev = ""? Yes or no and it's interpreted as boolean 0 (no). Only the "" should be in the calc box - same with your Else Set Field [] calc. I thought you might want to know why they broke on you. ... I always appreciate understanding the 'why' and not simply being given an answer, so I figured you might also.

[Mark@siu]

Thank you very much for your insight. I haven't been able to get back to it yet but hope your insights help. Thanks a lot

Mark