Hi, thanks for letting me pick your brains...

(be gentle, my first request)

I have information about clients organized into a FM database, the date of communication is one of the fields. When I start a new record for a client I already have in FM,I would like to see a few fields from the last communication with them. So I think I would like to find the second most recent date (the most recent is the record I am currently viewing/endering) Is this the best way to get that information? Any ideas or tricks up your sleeves?

Thanks so much!

-Steve

If you create a self-relationship based on clientID = clientID and dateCommunication > dateCommunication, and set the relationship to sort by dateCommunication, descending, then you can put the related fields on the layout and view the most recent record's data.

Thanks, I'm still trying to grasp the reasons for self-relationships, but in this case i think I see why it makes sense. If I set up a self relationship using those fields, can I also use a portal window to show all of the data from past communications with the client?

Thanks again... your saving me hours on hours....

-Steve

Got it figured out! I had over-complicated things a bit, I'm used to access, this is very simple, yet more powerfull. Thanks for your help!

Yes, you could show all previous client records in a portal, in descending order. Glad I could be of help.