Can I control when a field value is calculated?

[Lange]

Hello

I have a peculiar problem I cannot see the solution of:

I have a database where users are creating records via the web. I would like to "mark" the first record of a given type, but not the following of the same type, so that I can search for all the "first records" - You get the idea?

I have a field that counts how many there are it is of its type (counts numbers of a relation). What I need is to "freeze" this value in another field, so that when there is only one relation (meaning it is the first of its kind), this field gets the value 1, and when the next is created, this will get the number 2 and so on.

I thought i could do it by calculating it (if the counter is 1, set value 1, else set value 0), but the field is calculated when the record is created, BEFORE the relation is counted, so the relation is, in the eyes of the calculation field, always =0!

Is the any way to tell a field to calculate its value AFTER a value has been entered into another field?

[Garry Claridge]

You may be able to use "Validation" with a Calculation when a field is changed.

Good Luck.

Garry

[transpower]

A calculation field, if unstored, will recalculate when any of its operands change. So, unless I'm misunderstanding your problem, just change the storage option for your calculation field.

[Lange]

Thanks for your comments! And: I found an elegant solution to the problem myself - in the help file for Filemaker! See the item: "Finding duplicate values using a self-join relationship" A simple and elegant solution for marking the first record of a type with one value and the following with another value.