I am stumped, any direction appreciated!

[holmes7]

Haven't used Filemaker since the late 80's, recently had a client ask if I could help them print labels in Filemaker. Sure, I said, I'm familar with it, how hard could it be to import a text file? Hah! They're using Filemaker pro 6 for OSX.

What they want to do is print labels of their production line. The file they generate looks like this:

60010, Navy, MED, ,,,,,,3,,,,,3,,,,,2,,,,,1

The layout is the style number, color, size and the AMOUNT needed of a specific length. The "blank" fields are lengths NOT produced. The numbers are the numbers to be printed.

You would end up with say, 3 lables of 6 1/2, 3 labels of 9, 2 labels of 11, and one label of 15.

What I need Filemaker to do is look at that record, look at the various amount numbers in that record and translate each one to it's corresponding length and THEN print out that amount. The FINAL label should be:

60010

NAVY

MED

6 1/2 (and it should print that 3 times)

The next label would be

60010

NAVY

MED

9 (and it should print that 3 times) and so on.

Is this possible? If so how would I go about doing this? Any hints or tips are welcomed.

[Lee Smith]

Have you looked at the labels you can choose from within FileMaker. Just create a new layout choosing "Labels" option, as part of the options available, there is a list of labels a mile long.

You have to know which label you will be using, and then match it to one on the list.

You also down load Aetiket Label Printer By: Eric Fandrich URL:

http://www.fmfiles.com/dev8.html

I have used this in the past. The price was like $15.00 It is in an earlier version of FileMaker, but converts to fp5 easily.

HTH

Lee

[holmes7]

Thanks for the response...Not sure if this is purely a printing problem, but I'll have a look at the link. Anything to get this solved. Unfortunately i posted in the wrong thread and the Mods moved it here, but they may be right.

It looks like I may have found a solution in the layout forum about printing muliples. So I'm halfway there.

My remaining problem is, how to tell Filemaker to take that "amount" number and convert it to it's corresponding length?

any suggestions welcomed.

[transpower]

Use a calculation field to convert the amount and put that field on the label layout.

[holmes7]

Okay I'm stuck. The forum's helping a quite a bit, but I'm like the blind man trying to describe the elephant. Point me in the right direction.

What syntax do I use to tell the calculation to bypass the blank entries and "look" at the next entry? Then if it sees a number greater than 0 in entry 7, add the correct size in size field...then keep looking.

If there's an amount in entry 12, add the correct size, etc. There are 17 "potential" lenghts/entries on each report. Do I have to create 17 different calculations?

I have this: 60010, Black, Med, ,,,,,,,3,,,,,

I want to end up with this: 60010, Black, Med, 6 1/2 USA, 36.5 Euro or

60016

Black

Med

6 1/2 USA

36.5 Euro

I have the other fields, it just the how to make the calculation that's stumping me.

Thanks

[-Queue-]

Substitute(

Substitute(

Substitute( field1 & ", " & field2 & ", " & field3 & ", " & field4 & ... & fieldX,

", ", "

[holmes7]

Big Help! Thanks I'm getting there. I have a question.

I end up with this: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.... in the size field. What I want is ONE number, based on the position of the "amount" figure.

What I'm starting off with is:

60010, Black, MED,,,1,,,,2,,

What I'm getting now is:

60010, Black, MED, 5,6,7,8,9....(better than what I started with)

What I want is:

60010, Black, MED, 7, THEN.... 60010, Black, MED, 12

Am I doing something wrong? Of course I am, do you see where my mistake is?

[Lee Smith]

Hi holmes,

First of all, let me welcome you to the list. I should have done that in my first reply.

Secondly, I think we missed your problem originally (at least I did). I believe that the problem lies in your import data (text file) that you are now trying to manipulate to use in your labels. Instead of a calculation to set this data straight now, you should be looking to fixing the data first by separating it properly into separate fields, and then making your labels using these fields.

My first response should have been to ask you to upload a copy of your text file you get for import, Or post at the very least to have you post a good sample, so we can see how data looks when you receive it, and then have you tell us what you want as an end result (not like now, where we are getting it bit by bit).

HTH

Lee

[VFXdbGuy]

As Lee says, if you have fields in your database that correspond to each possible size you could map the import to put the right quantity value into the right field

[holmes7]

Thanks for the support. Let's see if I can't be more clear...bear with me.

There are 2 things I wish to accomplish:

1. Substitute the QUANTITY figure with its respective SIZE, this INCLUDES a Euro size as well.

2. Use the QUANTITY figure to print out the correct amount of labels, based on that QUANTITY Figure.

The USA SIZES are: 5, 5 1/2, 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8, 8 1/2, 9, 9 1/2, 10, 10 1/2, 11, 11 1/2, 12, 12 1/2, 13.

The Euro Sizes are 35, 35.5, 36. 36.5, 37, 37.5, 38, 39, 40, 40.5, 41, 41.5, 42, 42.5, 43

The file they generate is this:

60010, Black, MED,,,,2,,,2,,,3,,,3,

The "data" AFTER the Width(MED), is the Quantity of SIZES that is produced. The (QUANTITY) number, corresponds to its size and The AMOUNT of labels to be produced for THAT size. A "null" figure, means that SIZE is not produced and therefor NO labels.

In the above example: the FIRST number "2" corresponds to 6 1/2/36.5 That means I need to produce TWO USA 6 1/2-Euro 36.5 labels.

What I want Filemaker to do in laymen terms, is look at the data, "understand" the relative position of the number and substitute the QUANTITY number with it's respective USA and Euro sizes. THEN print out the correct amount of labels, based on the same QUANTITY figure.

This is the format that I want to end up with:

60010

Black

Med

6 1/2 USA

36.5 Euro

I hope that helps. Please don't hesitate to ask for more clarification.

[Lee Smith]

Hi,

Yeah, that does help.

If every US size is to have a Euro equivalent, than you missed 38.5 and 39.5

Separating the data as you presented it isn't going to be a problem, just as long as it remains consistent as you have shown it. If so, there are at least two ways it can be done.

The easiest way (as I sort of hinted at in my last post) is to run the file through a text editor, and do a find for commas and replace with tabs. You can then import the results by simply lining up the data with your fields in your database. Once you do this manually the way you want it, immediately create a script, using the import script step and attach it to a button for the future. Another way would be to import the raw data into a global field in FileMaker, and then parse it out either using scripts or calculations to your accounts.

I'm still wondering about your process though, maybe there is something it it that would help us to help you better. I just have this feeling that your steps are out of order.

If it were me, I would start with elaborating on:

The file they generate is this:

60010, Black, MED,,,,2,,,2,,,3,,,3,

In the mean time, I'm guessing that you are either a manufacturer, or an after market company, and that these labels are needed for inside the hats, and not for shipping as I originally thought.

Lee

[holmes7]

38.5, 39.5 aren't being used. The labels are for shipping, the customer needs to know: Style number, color, width and sizing at glance. Hence the box label.

"The file they generate is this:

60010, Black, MED,,,,2,,,2,,,3,,,3, "

They use a DOS program to create the shirts using a cutting machine. That file once "converted" by the program, tells the machine HOW MANY and WHAT WIDTH, SIZE, COLOR to cut of a specific style. i.e 60010.

So the machine will cut:EXAMPLE: (2) 6 1/2, (2) 8, (3) 10, (3) 12 1/2 of Style 60010, Blak, MED.

They are able to export that file as a text file and want to use that to create the shipping labels.

[Lee Smith]

Here is a little file that I slapped together for you. I think that it does what you need.

It's not much to look at, but it should get you started. Let me know if you have questions.

HTH

Lee

For_holmes.fp5.zip

[holmes7]

Lee, thanks. Give me a day or so to try it and I'll let you know if I have any additional questions or if I cock it up.

I confess I would have never been able to do this, I've been banging my head against the manual and I just couldn't figure it out.

If only all forums were this helpful....

holmes

[holmes7]

Lee thanks again. 1 problem. When I try to print the labels I've imported, it prints the scriptmaker file instead of the labels. What am I missing?

thanks

[Lee Smith]

During the process of putting the file together, I printed the script. All you need to do is to change the Print setup to print the "records being browsed" instead of the Scripts.

Lee

[holmes7]

Thanks Lee, it works! Sweet. Now I have another question. The script allows me to input one record at a time. How would I input multiple records? Have tried, but the imported data gets crazy. Will the script you created allow me in to input multiple records or can I only import one record at a time? What do I need to do to modify it so that it can?

This is how I receive the file, the amount of records varies:

61010, Black, MED,,,10,,,,,12,,,,,,,,

61040, Navy, WIDE,,1,,,,,,,,,,,,3,,

61062, Red, MED,,,,,,,,8,,,,2,,,,

61050, Lavender, NAR,,,,17,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Lee Smith]

I set this up so that so you can either import a tab or comma separated text file. FileMaker defaults to All, which should bring the file right in.

I also gave you the option to create a new record and paste the lines in new records (one line = one new record). That was the reason I set up the button <--Process Raw. Easier to import though.

Have you tried an import? If it isn't working, what is it doing.

HTH

Lee