Let's say I want to update an arbitrary number of records with the same information. I need to be able to find the records that have specific values in a certain field. The value in this field is different for each record and there is no telling how many records will be selected by my user. Their job is to supply the set of values that will be useed to find the records.

Is there a reasonable way of obtaining a set of values from the user that can be used to look up the affected records?

I know that there is a way to update all the records in the found set with same information, but I don't remember how I did it. It wasn't a script that I wrote, I remember it being something that was supplied by FileMaker, perhaps a combination of key strokes like Shift+Enter. Was I dreaming about this?

Thanks

The Mad Jammer

You would use the Replace function (or script step) to update data in all records of the found set.

All you need to do is create a mechanisme for the user to find the records they want updated and then script a Replace on the fields that need updating.

Use a Loop with Set Field, if it's a multi-user database, and trap for records that fail because another user has them locked.

Thanks for the advice about updating the records.

Any ideas aobut how to go about setting up a way of finding the records?

The Mad Jammer

Can you elaborate on 'finding the records'? I'm not sure what you're asking.

Queue,

Thanks for your response.

For instance, let's say I wanted to find 20 records that have unique values in the field that would be searched. One record may have the value 5A752 in the search field, another record may have BH8-YR3-K in the search field and so on. And of course, the values to be searched for would be different every time the search was done. I need to be able to collect an arbitrary number of these search criteria values and select the records that match those values. It's analogous to selecting 24 unique serial numbers of a product to pack into a case. After selecting those 24 and packing the case, another 24 need to be selected. This is what I mean.

Having a repeating field on each record would be a horrendous waste of space. The only time it would be used is when I want to perform the search. What I really need is a way to capture the values and perform the find using an 'OR' operator. And I need a way to capture as many values as are needed for that particular search. i used 24 as an illustration. Each search could have more or less criteria values applied to it. And I don't need to store the search criteria values after the search and the mass update have been completed. Do you suppose a separate file with one repeating field could be used in a portal in the main file to collect the search crtireia values and then apply a script step that would find each value in the repeating field and append the record to the found set?

Thanks

The Mad Jammer

If you gather the criteria (assuming it's a serial) as a return-delimited list in a global text field and create a relationship from this global to your serial number field, then you can use the Go to Related Records [show only related, "yourrelationship"] step to find only those records whose serials are in the list.

You could also use multiple find requests using the New Record/Request step for each, and then perform the find.

Queue,

Queue,

Thanks for the information. The first solution is probably the best since it comes closest to the solution already in place. My client is using a product called Clarion and on one screen she can enter up to 30 serial numbers in separate text boxes, fill in the information she wants to update in all of the recrods related to the serial numbers and then press the Enter key to update all of the records at once. This is what I am trying to accomplish here as well.

Thanks for you time and insight. I'll give this solution a try and see how it works. I may ask you some follow up questions but it seems pretty clear for now.

The Mad Jammer

Queue,

BRILLIANT! Have a Guinness on me. Needless to say it worked flawlessly.

The Mad Jammer

Oooh! Guinness is GOOD for me!

Glad I could be of service.