Identify conflicts

[2kuz]

I do a lot of scheduling. Is there a script that can be used with filemaker 6 or 7 that will automatically identify conflicts within records of date, sport, time, and facility? I need away to show a conflict exists automatically or within a short period of time.

[Ender]

It's hard to give specifics on how to build it as we don't know the details of what you are doing (keep in mind that building a scheduling system is complicated.)

The basic algorithm for a conflict check is to use a relationship based on the things that would qualify as a conflict between an existing record and a new record. In FM6 the keys for this relationship would be calculated like:

Key = date & " " & sport & " " & facility

But to include time or date ranges in the relationship is more work. For range relationships in FM6, I like the Smart Ranges technique:

http://www.onegasoft.com/tools/smartranges/

In FM7, relationships are somewhat easier. You would add each of the criteria to the relationship in the Edit Relationship dialog. Use the >,>=,<, or <= relationship operators for the Date or Time range part of the relationship.

Anyway, when the relationship has related records (for the specied date, time, sport, and facility,) you know there is a conflict.