Dynamic Value Lists: Can this Beginner be Helped?

[sydneytim]

I have read many of the existing posts regarding "dynamic value lists", but despite my best efforts, I am yet to achieve the goal as outlined below. I would be grateful for your instruction. Step-by-step would be great, a functioning sample database as an attachment would be ideal, but I'll take any help I can get!

Information relating to various aspects of my life is kept in a single database.

I currently organise the files in the database using a field (editable pull down menu) named 'category'.

The main categories of my database are: CLIENTS, FAMILY and RESOURCES.

Basically, I would like to improve the functionality of the database by introducing an additional field named "subcategory".

How I would like the database to work:

When I create a new record, I will select a 'category' from a pull-down menu. (In this example, I will select "FAMILY".

At this point, in this example, the 'subcategory' pull-down menu will instantly list each of my family members, ready for me to choose the family member this file concerns.

Additional Notes:

Both the 'category' and 'sub-category' menus will ideally be editable. This will allow me to:

• 1. Add a new category (which will initially have zero sub-category options, until they are added using the "edit value list" feature)
  
• 2. Add a new sub-category, for example, include a new family member in the above example.
  

Thanks in advance for your advice. I joined this group a month ago, and member contributions have already proven extremely helpful!

[transpower]

You can use the ValueListItems function to select the right value list for the particular record.

[sydneytim]

Thanks Transpower.

Find attached a practice database that I'm working on.

It's not quite right yet!

Would you please confirm that I have used the ValueListItems function correctly and advise how I should treat the SubCategory field format/behavior?

Thanks,

Sydneytim

dynamic_value_list.fp7.zip

[-Queue-]

See attached modified file. Note that I have included a SubCategory copy field, which shows the calculation to use if you want the SubCategory field to auto-enter the first item of the Subcats value list when you change the Category.

dynamic_value_list.zip

[sydneytim]

Queue!

There have been a number of discussions on Dynamic Value Lists, but what you have acheived with this database answers the call better than anything I have seen!

Thanks for taking the time out to put this together and upload it - I'm sure a lot of people will benefit from this!

Cheers,

Sydneytim