I'm a newbie and I'm trying to determine if this program (FM5.5) can do what I want to do. I'm trying to figure out a way to essentially have records inside of a record. For example, the database will have a record for each client. Each record will have a "To Do" list which will have items being added and removed from it. I thought repeating fields might be the answer but I want the layout to expand or contract as I add and remove items on the list. And if I remove item 2, I don't want an empty space left over; I want item 3 to show up below item 2. Having one big text window is not what I'm looking for.

The relational database thing won't work because each list will be unique to the client.

Thanks in advance.

If I understand the problem correctly then relational is exactly what you need. With the relationship based on the customer id.

Then set a portal to the second file and setting it to allow creation and deletion of related records, and have a scroll bar.

Unless of course I missed some key bit of info

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'm just getting the hang of the relational database concept. If FileMaker will allow me to automatically create a new file linked to my customer, that would seem to solve my problem. If I've got things straight, it would have to create a new database for each customer. I'll have to take another look at my manual and see if I can figure this out!