Help Creating a Summary-like form

[jason25]

Hello,

It was tough to describe what I am looking to do in the Subject line. I am trying create a form that only populates if corresponding fields are populated.

Let me give this some context.....I have created a database to enter in details for producing photo shoots. All of the logistical information is enetred in several layouts (using tabs for the user interface). What I am trying to do is take the information that was entered about a specific photoshoot and output that to a form. When the photo producer needs to get something approved, they would push a button to take all of the information that was input and present it in a nicely formatted form that is easily printable.

But many photo shoots are different and sometimes several fields are left blank (ie, no set designer was needed, no travel details because it was an in town shoot, etc). If something is left blank, I would like to leave it out of the outputted form. Normally Merge Fields would fit this situation, but I also need the field label so the line item can be identified.

For example

Subject: John Smith

Shoot Date: 3/15/2005

Location: Downtown

Make up: <empty>

If there is nothing populated in the Make Up field, I don't want the label "Make Up:" appearing.

The only way I can think of getting this done is a huge script with many many IF, Thens. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I should go about this?

Thank you very much in advance.

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

Hello,

It was tough to describe what I am looking to do in the Subject line. I am trying create a form that only populates if corresponding fields are populated.

Let me give this some context.....I have created a database to enter in details for producing photo shoots. All of the logistical information is enetred in several layouts (using tabs for the user interface). What I am trying to do is take the information that was entered about a specific photoshoot and output that to a form. When the photo producer needs to get something approved, they would push a button to take all of the information that was input and present it in a nicely formatted form that is easily printable.

But many photo shoots are different and sometimes several fields are left blank (ie, no set designer was needed, no travel details because it was an in town shoot, etc). If something is left blank, I would like to leave it out of the outputted form. Normally Merge Fields would fit this situation, but I also need the field label so the line item can be identified.

For example

Subject: John Smith

Shoot Date: 3/15/2005

Location: Downtown

Make up: <empty>

If there is nothing populated in the Make Up field, I don't want the label "Make Up:" appearing.

The only way I can think of getting this done is a huge script with many many IF, Thens. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I should go about this?

Thank you very much in advance.

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

Hello,

It was tough to describe what I am looking to do in the Subject line. I am trying create a form that only populates if corresponding fields are populated.

Let me give this some context.....I have created a database to enter in details for producing photo shoots. All of the logistical information is enetred in several layouts (using tabs for the user interface). What I am trying to do is take the information that was entered about a specific photoshoot and output that to a form. When the photo producer needs to get something approved, they would push a button to take all of the information that was input and present it in a nicely formatted form that is easily printable.

But many photo shoots are different and sometimes several fields are left blank (ie, no set designer was needed, no travel details because it was an in town shoot, etc). If something is left blank, I would like to leave it out of the outputted form. Normally Merge Fields would fit this situation, but I also need the field label so the line item can be identified.

For example

Subject: John Smith

Shoot Date: 3/15/2005

Location: Downtown

Make up: <empty>

If there is nothing populated in the Make Up field, I don't want the label "Make Up:" appearing.

The only way I can think of getting this done is a huge script with many many IF, Thens. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I should go about this?

Thank you very much in advance.

Regards,

Jason

[-Queue-]

Well, you don't need a script; a calculation will work easily here.

Case( not IsEmpty(Subject); "Subject: " & Subject &

[-Queue-]

Well, you don't need a script; a calculation will work easily here.

Case( not IsEmpty(Subject); "Subject: " & Subject &

[-Queue-]

Well, you don't need a script; a calculation will work easily here.

Case( not IsEmpty(Subject); "Subject: " & Subject &

[jason25]

Excellent, thank you. I am still a bit new to developing FM databases and I was not familiar with the Case function. But after looking at your post, that makes complete sense. I knew there had to be a way to do this. I may have some follow up questions once I've got something to work with.

Thanks again!

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

Excellent, thank you. I am still a bit new to developing FM databases and I was not familiar with the Case function. But after looking at your post, that makes complete sense. I knew there had to be a way to do this. I may have some follow up questions once I've got something to work with.

Thanks again!

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

Excellent, thank you. I am still a bit new to developing FM databases and I was not familiar with the Case function. But after looking at your post, that makes complete sense. I knew there had to be a way to do this. I may have some follow up questions once I've got something to work with.

Thanks again!

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

Hello,

I've started using the calculation and it is working well. I do have a follow-up question; is there any way to format the text within this calculation. For example, I would like to have the items lined up by tab line. I can't demonstrate in this box because it doesn't format properly. But since the "labels" that are listed on the left are all different length, I would like to have the field text to start 2 or 3 tabs away (so it all lines up); or right justified. I hope this explanation makes sense.

I have split this up from one large calculation, to several smaller ones so I have some flexibility with the layout.

I know this may be a bit too much to ask out of this feature, but I figured I would ask. Thanks!

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

Hello,

I've started using the calculation and it is working well. I do have a follow-up question; is there any way to format the text within this calculation. For example, I would like to have the items lined up by tab line. I can't demonstrate in this box because it doesn't format properly. But since the "labels" that are listed on the left are all different length, I would like to have the field text to start 2 or 3 tabs away (so it all lines up); or right justified. I hope this explanation makes sense.

I have split this up from one large calculation, to several smaller ones so I have some flexibility with the layout.

I know this may be a bit too much to ask out of this feature, but I figured I would ask. Thanks!

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

Hello,

I've started using the calculation and it is working well. I do have a follow-up question; is there any way to format the text within this calculation. For example, I would like to have the items lined up by tab line. I can't demonstrate in this box because it doesn't format properly. But since the "labels" that are listed on the left are all different length, I would like to have the field text to start 2 or 3 tabs away (so it all lines up); or right justified. I hope this explanation makes sense.

I have split this up from one large calculation, to several smaller ones so I have some flexibility with the layout.

I know this may be a bit too much to ask out of this feature, but I figured I would ask. Thanks!

Regards,

Jason

[-Queue-]

You can use Ctrl-Tab to enter a tab into a calculation in Windows. I'm not certain what the applicable keys would be on Mac.

[-Queue-]

You can use Ctrl-Tab to enter a tab into a calculation in Windows. I'm not certain what the applicable keys would be on Mac.

[-Queue-]

You can use Ctrl-Tab to enter a tab into a calculation in Windows. I'm not certain what the applicable keys would be on Mac.

[jason25]

I think its option-tab for Mac, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. I suppose I could do 2 sets of calculations per field, one for the label, one for the actual contents and then I can line them up separately in the layout. Its a lot of gimp work, but I know that I'll be asked to line up the information because it gets used outside of our office and needs to look decent. Any thoughts about that?

Thank you again for your assistance.

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

I think its option-tab for Mac, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. I suppose I could do 2 sets of calculations per field, one for the label, one for the actual contents and then I can line them up separately in the layout. Its a lot of gimp work, but I know that I'll be asked to line up the information because it gets used outside of our office and needs to look decent. Any thoughts about that?

Thank you again for your assistance.

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

I think its option-tab for Mac, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. I suppose I could do 2 sets of calculations per field, one for the label, one for the actual contents and then I can line them up separately in the layout. Its a lot of gimp work, but I know that I'll be asked to line up the information because it gets used outside of our office and needs to look decent. Any thoughts about that?

Thank you again for your assistance.

Regards,

Jason

[comment]

You cannot type option-tab in a calculation; type it into a field first, copy it, and paste it into the calculation. E.g.:

Case ( not IsEmpty ( Subject) ; "Subject:" & "paste option-tab here" & Subject &

[comment]

You cannot type option-tab in a calculation; type it into a field first, copy it, and paste it into the calculation. E.g.:

Case ( not IsEmpty ( Subject) ; "Subject:" & "paste option-tab here" & Subject &

[comment]

You cannot type option-tab in a calculation; type it into a field first, copy it, and paste it into the calculation. E.g.:

Case ( not IsEmpty ( Subject) ; "Subject:" & "paste option-tab here" & Subject &

[jason25]

Works like a charm. Thank you for your help!

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

Works like a charm. Thank you for your help!

Regards,

Jason

[jason25]

Works like a charm. Thank you for your help!

Regards,

Jason