I have modified the Purchase Order Template that comes with FM 7. I will use the modified form to fax or email to our suppliers. I am able to get 25 repetitions on the first page of the form. How can I make a second page print if I need to order more than 25 items and still keep the same PO number? The entire form is contained within the form body. There is no Header or Footer.

Thanks,

Phil

First, the PO Template is a legacy from the early days of filemaker. I don't believe many developer today use the field repetition, at least not if they want there solution to interact effectively with other RDMS's. A better solution in today's environment would be to have a PO Header table, and a PO Items table keyed to the Header table. That way there would no limitation on the number of items purchased.

That said, there is a solution to your questions using repeating (shudder) fields.

Stay you wanted to have 50 repeating fields. Increase your field repetition to 50. Now on your print layout, expand the body and dup your initial repeating fields and position them directly under the original fields just below the page break. Go into field format and change them to display repetitions 26 thru 50. Finally, select all of repeating field on the print layout, and any field below those, and go to the Format menu and select Sliding/Printing. Click on Slide up based on All, and click the reduce enclosing part.

What you should see happen on the print out is that if you have 1 to 25 items, you will get a 1 page print out of you PO. More than that you will get the second page. The benefit of the Sliding/Printing option is that if you have anything following the PO items, it should print right below the last PO Item lines. You won't get a PO that has one item, then a bunch of white space, and a second page with the rest of your data.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Walter. It worked like you said it would. I am not a developer. I'm just trying to find a better way of tracking POs other than spreadsheets. If you feel up to it, I would like to understand better about how to set up the header table and items table. I am very new to this but I am learning more each time I work with it.

Thanks again,

Phil

Will this work the same for a 3rd or 4th sheet as well?

Phil

Yup, should work for as many repetions deep as you want to go, as long as you pay attention to the page breaks.

While I'd being more that willing to provide so pointers on developing tables, if you really want some good resources for learn about Filemaker 7, I'd look to the following:

Special Edition Using FileMaker Pro 7 is in my opinion a must have resource. I've been developing in Filemaker for over 10 years, and I use this book regularly.

Second, http://store.filemaker.com/r1.html#protraining This link will take you to the foundation training program for Filemaker 7. For 99 bucks, it is one of the best nuts and bolts primers I've seen.

Finally, if you want to, you can contact me at [email protected]

Take Care