Newbies fmeric Posted April 23, 2005 Newbies Posted April 23, 2005 Hi Im developing a database to log timecode information off of videotape masters in the field. Simple set up: horizontal set of fields to input the time code and then input what problems occur at that time code along with some other info. (example) Time code problems location comments. There are hundreds of these rows to input each time i go out. What I want is a button to add 10 more set of fields (see above) each time i press it so I can add fields/rows as I go Hope this makes sense Eric
Fenton Posted April 23, 2005 Posted April 23, 2005 There is no way to create fields by button, or any way else that I know of. That is not the way FileMaker works. And, in my opinion it's the wrong way to approach these problems. If you're going to do it that way you might as well use Excel. You could do the above with 2 tables, and only a few fields. 1st table is Master, with an auto-entered MasterID. 2nd table is Logs (or whatever you call the entries), with MasterID as a foreign key, and an auto-entered serial ID (optional, but a good idea). The other fields are: timecode problem comments The layout will be done in Master, with portals, "allow creation of related records" on. To make the portals "horizontal" you would use the new-to-7 option to start each portal at a number, and use only 1 row.* You could position the fields vertically within. So Timecode is at top, then Problem, then Comments. Portal 1 starts at 1, 1 row, Portal 2 starts at 2, 1 row, etc.. You would have to enter data in this order, from 1 to however many portal rows you can put on the layout. Or you could flip to Logs and enter it as plain line, to enter out of order. In that case you'd want to sort the relationship by TimeCode (or sort each portal; easy enough if you duplicate portals as you go). Yes, a bit tedious to set up. But less than creating new fields. I don't know what the best setup would be for the layout. The ability to control the portal rows means it could be anything, you just have to set each one's option. It's all the same relationship and (few) fields. You could do this with other kinds of setups, repeating fields, etc.. But proper relational structure is usually superior in the long run. You will be able to print reports easily in the Logs table, in columns if desired. Imagine a search for a particular problem, in Logs. With a relational system you can easily see just those records, just that problem, as single lines. With flat system you would do the same search in Master and find records with the problem. But you'd never be able to see them in a simple list. You'd have to flip through the records, looking at all the fields; really ugly. *Optionally, you could use far fewer portals, each with rows going the full height of the layout, side-by-side, by using a "Case" and "mod" calculation key to filter each portal by a number. Like odd and even. So, if you have 10 portals across, you'd have 10 table occurrence relationships, the mod calculation auto-numbering the records 1-10. Then 10 "dummy" calculation fields in Master to match the MasterID AND the number. This is not a 7-only technique. Calendars can use it, only on "day of week." (P.S. This doesn't really belong in the Container Fields forum. But I'm not sure which it would go to. Let me know and I'll move it.)
Lee Smith Posted April 23, 2005 Posted April 23, 2005 I deleted your other post as a duplicate, and after I had responded and then discovered this tread asking the same question. [color:"red"] Do Not Double Post . It isn't necessary, as this is only one list. Pick a topic that matches the sprite of your question, and then stay with it until you have received the answer you need. My answer to your other post was: A row in FileMaker = a [color:"blue"] New Record You can use the Script Step Create a New Record and attach it to a button. Does that help you. Lee
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