I'm using FM v7 and building an Estimate with layouts Phases, Steps and Details. The user begins at the details, which are the building blocks of the estimate. The details consist of

fields;

Detail Number = threedigitnumber(001=Labor[bricklayer],002=Labor[Tender]...etc

Detail Type = Labor, Material, Equipment, Misc, Subcontractor, Overhead

Detail Code = if Labor (Bricklayer, or Tender, or Operating Engineer)

if Material (Block, or Brick, or Cement, etc.)

When a user selects a Detail Number (from Pop up list[table detail template] the next field choice is Detail Type (this is where I want to safeguard, if you will, the selection. If Detail number is 001 through 010, then Detail Type should accept only "Labor" as the choice.

Detail Number 001 thru 010 = Detail Type "Labor"

Detail Number 011 thru 130 = Detail Type "Material", etc.

I could change the sequencing of the Detail Numbers; however, the same Detail Numbers, Types, and Codes will be used repeatedly by each estimate. And the user can also create new Detail Numbers (and I wish to control this by structuring the numbers). Sorry about the length. I've been banging my head against the wall on this one! I've tried validation by calc, and Case calcs in both Type and Number to no success.

Thanks!

It seems that Detail Type is determined entirely by Detail Number. In such case, the user should not be required to make a selection - you should do the selection for him/her by calculation.

The calculation could be something like:

Case (

GetAsNumber ( Detail Number ) <= 10 ; "Labor" ;

GetAsNumber ( Detail Number ) <= 130 ; "Material" ;

etc.

Hi,

I tried what you suggested and changed Detail Type to an unstored calc as;

Case (

GetAsNumber ( Detail Number ) <= 10; "Labor" ;

GetAsNumber ( Detail Number ) <= 149; "Material";

GetAsNumber ( Detail Number ) <= 230; "Misc";

GetAsNumber ( Detail Number ) <= 399; "OH";

GetAsNumber ( Detail Number ) <= 430; "CO";

GetAsNumber ( Detail Number ) <= 510; "Subc";

"NA")

However, the field remains empty after selecting Detail Number.

Did I miss something?

The calculation can (and probably should) be stored, but it should work either way. I copied and pasted your formula into my test file and it works here, so I haven't a clue. Can you post your file?

Thank you so much, that worked after I changed the context of the layout.

I have another question, in the same Estimate layout there are the fields;

Phase/Step/Detail Number/Detail Type/Description....etc

Phase is auto entered as 400, but if a user wants to add a step to the estimate I currently have them click on Step field, which is scripted to take them to the Step layout where they enter a Step number, description and amount. After selecting OK, they are taken back to the estimate and the info is pasted into the Estimate detail fields Step number and description. The config is like that of an outline where;

Phase(400)/Step (100)/ Detail (001)/Labor/Bricklayer/Cost/Unit.

Phase and Step number auto enters previous data.

Is there a more "savvy way to accomplish the step part of the estimate that you know of?

Thank you so much again for helping me with the other part.