How do I require that 2 or more fields be filled in a search request. I am trying to secure customer records by requiring either invoice # and zip code or last name and zip code. I can not seem to find documentation of this kind of setting. Help?

Script the Find process. It'll look something like this...

code:

---

Enter Find Mode [pause]

Perform Find []

In between these two steps you can perform checks to ensure that the find request has an entry...

code:

---

Enter Find Mode [pause]

If [isEmpty(Invoice Number) or IsEmpty(Zip)]

Beep

Show Message ["Enter an Invoice # or Zip code.", OK]

Enter Browse Mode []

Exit Script

End If

Perform Find []

...if the Invoice Number or Zip fields have no search criteria entered the script beeps, shows the message then exits the find process.

You could make it a bit nicer (and significantly more complicated) by making the script loop until a zip or invoice number is enetered into the find request. It'd look like this...

code:

---

Enter Find Mode [pause]

Loop

If [isEmpty(Invoice Number) or IsEmpty(Zip)]

Beep

Show Message ["Enter an Invoice # or Zip code.", OK]

Else

End Loop If [1]

End If

End Loop

Perform Find []

Of course, it'd be a good idea to give people a way to cancel out of the loop...

code:

---

Enter Find Mode [pause]

Loop

If [isEmpty(Invoice Number) or IsEmpty(Zip)]

Beep

Show Message ["Enter an Invoice # or Zip code.", OK, Cancel]

If [status(CurrentMessageChoice) = 2

Enter Browse Mode []

Exit Script

End If

Else

End Loop If [1]

End If

End Loop

Perform Find []

Thanks Vaughan for your help!

In scripting this I find that I am not able to find End Loop If [ ] in my script options. I am on filemaker 5.0. Also I am getting automatic " " around any entry into the if and show message steps. Am I dim or what?

Thanks

Another approach is to have a 2nd layout ("search") from which to perform the find and which displays just the fields you want included. Write a script which is activated from a button.

Go to Layout ["search"]

Enter Find Mode [Pause]

If [isEmpty(Invoice Number) or IsEmpty(Zip)]

Beep

Show Message ["Enter an Invoice # or Zip code.", OK, Cancel]

Go To Layout ["search"]

Enter Find Mode [pause]

End If

<comment, format a button on the "search" layout to "resume script">

Perform Find []

If ["Status(CurrentError) = 401"]

Go to Layout []

<comment, you make a navigation choice if no records are found>

Else

If["Status(CurrentFoundCount) = 1"]

Go to Layout []

<comment, you make a navigation choice if only one record is found>

Else

If["Status(CurrentFoundCount) > 1"]

Go to Layout []

<comment, you make a navigation choice if more than one one record is found>

End If

End If

End If

[ March 20, 2002, 03:48 PM: Message edited by: Keith M. Davie ]

quote:

---

Originally posted by mark:

Thanks Vaughan for your help!

In scripting this I find that I am not able to find End Loop If [ ] in my script options. I am on filemaker 5.0. Also I am getting automatic " " around any entry into the if and show message steps. Am I dim or what?

Thanks

---

"Exit Loop If" is the script step that gets you out of a loop.

Regarding the quotation marks, don't worry about them; they show up in the script step to show you what the "If" statement or "Show Message" is.

Keith,

Thanks so much it worked. I am going to try to add the last name field as an alternate to the invoice # is the customer does not have their receipt.

Thanks again!