Locking Fields in Filemaker with ANYTHING!!

[Beans62584]

Hello,

I am trying to have filemaker lock fields right after they have been entered into. I would like the user to be able to create new records, but not edit them after they have been entered. If someone could help me out I'd appriciate it. thanks.

[David Kachel]

One of the old stand-bys is to have a layout with all global fields, representing the fields you want the user to be able to fill in. Then have a "Commit Record" button that actually creates a new record in your DB and transfers all the data from the global fields to the real record. Then just be sure the user is locked out of the layouts where records can actually be edited.

[Beans62584]

Thanks.

I used the commit and revert options and it works kinda liek what I wanted, but I was hoping that you can't edit PAST records that have been commited, but all it does is ask to commit on those as well, i only want it to commit on the new records, and then have those older records unable to edited. thanks.

[comment]

You haven't read David's advice carefully enough. The essence is this: users cannot edit any records, period. Users CAN add new records by invoking a script that takes them to a layout containing only global fields. They fill the fields and click 'Add Record". The script then creates a new record from the global fields.

[Beans62584]

I have tried that an not only does it create a new record, but i can still go back and edit the ones that I just created. Maybe I have the script wrong. I tried to use an example of the one they gave me, but I still can't figure out how to lock the records to make them non-editable. I wish they just had a button to click, that'd be a lot easier. -)

[comment]

You can make records uneditable either by not giving users edit privileges or by denying entry to the fields on layouts (Format->Field Behavior..). Or both.

[MoonShadow]

Your privilege set would have data access on records set to view only in all tables. The (button) script creating the new record would be checked 'Run Script with Full Access Privileges.' Users will create but never be able to change under this privilege set. Only those with a different privilege set can change them.

[yeddaborg]

Hi,

I am new to the board, but had the same question yesterday and found reference to a tip file:

http://www.databasepros.com/FMPro?-db=re...ip=5&-find=

It is "Prevent Modification of Fields" - works like a charm. Hope this helps.

-julia

[Beans62584]

Hey,

I think I figured it out. All i did was give the person the privledge to create and edit the fields, but then set one of the fields = "". This means that they can only edit a blank field, if text is entered, they can not edit the field, but when they create the field they still have access to edit the new record. I think that works the best. Once they click off it, they can't edit the record. Works for me. Thanks for the help!

Beans62584