I prepare reports for political candidates and have been using FM to keep track of the basic contribution and expense data. I then export several files (one for each report section) and import them into Excel for printing the reports in the proper format. I'd like to do all of this in Filemaker if possible but don't see a way to accomplish it.

Here is the main issue that I see. Each section of the report contains data that's the result of a different FIND operation for the reporting period. There are separate sections, for example, for contributions over $50, expenditures over $100, bank loans, paid campaign workers, and expenditures by category. The attached file shows a typical report.

I can accomplish all of the finds and calculations in FM, but I can't figure out how to get the results into a single report that flows smoothly from section to section.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

James McAlister

www.james-mc.com

www.BulletinInserts.org

Baker2004C-E.pdf

I think it can probably be done, but it will involve a lot of relationships, it would seem, to pull all the data correctly. Each section that involves more than one line of similar information would be a portal based on one of the many relationships. How difficult this would be to implement depends on how the data is stored and how well it is modularized.

The most difficult part will probably be matching the printout to the original, since you are on Windows, which is not WYSIWYG. You will have to print out a LOT of test reports and not rely on a preview of the report to print the way it appears. This is the biggest pain when mixing text with non-textual objects.