OK I want to be able to set up a calculation field in fileone that goes and get its data from filetwo. Like cust id=Filetwo::Cust Id. If there is anyway I can make a field grab its contents from another file 100% of the time fill me in plz!

You need to do two things:

1. Define a file reference from one file to the other

2. Define a relationship to the file where the data resides.

Now the table in the other file can be treated just like any other table. If you want to use a lookup, or auto-enter calc, you just reference the table occurence and field name from the related table (file)

Of course you have to specify which record in the other table will be used to supply the data. That's determined by how you define the relationship.

Dana

Does it matter that I have a relationship field link of a customer number but it is an editable field on the second file and does not have the same number nor is it serialized like the other.

The *remote key* in the second (related) file always needs to be editable and not a serial number. But generally you don't make it easy for people to change the entry inappropriately, otherwise it'll point to the wrong master record (or become orphaned).