Hello. My donor database is used to record and track donors and their donations. How should I set up the donation fields so that have just one record for a donor with multiple entries over the years? I am not sure how to set up the fields which hold the "donation amount" and the "donation date", etc. so that I don't need to use a new field each time someone donates. Serial entries?

Thanks for any advice!

Use 2 files, one for donors, the other for donations. Primary key in Donors matches foreign key in donations. A donor can have no, one, or, many donations. THis is the core of the relational model. DO NOT use the donor name as the primary or foreign key.

I recommend you order Rich Coulombre's book, Special Edition Using FIleMAker Pro 5, available at Amazon.

HTH

Old Advance Man

Thanks, I just ordered the book. May I ask a second question...is it possible to export layouts from one database to another?

Thanks again...

Todd

No. You can copy/paste the objects on the layout between databases but you first need to set up the new layout's parts manually.

Thanks Vaughan! That is a good idea that I hadn't thought of that will still save a lot of time.

Take care...

Todd

Another tip: sometimes it may be easier/faster to clone a database, modify it and import data back into it. Only sometimes.