Check box searches that go all wrong

[chlowden]

I have a db of pictures and I have designed a check box value list that lists themes (portrait, landscape etc) so I can search styles. When I do a find, I use the find & click on the boxes. The result very strange as I get all sorts of files coming some of which are right and others that are not. What is wierd is it that even if unclick & reclick the pertinent checkboxes & save the new configuration, it continues to show up the wrong files.

I have also noticed that FM7 checkbox searches get even more confused when I add or reduce the value list. Is this all very normal?

[Lee Smith]

I'm not very clairvoyant today, perhaps you could attach a copy of your script, a screen shot of your layout you are using to find, and a brief explanation of what you are trying to find, and the results you are getting.

HTH

Lee

[chlowden]

I attach a picture and there is no script. I use the "checkbox set" in the "field format" categories menu. I add the below list as a VALUE LIST. It shows up as a box as in the attached pict ... and on the web it is a god awful mess. (Any ideas for the web as well)

ZONE A PARIS

ZONE A SUD

ZONE B

ZONE C

ZONE D

Paris / Banlieu

Provence

Pays Etranger

Interieur

Exterieur

Montagne hivers

Montagne

[Lee Smith]

hi pm,

The picture came through fine. However, I'm not sure my request was clear. I see the boxes, and all. You probably are not using a script, so lets forget that for now.

Sometimes it is necessary to know what is to be included in the found set, or what is to "NOT" be included in the found set. I.e. Do you want to include ONLY records meeting only certain things (AND), or exclude those with this criteria, OMIT, OR do you want to broaden your search to meet one or two main criteria, and have a few variables. (OR) I suspect that it is something like "I want to see all of the Maison Classique located in either Zone A or Zone B."

To be redundant: a AND Find meets only one set of criteria (One Find Request), an OR Find can meet many variables of your criteria (Two or more Find Request (New Record Requests)).

An OR would look like this (sort of)

Enter Find Mode

Select Maison Classique and click on Zone A

New Record Request

Select Maison Classique and click on Zone B

Click on Find.

If this isn't what you need, or want further help, post back.

HTH

Lee

[chlowden]

Thanks but I must confess that I am confused.

Step by Step:

I have a db of pix. To help me find these pix I use a checkbox system with themes in it.

I am looking for a forest with a river, so I go to the find function, click forest & river and all being well it finds me what I am looking for.

My problem is that this system is becoming very unreliable as, when I click forest & river it may also find building or station that do not have the pertinent boxes checked. It can also skip some. So it is unreliable. As the checkbox theme list in the "value list" has evolved, I wonder if my file has not become corrupted in some way so that the find function does not work. I cannot find any logic in all this and apart from starting again (which is just too depressing) I though there might be a way of cleaning the value list.

Maybe this is a bug as I have 1000 entries that have pix and loads of info.

I attach pix of how I get to the value list.

Thanks in advance

Christopher

[chlowden]

woops the pix

checkbox.zip

[Lee Smith]

Is this a single value list with all of the values in it?

[chlowden]

yes. i think so

[Lee Smith]

Looking at the list, I can see why you are having a mixed bag on your finds.

I was stricken by the fact that you answered "I think so" rather than a flat "Yes" or "No" to my question about one list.

Is this a file that you developed or inherited?

If you inherited, can you modify it?

[chlowden]

No. I did not inherit. Worse. I created it. I have learnt FM the hard way and i paying for it now!

What you're saying is that I should break up the very list into separate sections. Is it possible to do this without losing the checkbox info that I have already done. Or do I have to start again???

[chlowden]

Lee,

You are inspired. I have broken up the mega long value list into pertinent section and first miracle, the checkboxes followed through. 2nd miracle ... I seem to be getting correct search results.

Thank you very very much (for the moment)

Christopher

(PS Is there anyway of export a txt version of the check info?)

[chlowden]

Lee,

You are inspired. I have broken up the mega long value list into pertinent sections and .... first miracle, the checkboxes followed through into the split value sets. 2nd miracle ... I seem to be getting correct search results.

Thank you very very much (for the moment)

Christopher

(PS Is there anyway of export a txt version of the check info?)

[chlowden]

To add info:

For use with IWP, it is best to break up long value lists into small ones that each value list have its own field. With small value lists and individual fields, the searches are reliable.