"<Unrelated Table>" using value list from another file

[jscooper]

This is too strange so I think I'm either overlooking something obvious or there's a bug in FM7.

I have two files:

FileA has a value list that includes values from related records that are also within FileA. The relationship is from a global field to a regular text field.

FileB has a value list defined to be the same as the ValueList in FileA. NOT values from a field in A, but the actual FileAValueList. I have a field in FileB that uses a Popup menu displaying FileAValueList.

The value list (FileAValueList) displays fine in a field in FileA. But when I apply the value list in FileB to a field in FileB, I get "" when I click in the popup menu field.

Now, I KNOW it's an unrelated table, but displaying a value list from another file should work even if it is unrelated, shouldn't it? I'm not try to display values from records relating back to a table in FileB. Rather, I'm trying to get the value list that correctly displays in FileA to display in FileB.

As I said, maybe I'm missing something, but if there needs to be a relationship from FileB to FileA, then I don't see the practical difference between "Use Value List from Another File" and "Use values from field".

Thanks,

Jeff

[Vaughan]

How can a value list based on related records in table A have any meaning when applied to table B, when Table A and B have nothing in common?

The problem is the "based on relationship" part of the value list definition. This makes it specific to that table.

[comment]

Well, I don't know about meaning, but it does work when the two tables are in the same file. And when the related values are determined by a global field, it can have plenty of meaning.

I haven't tested this, but it seems like having the tables in separate files can make a difference. From the POV of the application, I would ask "how am I supposed to know the value in a global field of another file?".

Perhaps adding the other file to File References might help?

[Fenton]

Comment's comment is the key. FileMaker 7 is all about File References and table occurrences. Create a file reference to the other file, and put its table occurrence on the graph, and you should have no trouble specifying its value list as one to use. It doesn't need to be "related," but it's got to be there on the local graph; otherwise you can't choose it.