Output Like an Array

[pradeep]

I have a Script which calculates amount based on decreasing the discount percentage based on years,say for 1 Yr the discount pecentage will be 5% for 2 yrs 10%,for 3 yrs 15% ... and so on.The output should be displayed in a summary page or it should print on a page with amount for 1 st yr then for 2 nd yr and so on.

The output should be in the form of a result set or an array.How do I go about doing this?

[ March 21, 2002, 08:35 AM: Message edited by: Jacob ]

[Kurt Knippel]

What are you going to do with this result?

I can think of 3 different ways to do this: One is a seperate field (global or otherwise) for each variation of the result. Another is seperate records (possibly requiring a seperate database). Lastly is a repeating field, with a seperate repeat for each variation (this may or may not require a global or a seperate file).

[pradeep]

I have to show the results in a summary page,one below the other.Then have it printed with first amount printed on one sheet and second amount on the second sheet.

like if I had 100 as Principle and discount for 2 years

then I would have to show 1 st year of 95 and second year of 90.It can go on depending on the years.Further I would have to print a document with First 95 then with 90 amt printed on the Amount. This principle is coming from a database field.

[pradeep]

Here is what I am going to do,I have created another table where I am storing each Result value using a Portal.But I am facing a Problem as its putting the value into one row and does not go to the next row,ie say we have for 3 yrs ,it puts 15 % discount value on the first line of the portal.

Here is the script

Go to PortalRow(Select,First)

// Some other Definitions

Loop

Exit Loop(Some Conditions)

Do Some Calculations to get Amount Prepaying Temp

Set Field(Prepaying Table:PrepayingAmount,"Amount Prepaying Temp)

Go To Portal Row(Select,Exit after Last,Next)

End Loop

Now this brings out the last value of Amount Prepaying and puts it into the first portal row.

Why does it not go to the next row in the portal?

[ March 21, 2002, 02:33 PM: Message edited by: Jacob ]

[Kurt Knippel]

Sounds to me like you are trying to replicate a spreadsheet out of a database. This is difficult at best, but not impossible.

What are the columns that you need across the screen?

I am gonna assume that what you'll need is a set of fields, repeating could work, probably a global, but you may actually need records to show this.

[AndrewBruno]

I moved to Filemaker around a year ago from Lotus Approach as Approach's macro language has a limited number of functions ( you have to learn the difficult LotusScript to get the best out of the application)and there were just a few things I couldn't get it to do with my last big project.

However, one of Approach's excellent and powerful features is a layout type called cross-tab. This will in effect produce spreadsheet reports or fully 2 dimensional reports. A simple example is a report of sales by product and month. A very straightforward wizard allows you to produce a cross-tab layout with months as columns and products as rows. Each cell is then total sales for that month / product.You can even include sub-totals in these cross-tab reports.

The result is produced from standard fields and you don't even need to define summary fields.

You could create a file in Approach, import the data from Filemaker as required and then print your reports. This file need only contain the fields featured in the report.

Don't worry about learning a new program as Approach is very similar to Filemaker (and is nothing like the horrendous Access or Paradox). You just have to get used to some syntax differences.It's also very cheap - you can get Lotus SmartSuite, which includes Approach, on magazine cover discs here in the UK .Even the ealy versions such as Approach97 include this feature.

This route is slightly messy, but once set up, will give you what you want very quickly and effectively. May be useful info for other Filemaker users.

Andrew bruno

[pradeep]

Thanx to all.I got my solution working using a Portal.