"This is the foreign key ..." warning

[amontague]

I'm working on an invoicing system and I have a relationship between a lineitems table and a customer table. When I set up a new line items record I enter a number into the customer_id field I get the following warning:

"This is the foreign key from the Customer table".

I'm given three options of "Revert field" "No" or "Yes". If I press yes, the customer_id is entered and everything works fine. However, I don't want to get this warning every time. Can it be turned off? I don't get it when I put in foreign keys in other tables, so I don't understand why it is coming up in this table.

Andrew

[comment]

Did you make this solution by yourself? Unless I am very much mistaken, what you see is a custom message defined in validation options for the customer_id field.

--- A PRIVATE RANT ---

Here's an example how NOT to write alerts. As far as the user is concerned, "foreign key" is a piece of metal that will not open the door to user's residence.

Edited August 22, 2005 by Guest

[amontague]

Yeah, that was the problem - it was a custom message - designed by myself. And you're right - it was a pretty obtuse message.

Maybe you can help me with another problem. I upgraded to FM 7 v3 last night. Now every time I open the Invoices file I get the following message:

"The date and time formats associated with "Invoices" are different than the current system settings. What date and time formats would like to use? File Settings or System Settings"

Thanks

Andrew

[comment]

Hm.. I don't see why an upgrade would cause this. But the cure is simple. Either set the file to always use system formats (in File -> File Options..), or - preferably - clone the file (in File -> Save As..) and import your data into the clone.

Regardless of the above: if you intend to pass files to others, it's a good idea to set them to always use current system formats.

[amontague]

Thanks for the quick answer. That's sorted the problem.

Andrew

[Inky Phil]

Without wishing to invade comments' privacy I would like to applaud that rant

Phil

[comment]

Applauding public is always welcome, Phil...

Here's an ecellent remark on the subject.