Searching Multiple Fields in a Record

[superdaemon]

Hey Everyone.

I'm writing a ticketing system in filemaker 7

which will have several fields in the main Tickets table. It will have several notes fields and follow-up fields. I would like to know if it is possible to search multiple fields in a record in FM7P. For example, to be able to search for a given string and have filemaker query all the fields in a record for that string. Does anyone know how this is done. thanks in advance.

JR

[IdealData]

Do you want to query ALL the fields, or only a SUBSET. Additionally will you be searching by partial string, or must it be complete string.

1. Have a calc field to hold the string contents from the required fields (in a list) and search that.

2. Formulate a relationship using a global field as key to match the calc field (1:many)

These are only ideas - maybe a clue.

[LaRetta]

It will have several notes fields and follow-up fields.

It's much easier to search one field with multiple records than multiple fields through multiple records. I think you will find you'll bump up against this problem repeatedly if you leave multiple 'like' fields within the same table. If you have several notes and follow-up fields, it sounds like a prime candidate for another table. Are you follow-up fields dates?

LaRetta

[SlimJim]

The direct method is a scripted search. Create a new field (global text) Q_Find place that on the layour where you are browsing and alongside a GO button which activates the script.

What you do in the script is up to you, e.g. do you run the find on the current layout, do you have another layout on which to run the find. Personally I always use view as table when I do a find as I get a quick glance at the results, I can select the one I am interested in and then another button takes me back to me browsing layout.

So begin by Go to layout and then Enter Find Mode, specify requests doesn't allow OR finds as far as I know so you are going to have to script all the finds.

So begin with

SetField(Filed1;Q_Find)

Then for each subsequent field that you want to search you have two script steps

New Record/Request/Page

SetField(Fieldname;Q_Find)

finally

Perform Find

[Sanjai]

Hi,

I like SlimJim's idea. You can use the go to next field script step which will help you to search on fields if in future you add fields in your file. See a generic script:

Go to layout [<>]

enter find mode []

Go to field [select the first field on the current layout]

Insert Text ["your search string"]

perform script[find others]

script find others:

new record/request

go to next field

if status[current{fieldname}]="first field on the layout" then

perform find[]

halt script

else

insert text["your search string"]

perform script[find others]

end if

//The script find others would insert the search string in every field in find mode. Since after going through all the fields, the go to next field comes back to the first field therefore I have the if condition where if the first field comes back then continue with a perform find and halt the script.

Edited September 9, 2005 by Guest