Newbie needs help.

[ukmgranger]

Hi there all,

Let me start by saying that I am VERY new to FM.

I am trying to get a database working for my company but I am having a few troubles.

I have uploaded the database for you all to have a look at. (I had to remove graphics and nice buttons to make it into an upload-able size).

My main problem comes when trying to calculate values from two tables.

I have a 'company expenses' table and a 'contact management' table (the latter actually houses all the clients invoice details too).

what I need to do is deduct the total of the 'company expenses' table from a total figure that is summed up in the 'contact management table'.

It seems like it should be an easy thing to do, but I don't have a great grasp of FMpro yet.

Please take a look at my database and let me know what I am doing wrong.

It feels like there are some very fundamental things that are not right.

Any info would be great

IPCM_Database_Copy.fp7.2.zip

[IdealData]

Okay, I had a quick look.

The relationship WILL NOT WORK. You have attempted to relate the value fields to each other, whereas what you need to do is relate some static info (say ContactID) to it's counterpart (say also ContactID) in the expenses file, so that you can evaluate the value fields in sum, part or whole. Relationships are based on "fields with a content match", so you need the "key" to match the "index" (so to speak) for each relationship to work.

It's difficult how to advise you, other than I recommend you have a good look at the examples in the FMP 8 documentation.

On a simpler level think of family relations, eg Mr Jones has 2 children, they are related to each other by SURNAME. Mr Jones married Miss Smith, so she's also related to him by SURNAME (now), and Mr Jones is related to Miss Smith's parents on an INLAW basis (but some say outlaw).