Finding and counting specific text across multiple fields

[mascaliente]

Hi I am complete beginnner to all this but i have a database (probably set up wrong - but it works) it is to track my students and teachers. I have a calendar page which has a field for every day of the year which is related to the main database which holds all the student info. Each time a student attends a class they are found on the database via a barcode reader which then opens the calendar via a script, I then enter a code in the apporpriate day of the month. the code entered depends on their level and their teacher. (eg UJ or IA). The first letter being there level and the last the initial of the teacher. As the teachers are paid dependent on how many people attend their classes I would like a simple way to count the amount of times the letter J for example appears through the calendar database and likewise for other letters. I would like 3 fields to appear which gives a total of the 3 teachers.

thanks in advance.. Jules

[Sanjai]

Hi Jules,

You can create a calculation field with the the following calculation returning a text result:

right(code,1)

This would give you the code of the teacher eg: J, A etc.

You can create a summary field which is based on the count of the above calculation field.

Create a second calculation field with the following calculation:

getsummary(above summary field, "J")

When you will do a find on all the records for a particular year or particular month then the second calculation field would give you count of records where the teacher is "J" for that particular year or month.

Replacing the string "J" with "A" would give you the count of students which are taught by "A".

You can create a report then which would display all the teachers and number of students they taught in a particular year or month.

[mascaliente]

Thank Sanjai

The only prblem i got now... is (how cna i put this) when it comes to this filemaker stuff i have no clue what i am doing... I need a step by step manual i think...dont suppose you could guide me through it a bit

Jules

[Sanjai]

Hi Jules,

If you can attach your files, it would be easier to explain.

Thanks