Hello everyone.

Using FileMaker Pro 5.5 I have just built my first database and the posts and sample files on this forum helped greatly in this. However, I am stuck with one problem I hope someone can help with.

The database records and processes daily food orders for lunch. Clients can choose up to 5 items from a selection of 17. In the database there is a layout with 17 number fields, each for a particular food item, so if someone wants 2 pieces of chicken and one portion rice, 2 is entered in the chicken field, and 1 in the rice field. The database produces a summary for the kitchen and delivery notes, which work a treat. It also produces a print out label for the food packing. At present this is a layout with all the number fields and their labels, such as ‘chicken’, ‘lamb’, ‘rice’. So in each relevant field the entered number appears, and all others have the label but the field is blank.

The people packing the food find this confusing! The label is only A6 and I would prefer it to list only the items ordered. I thought about a layout with five calculation fields. Field one would have a calculation which ‘somehow’ references or counts through the number fields and displays the first active field, then uses ‘GetField’ to connotate the field label. Field two calc goes through the number fields, skips the first with an entry and displays the second…. & so on. In the above example the label would only have:

‘2 chicken

1 rice’

My attempts to do this have been inelegant and unsuccessful. Part of the problem is, I think, down to maths not being my strongest point. Any pointers or calculation tips would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Elephant

Make calc field near:

Case(not Isempty(f1),"¶"&"rice "&f1,

not Isempty(f2),"¶"&"chicken "&f2,

.......

.......

.......

.......

.......

not Isempty(f16),"Bread "&f16)

Then put this field.

Hi Elephant,

how about simply using the sliding option for printing ? Put all the food and quantity fields on the printing layout (assuming this fits !), select them all, choose Format/Set Sliding/Printing and check "Sliding up based on all above".

I'm sure there are other solutions to this problem, but this might be the quickest for you.

Regards,

Peter

Hello

Thanks for those sugestions - will try them this afternoon.

cheers