Couple Tough Questions.....

[RodOfNOD]

I may have missed this feature or plugin but....

#1. How can I do a

SETFIELD( "samplefieldname", calculation)

?

IE I want to do a setfield NOT with a direct link that FMPRO uses but using just a simple string. The reason I am doing this is I want to assign 100s of fields to 100s of others with similar names that I could store in a DB or Repetition Field and have a script extract and then do the actual assignment.

#2. Import and Export text files easily. I am currently using tab files and am running into several issues. I have to do an extensive parsing routine to place the data into fields and then the opposite when I want to export. I know I could just CNP the text by hand and it would work but I want it all automagical.

#3. What do you do when commands like Import and Export have fixed values instead of allowing for string text inputs. IE I want to have my program import several files and have that list stored so the user can define it.

#4 How can I tell when a field has been altered? I know I can check it but I mean execute a Script after you hit return. It would be nice if after 15 years FM could actually intercept and issue events....

Any help would be appreciated and If I posted in the wrong spot let me know.

Thanks

Rod

Edited October 27, 2005 by Guest

[CyborgSam]

Rod->

1: Oh, how we all wish we could do a SetField and specify the name, unfortunately, it's not possible... I can understand why FileMaker may reluctant to adding this feature, it weakens the strong "typed" quality of FileMaker and makes the developer much more prone to typos.

4: One way to tell if a field is altered is to keep an audit log. It may not be applicable to what you want to do though.

[RodOfNOD]

Im aware of the modified record date and time but what do you mean by a altered field log?

[bruceR]

I may have missed this feature or plugin but....

#1. How can I do a

SETFIELD( "samplefieldname", calculation

You can't - you're on Windows.

It's easy with a Mac though.

Perform applescript:

set data cell (cell "gFieldName") of current record to (cell "gFieldValue")

[CyborgSam]

An Audit Log is a system that tracks changes made to a set of fields and stores those changes in a field. Search the forums, you'll find many methodologies and examples (or ask for more help, I can dig up some links to my favs). A typical log entry would say something like:

10/30/2005 08:44:45PM Lastname changed from Jones to Smith.