Conditional field enforcement

[merkaba22]

I want to enforce a field, IB_filename, only when another field, cat_calc, has a specific value, in this case: "Info Board".

When I use this calc for field validation (following the correct naming convention) and cat_calc is not "Info Board", the enforcement is still applied-- any clues would be greatly appreciated:)

If( cat_key; "Info Board"; Left ( IB_Filename ; 3 ) = "IB_" and Length (Filter (Middle (IB_Filename; 4 ; 99) ; "0123456789" )) = 3 and Length (IB_Filename) = 6)

[LaRetta]

It looks good except: If( cat_key; "Info Board"; ... should be ... If ( cat_key [color:red]= "Info Board" ; Left...etc

With your calc, you are asking FM "If Cat_key" Answer? Well, ummm, yes. It's like stating "I am therefore I am". But WHAT is it? You have no finish to your test. This question (of the syntax) would be fine if it was a number and you were boolean testing. But it's a text field and you are telling the calc that the ANSWER to that question is "Info Board". So by having the semi-colon where it is (between two parts of the test1), your Filter() portion is the default result ALONE ... without the "Info Board" test at all ...

[merkaba22]

LaRetta you beautiful girl:)

SO ..... can we take this baby one step further? What if I want to enforce the field under different cat_calc values?

If( cat_key = "Info Board"; Left ( firstslot ; 3 ) = "IB_" and Length (Filter (Middle (firstslot; 4 ; 99) ; "0123456789" )) = 3 and Length (firstslot) = 6) or (cat_key = "video"; length (firstslot) = 7))

for example?

[LaRetta]

Would you be so kind as to write it out with each 'passing validation' as a separate line, even if you duplicate it? Something like:

cat_key = "Info Board" AND

Left ( firstslot ; 3 ) = "IB_" AND

Length (Filter (Middle ( firstslot ; 4 ; 99 ) ; "0123456789" ) ) = 3

OR

Cat_key = "Video" AND

Length (firstslot ) = 7

OR ...etc

Once you have each 'piece' listed that should pass validation, we can write the calc. One should NEVER even begin writing the calc until the logic is clear. And I can't tell from your calculation which piece goes with which validation. Make sense? Forget the parentheses and syntax ... just list it as regular words; using AND to group the different criteria and using OR to list each different group.

One example of a break here ... or (cat_key = "video"; length (firstslot) = 7))

This is a separate validation because you are using OR. But you are saying, " If cat-key = "video" then produce the result of Length ( firstslot) = 7. So does cat_key need to = "Video" AND the length of firstslot need to be 7? AND produces results based upon all items (like a list). OR will start a new list for you. Make sense? Oh ... and because I wasn't clear on your calc, I missed one also. I had listed:

It looks good except: If( cat_key; "Info Board"; ... should be ... If ( cat_key = "Info Board" ; Left...etc

... but I think you meant: If cat_key = "Info Board" AND Left (firstslot ...

Each OR list must begin afresh. If you want Flower = "Rose" OR Flower = "Tulip" and both must Color = "Red", you must list them as:

Flower = "Rose" AND

Color = "Red"

or

Flower = "Tulip" AND

Color = "Red"

To FileMaker, semi-colons and commas are not writing sentences ... With a sentence, one writes:

A Rose, tulip, daisy and carnation or a box of candy. FileMaker requires: Rose AND tulip AND daisy AND carnation OR box of candy. This is why it's good to list the logic first; either on paper or whiteboard or by using Let() and naming each piece as you go. It helps get the logic clear. I'll help you through it.

LaRetta

[merkaba22]

I get it thanks. Sorry I have been unclear.

The logic is that "firstslot" can receive varied values and the object of this calc is to have differing validations, each according to the value of cat_key, say, "Info Board" or "Video", for example, at the time.

If the value for "firstslot" is considered with "Info Board" in the cat_key field, I would like validation along the lines originally discussed.

However, if the value for "firstslot" is considered when "Video" is the value for cat_key, I would like the validation to be: Length ( firstslot) = 7.

So:

If( cat_key = "Info Board";

THEN validate by this calc:

Left ( firstslot ; 3 ) = "IB_" and

Length (Filter (Middle (firstslot; 4 ; 99) ;

"0123456789" )) = 3 and

Length (firstslot) = 6)

or IF

(cat_key = "video";

THEN validate by this calc:

length (firstslot) = 7))

or IF

etc.

I hope that is better and I will make sure I am much clearer about what I am doing in the future.

Thanks again -- you are great:)

[LaRetta]

You explained yourself very well - nothing to apologize for. And you also just wrote your own calc.

All you want to list are true values. Validation is a boolean test. Try:

cat_key = "Info Board" AND

Left ( firstslot ; 3 ) = "IB_" AND

Length ( Filter ( Middle ( firstslot; 4 ; 99 ) ; "0123456789" ) ) = 3 AND

Length ( firstslot ) = 6 )

OR

cat_key = "video" AND

Length ( firstslot ) = 7

Sometimes if I sound like a school marm, it's because I'm a User trainer. And I never know what someone knows, so I tend to give too much information rather than too little. If you need anything further, just let us know!

LaRetta

[merkaba22]

You're the best -- I am self taught and owe so much to you all:)

Thanks for everything.

Edited December 1, 2005 by Guest

[merkaba22]

Well -- I thought we got it and now that I have had time to check it out, its not working as expected.

I created a new field, second slot, with "always validate" by calculation with message:

cat_key = "Info Board" and

Left ( secondslot ; 3 ) = "IB_" and Length (Filter (Middle (secondslot; 4 ; 99) ; "0123456789" )) = 3 and Length (secondslot) = 6

or

cat_key = "SID" and

Left ( secondslot ; 4 ) = "SID_" and Length (Filter (Middle (secondslot; 5 ; 99) ; "0123456789" )) = 4 and Length (secondslot) = 8

or

cat_key = "Artist Feeds" and

Left ( secondslot ; 3 ) = "AF_" and Length (Filter (Middle (secondslot; 4 ; 99) ; "0123456789" )) = 3 and Length (secondslot) = 6

"Secondslot" appears in "Info Board" and "SID" and "Artist Feeds" with validations as above and works correctly ... thank you;

yet, there are other layouts where I have no validations for "secondslot" yet I get an error message for a secondslot convention which will not resolve even if, as expected, the conventions for secondslot are followed --

how can I make this:

IF AND ONLY IF:

cat_key = "Info Board"

THEN

Left ( secondslot ; 3 ) = "IB_" and Length (Filter (Middle (secondslot; 4 ; 99) ; "0123456789" )) = 3 and Length (secondslot) = 6

or IF AND ONLY IF

cat_key = "SID"

THEN

Left ( secondslot ; 4 ) = "SID_" and Length (Filter (Middle (secondslot; 5 ; 99) ; "0123456789" )) = 4 and Length (secondslot) = 8

or IF AND ONLY IF

cat_key = "Artist Feeds"

THEN

Left ( secondslot ; 3 ) = "AF_" and Length (Filter (Middle (secondslot; 4 ; 99) ; "0123456789" )) = 3 and Length (secondslot) = 6

So that secondslot in layout "Videos", for example, is not enforced in any manner?

Thanks:)

[merkaba22]

I think I got it ...

All I have to do for each of the remaining layouts is add some like:

or

cat_key = "video" and

Length ( firstslot) ≥ 1