Troubles Automating Criteria for Find

[Shadowfax]

I've recently encountered a bizarre problem in my FileMaker 6, and it is frustrating me to no end. Before this week, I have never experienced an annoyance quite like this.

There are four files involved with this scenario, but only one is causing the problem: Master, Schedules, ScheduleLines, and Conversations. The Master file's main purpose to be a GUI. A Schedule is an outline of guests to meet on a particular day, and so each ScheduleLine holds the ContactID and the topic they are suppose to discuss (I suppose you could regard the Lines as individual appointments). The Conversations table logs all the talks with the PR people; that is, all the conversations that lead up to getting a particular guest onto a schedule. It relates to ScheduleLines via ScheduleID and ContactID (they are joined in a calculation field).

My goal is to be able to migrate a Guest Appointment (ScheduleLine) from one schedule to another. Perhaps a guest cannot arrive on the specified day, and must reschedule for next week.

This should be as simple as changing ScheduleID from the old schedule to the new one, both the ScheduleLines and the related Conversations. While this works fine for the ScheduleLines, I cannot make this happen properly from Conversations! Here's the procedure I've been using for it:

1. Store both source and destination ScheduleID's in global fields on the Master form.

2. "Enter Find Mode" at Conversations.

3. Set ScheduleID to Master::globOldScheduleID and ContactID to Master::globContactID.

4. "Perform Find".

5. "Replace Contents" of ScheduleID with Master::globNewScheduleID

6. Clear global fields of Master file.

Step 3 is where my problem occurs. When setting ScheduleID, it always inserts a blank value into the field; I found this out by pausing immediately after the line. However, if I pause immediately before the line, press the Continue button, and let it pause again just after the line, the proper value is inserted! With the delay of a pause, it pulls the correct value. This sounds like a severe refresh problem, where it only recognizes the global-field's original blank value... that is, until a brief delay (pause) occurs.

I have tried using Relookup Contents, I have tried copy and paste, I have tried inserting from a locally calculated field (relates to the Master), I have tried calling the Conversations procedure from both Master and ScheduleLines, I have tried recreating the source and destination field.

This refresh problem only occurs for Communications (ScheduleLines refreshes fine), so I'm inclined to think a slight file corruption... ugh. If I have to revert to a backup, so be it; I make one at the beginning of each work day.

I apologize if I have provided more details than you need, but I would be very grateful if you could provide some suggestions.

Thanks in advanced ;)

[IdealData]

Any chance you can post a file?

I have FM6 Developer and can trace your script without introducing the pauses.

[Shadowfax]

Turns out that I don't have to go through all that Conversations trouble. Apparently, that table should only relate to the Contacts via ContactID. They do not have to be migrated at all. Don't know why I overthought it...

Nevertheless, thank you very much for offering your help. I really do appreciate it.

[Shadowfax]

Change of plans... again. Another bizarre failure to read a field correctly is happening. I've uploaded a sample file as you requested.

Here's the problem. On my on-screen schedule summary, clicking a name is suppose to set the Master's LineID field to whatever's clicked on. For reasons yet unknown, that does not happen.

I also added that aforementioned "Change Guest Date" feature, though with Conversation migration added. I figure we can kill two birds with one stone. Note that I have renamed "Conversations" to "Communications".

Again, any help is appreciated. ;)

Trouble.zip

Edited January 4, 2006 by Guest
Forgot the attachment.

[Shadowfax]

Any chance you can post a file?

I have FM6 Developer and can trace your script without introducing the pauses.

Still up for testing my problem, IdealData?

[Shadowfax]

Not to sound impatient, but is there no one out there who has experienced similar symptoms or has some explanation? My attachment has been viewed 29 times, yet no one has responded.

Even if you don't have an explanation, could someone at least tell me if they experience my issue using the aforesaid attachment? That way, I can know it it's an issue with the database or with my FileMaker.

[Lee Smith]

I'm confused, because of your long monolog of what is happening.

Try and condense it down to:

Here you are wanting.

What is or isn't happening with your script.

What script is it.

Lee