Sorry for a newbie question, but here goes:

Let's say I have a simple FM database and one record currently showing. Is there a way to set up a relationship so that if I create a new record in a second database, all of the relevant info from database #1 is inserted automatically without me having to type the related field info?

Thanks!

Russ Conte

In a good relational structure the data in your main file is displayed by not copied to your secondary file. There are instances where this isn't true, such as the address on a Invoice, which you don't want to change as the address on file in say a client file is changed.

First step, make sure every record in your main file has a auto entered record number which isn't displayed to the user, doesn't inherently "mean" anything, and can't be changed. When you create a new record in your secondary file, use scripting to associate the new record with the main file by entering the record number from the main file in a field in the reocord of the secondary file. Build a relationship FROM the secondary file TO the mail file using a match of the record number field in each file. Use this relationship to 1) display related fields from the main file in the secondary file (first choice) or 2) lookup fields from the main file into fields in the secondary file (only if necessary for historical reasons, as in above example).

-bd

Under Options in Define Fields dialogue, set your desired fields to Auto-Enter a looked-up value based on the relationship when the record is created.

Hope this helps.

Tom Parker

[email protected]

http://www.tgparker.com/filemaker

Hi Guys,

I probably stand to be corrected.Lookups are easier to create and i guess faster, one major problem with lookups is duplication since when you copy information from one file to onother i, you freeze that data in the second file, unless of course you choose to make occasional updates incase

of any changes in the original file.

Nevertheless look ups are best when you dont need to do occasional updates.

I think creating auto entered records with built relationships works best.

rgds

anita.