I'd like to give this question one more try:

Is there a simple way in FMP to pull the a values out of two records in a table by requesting them by absolute record numbers? (for example, records 4 and 7 in my sample file) The resulting contents of the displayed fields then need to be editable on the layout by the user.

The real-world application of this is a system with 100 “devices” defined in a table with each device having a description, a current “reading”(stored in the table by instrumentation drivers), plus an operator-entered “setpoint” value. A partiicular layout will have a graphic showing the relationships of a group of devices, along with current readings and fields for the operator-entered values. My sample layout is simplified to show only two devices – and I've omitted the readings and setpoints.

I've never before used a database that did not support direct access to a file(table) by record number, so I have a difficult time accepting that FileMaker can't do it. It seems so elementary, yet I'm unable to find any evidence that it can. I don't want to commence my detailed design work until I fully understand my options on this.

Multiple suggestions and/or comments will be appreciated as they will help me gain a better understanding. Thanks in advance for your help.

Simple.fp7.ZIP

... no filemaker doesnt support "absolute record numbers" just make an id field with auto enter serial number...

I don't understand what you mean by "absolute", and your file did not help. It seems you want to show information from the Nth-related record. You can do that in a number of ways (a very simple one is shown in the attached file), but it depends on the order of the related records, so it is not absolute as I understand the term.

Simple.fp7.zip

... hmmm, i thought he was referring to an actual "absolute record number" such as an automatically generated serial id, something akin to what i think access uses?

genx

Perhaps you should have extended him the courtesy of looking at his file before replying.

To Comment: Thanks for spending time on my question.

Displaying a specific row of a portal got me exactly the result I was looking for! It allows me to "lock onto" a set of information for a device and let the user work with it in the manner I described previously. I downloaded your version of Simple.fp7, added a couple of fields to the Items table and built prototype "free-form" portals on my layout. The results are perfect.

Being new at using FMP, I was caught up in "old school" thinking on record access. Plus, I wasn't considering portals as anything other than tabular presentations. Free-form opens up a lot of possibilities. Portals are Number One!

Thanks again.

...yes perhaps... ill try it next time