Can someone explain what a multi-key is, how it works, and when it's best used?

Mike,

a multi Key is used when you relate a lot of information from one database to another (or itself).

An example is when you copy all id fields for a found set and paste in a global field.

This field relates to the related id field, allowing you to display all matching records at once.

A Compound Key is used to change the displayed records in a field, based on certain information.

These are typically formed of globals and a calculation on the left hand side of the relationship and a calculation field on the right.

An example would be an inventory portal.

On the right you have the product type.

Now you can display all of these records with a constant relationship, but if you want to filter the portal to only show a particular product type then you create a calculation field.

i.e.

Product Type & " " &

"ALL"

What this gives you is a two line result of the product type and all.

Now on the left hand side you have a global.

Set it to all and the portal shows all records, but change it to a product type and the portal filters to only display those products.

This can be taken as far as you like.

For example say an activities database.

You may want to filter by activity date, activity for, activity type.

But you also want to filter by activity for and activity type or

activity for and activity date.

This is where the calculation becomes more complicated.

Anyhow, I hope this has helped you to better understand the basics of multi and compound keys for relationships. Once you start using them, the possibilities are endless.

Multi line keys are also useful for grouping records in a related database

For example:

Two databases, one with your contacts and one with your groups.

You wish to create a group of contacts. A group of contacts is arbitrary, no associations by category or whatever, just a set of contacts picked at random.

The contacts file has a Contact ID field and Group ID as does the Group file.

Group file also has a Group name field

Both files also need a global field for storing up the ID's, called such as gContactID

Both files have a calculation field set as 1 called Pipeline. (A constant)

Create relationship between the two files based on Pipleine (e.g. where constant in each record = constant in each record :: hence pipeline and will be used to pass information between two files where no usable relationship exists)

Create relationship in Groups called Related Contacts where ContactID = Contacts: ContactID

In the Groups file make a script: New Group

steps:

New Record/request

Set field - gContact ID : Pipeline::gContactID

Set field - Contact ID : gContactID

Create a script called "make group" in Contacts file.

step:

Go To Record (first)

Set field - gContactID : Contact ID

Loop

Go to Record (Next, Exit after last)

Set field - gContactID : gContactID & "