Recording field modification date

[Sandy Grimwade]

How can I record the date that a specific field in a record is modified? You can record the date that the record is modified easily enough, but this includes all fields. I want to track dates for changes in value of a specific field.

[LaRetta]

Hi Sandy,

Auto-Enter (Replace) can do this. Field you want to track: textField. New standard Timestamp called textModifiedStamp - set to Auto-Enter (Replace) with:

If(textField ; Get(CurrentTimeStamp) ; Get(CurrentTimeStamp))

Uncheck 'Do Not Evaluate If All Referenced Fields are Empty'. If you wish, you can only use date field and Get(CurrentDate). But TimeStamp is more specific and you may wish to know the time also so I included it. It's easy to adjust from here. This Auto-Enter (Replace) won't trigger unless textField is changed - regardless if other fields are changed.

Actually, I capture the beginning date/time but if you don't want that, leave 'Do Not Evaluate' checked and the creation stamp won't be entered - only if the field is modified later.

LaRetta :wink2:

[SteveB]

See Ray Cologon's rather elegant and easy to use solution at http://www.nightwing.com.au/FileMaker/demos.html or

Core Solutions new paper and demo at http://www.coresolutions.ca/filemaker/issue/31/audittrail.php. Since this is out just today, I haven't had a chance to look at it, but it sounds interesting.

I also took Ray's solution and modified it to store the audit trail in a global (his stores it in each record), which uses a custom function. It will automatically track new record creations (as does his), but it requires a script to keep track of record deletions. I did it for the purpose of developing a synch system, so the trail is not really formatted for the user. Let me know if you want me to post it.

Steve

Edited March 9, 2006 by Guest

[Sandy Grimwade]

Thanks for these solutions

LaRetta's simple solution does exactly what I want.

Steve's suggestions will come in very handy some time soon.

Edited March 9, 2006 by Guest

[Joel Saltzman]

I dont get the "Auto-Enter (Replace) " What are you talking about. is (replace) an option for an auto entered text field?

[Lee Smith]

Yes, it is an option.

When you use the Enter By Calculation, there is a button below it that needs to be deselected when you after you have filled in the Calculation and click okay.