This one has come up a couple of times in the last couple of weeks, so I figured it deserved a FAQ entry.

The question is, given a database with a portal into a related file, how can you duplicate a record in the parent file and bring the data over from the portal. Simply duplicating the record doesn't do the trick.

The only thing you need to add to your system is a global field in the child file which I'll call gNew_Parent_ID.

In my example scripts below, Parent_ID is a field in both files that the relationship is based on and Child is the name of the relationship in the Parent file.

In the child file, create the following script:

Unsort

Go to Record/Request/Page [ First ]

Loop

Great technique, and a superb explanation. Bravo, Chuck!

Thumbs up for your excellent article re Portal Duplication.

Keep up the good work.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You saved me hours of work. Your cheque is in the mail! Kay.

Hi Chuck,

Was just reading through the posts and came across this. Very clever. I've done it with two global fields (g_new_parent_ID one and two) but I like this better. Well done!

nati

If there was a nobel prize for FileMaker. I'd nominate you!

Any advice as to how I use this to duplicate Children and Grandchildren in a similar simple fashion?

Do I just call an external script from within the loop through Children?

Is this possible?

Thanks.

Hey Chuck,

Today I used (stole) your technique. Worked great!

Thanks,

Ernst.

Ok, I used the script that Chuck wrote and it works great. The parent file that I want to drive this from has 3 portals to 3 separate files. Is there a way to do this for all 3 portals at the same time? What happens if I try to go to a related record that isn't there? Not all records will have related records in all 3 portals. Can I just combine all 3 scripts in the parent file to one script? I have a feeling it is going to hang the script when it tries to go to a related record that is not their. Any additional input?

Thanks!

John

You could check if child records are present by changing the child script like:

If status(CurrentFoundCount) > 0

:

[original script]

End If

Regards,

Ernst.

Thank Ernst!

That did it.

John