Help Frustrated Newbie

[cknight]

Greetings all,

I first have to say i love this forum. I have learned a ton just perusing everyone elses topics but i have run into a problem of my own. Its 2 fold and probably unrelated.

First i am creating a Cost analysis worksheet in Filemaker and I have 3 different products and each has its own specific values (for example: cost per sq. foot is different depending on the product) I don't want to leave a field where someone has to type the correct value in. What i was hoping to do was create a drop down menu (value list) that would determine what value goes in the different fields. So i made the Value list but i have no idea how to get the relevant fields to autofill with the correct data.

So how do i do this:

Below is how i have it mapped out and then i will describe what i am trying to do.

Value list

Product 1

Product 2

Product 3

Product 1 field

product 2 field

product 3 field

(These fields i created to hold the value of the specific product)

Then i have the other fields i want to change based off which value i have choosen from the drop down menu.

I am assuming that i have to script the fields to reference first what value is selected then get that value and input it into the fields i want to change automatically.

Problem is iam a newbie and just learning scripting and i have a feeling i am going to do this more and more especially if i have to make drop downs for currency or meter/Foot. Can someone walk me through this so i actually understand and i am not just copying and pasting some script.

The second thing i was wondering is I am trying to import an excel document into Filemaker and the problem i keep running into is that the excell document has the field names in the first column down not across the top and everytime i try to import it it gets all mushed up. Do i have to transpose the excel before i import or is there a better way to do it.

thanks in advance for any kind of help. Just frustrated and i cant find a specific answer to a specific problem from any book.

C. Knight

[Stuart Taylor]

probably best to post a sample file to look at.

One of your problems as a newbie (and i remember being there once) is that you do not really know what you are asking.

Having the file you are working on to look at could help a person understand what it is you are trying to achieve.

[John Mark Osborne]

I read your post and have one piece of feedback. Whenever I see people creating field with numbers after them, there is usually a problem. So, you have Product1, Product2, Product3, etc. fields. Generally, when you see this scenario, you want to consider adding a table to store the fields as records. So, you have just one Product field and unlimited number of products you can add through a portal from the parent to the child table (Products).

[cknight]

yeah that is what i have done its referencing a field in another table.

Basically i have a Product catalog with various fields one of which is "Cost per Square ft". Each product has a different value.

The table i am working on now is called a Cost savings Worksheet which allows you to enter sq footage and various other seperate data fields and calculates the cost savings for their specific needs. One of the variables is which Product. So i thought an easy way to do it was to have a drop down menu and you select the product and it automatically enters relevant fields.

This is all coming off a multi tab spreedsheet that i want to do the same thing in filemaker so i have attached the excel document to give you an idea of what i am dealing with. Suggestions would be welcome. There are a TON of fields on this spreadsheet and a ton of calculations. I saved as a PDF so you can look at it.Idealy i would want to be able to select the product and which measurement standard and currency. I am lost and i bought your video tutorials to see if i can figure it out on my own. Mb you can recommend which video to watch.

Worksheet.pdf

[cknight]

Here i made a little simple database that shows what i want to do i basically need help figuring out how to script it. By the way your videos are very helpful thus far

Carlisle Knight

test2.fp7.zip

[cknight]

Well I have done some research and search through the forums and i am starting to understand this a little bit BUT i have a few questions.

It seems to me that i need to create an Item join. Can someone explain to me what that is exactly. I think i need to get up to speed on the lingo because i see quite a few word that i don't really grasp the concept of and are not in any tutorial that i have found although i could have just missed it.

What is a "LineItem" and how and what are they used for and when would it be appropriate to create one?

What is an Item Join. I am confused because in the sample i have it has 2 tables listed and in the relationship window i see three. I understand the relationship but how is it not a table that i can enter fields into?

do i need to look into portals?

Just trying to understand, sorry if i seem a little thick.

Edited November 4, 2006 by Guest

[cknight]

Gosh darn it if i didnt figure it out with some help!!

Thanks you FMForums!!

You Rock!!