Adding info to external file

[Aussie John]

Is there any way to add info to fields in an external file without setting up portals in the original file.

In other words I need to add data from the original file to the external file. I can do it with copy and paste but this seems rather inelegant

[Oldfogey]

Given that pretty sparse description, I guess you have a common linking field? And hopefully a one-to-one relationship? Use the update option of import.

[Aussie John]

Yes I do have a linking field (and a relationship). The relationship wont exist until one of the fields in the external file is added ( which I can do easily with a paste)

[Oldfogey]

You've lost me (not hard!)

Are you actually trying to add the link field to an existing child-to-be record? If so, how do you identify the record to be adopted?

Alternatively, are you creating new records and trying to add (a value to) the key field? I've done that with an external script using the parent record's key as the script parameter; the external script creates a new record and sets the key field to the script paramater.

[Aussie John]

Sorry to confuse you.

I have two linked files. If I run a script in the mother file to create a new record in the daughter file, how can I add to the daughter file? Do I have to have a portal in the mother file so fields can be entered? or is there another way? thanks

[Oldfogey]

No, you don't need a portal. The only time you need a portal is when your user is entering data for the child file. Even then, I prefer the technique described below because you can display a decent layout for the child file, without the restrictions of a portal.

In the child file you have a script ("NewRec")-

New Record/Request

Set Field(LinkfieldC; Get(Scriptparameter)

Then in the Parent file, you have a script which includes -

Perform Script ("NewRec" from file: "ChildFile"; parameter: "LinkFieldP")

If you're dong that naughty thing of adding data from the Parent record into the Child record, you can then use lookups.

Don't forget the "Commit Record" for both files.

Edited November 13, 2006 by Guest