I'm trying to use the contents from a global filed in my layout for data entry using instant web publishing. It won't show the value. i'm trying to set it up so teachers can enter multiple choice questions in a Global field and they appear on the web page.

I don't have a direct answer to the global field (so why am I posting??) but how about working around it?

Perhaps put the questions as records in another database and use a relationship to bring them in - q1, q2 etc? I think it's also a lot more flexible and lets you do things like change a question without messing up existing records etc.

regards, Jeff

Dear Jeff and other FM Gurus

Thanks for the help, I tried a relationship and displaying the questions through a portal, but it still didn't show the question. I think part of problem is that I'm using the entry only option from instant web publishing. This would be great if it works as I could easily give a teacher one FM file that would work straight away with out having to copy related files on html files.

Dave Collins

Hi, I just tried this with a basic CDML page and there's no problem with viewing or editing a global field online.

The instant web publishing is very limited and has major cross-browser problems, so I think the simple answer is to build custom web pages. if you havn't done any before, mail me if you need a starting point

regards, Jeff

Thanks for your help Jeff.

I'll bite the bullet and start work with real CDML. I do have the info I need to start it, but would love the Web Companion to solve the problem for me. I have designed everything working perfectly except for displaying the global field.

dave

Get a copy of Home Page 3 and use it to build a starter-set of custom HTML pages for your solution. Then modify these to suit your needs. HP3 saves a lot of initial work.

Where abouts in Sydney are you?

Dear Vaughan,

Thanks for the help. I do have a copy of HP3, but in the end I decided to create the pages in CDML and HTML from scratch for the experience. I was just being lazy. I have since developed exactly what I wanted and it is working well. The concept is a multiple choice database that teachers simple create a quiz and then it launches it online, kids answer the questions and it marks them automatically. Teachers don't need any web design skills to create the quiz.

I'm based at Menai supporting teachers (and anyone else for that matter) with IT problems. I write filemaker solutions for report writing packages and other school admin. type of stuff.