I'm trying to use Filemaker (ver. 8) to manipulate student test data. I have two files, one with test scores for many, many students. I have a second file, with demographic data for students in one particular building. I need to either move data from the scores file into the building (demographic) file, or use the building file as a search list and limit the test results only for the students in a specific building.

The ultimate goal is to generate an export file of matched students which will then be exported into a web-based analysis program. The export file should contain records for those students with results.

These files are from outside sources, and I will have to use first name, last name and birthdate to ensure the results are for a specific student.

Further complicating the process is, there will be students in the building file that will have no test results.

I know I could do this with Excel doing a lookup, but there are other formatting issues that FMP handles much better than Excel.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

-->John

So in both files are there first name, last name and birthdate entries? If so then you can make them related. If not then I do not understand how you are trying to achieve this.

John,

Yes, both files have that name and birthdate. I'm thinking I may need to create a blended key (FName & LName & BDate) and use that to make the associations between the files. Then it's a relatively simple relationship problem, right?

--> John

Yes you can create a concatanated key but you can use multiple relationship keys in FM8.

Just double click the relationship link between your tables on the relationships graph and add additional criteria.

Thanks John, appreciate your input and confirmation.

--> John