Looking for suggestions on how to implement something

[Dimwhit]

Here's what I want to do:

I want to create a list of items for a user to select from. As an example, it's a list of pies:

pumpkin

apple

rhubarb

lemon

key lime

I was going to use a checkbox list for selecting them, but I want to be able to select one of them more than once. For example, I'd like to choose 'apple' twice and 'lemon' once. Naturally, a standard checkbox list doesn't quite work, since it only allows for each item to be selected once.

Also, I'd like to be able to add an entry. I know there's an option for that, but the implementation is odd. I'm wondering if there's another method. Currently, you select 'other' and put it in the pop-up box. But if you select one of the other options, it shows up in that box, too. Not sure why. Ideally, I'd like to see the new item listed at the bottom, rather than in the pop-up.

Anyway, if someone has a thought, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks!

[jbayness]

Dim,

I myself am new to FM, so this may not be a good way to do this. However, I think it might work...

Perhaps add a quantity field next to your checkboxes? So if the user needs 2 apples, they would check the box and manually enter the number needed. I would assume you can tie these records together.

I don't have a suggestion for your second part ???

[Dimwhit]

That's not a bad idea. but I'm going to be doing a number of lists with hundreds of items when all is said and done. I'd like to avoid an additional field for each item.

But that does give me an idea where to go. I'll keep fiddling.

[aldipalo]

It sounds like you are trying to set up an invoicing layout or something similar. I would suggest you use a line item approach. Look at your BPI sample file that comes with FileMaker.

Also, if you are going to have hundreds of potential Fruits (Since we don't know what you are really adding)you should have them in a separate table.

HTH

[Fenton]

I would suggest using a portal. Put it on a dedicated layout. Use the New Window, optionally combined with Select Window (by name; used if the window has been left open). Open a new window, go to the layout, adjust the window (or open it exactly right size to begin with).

This way people can just click an item, to run a script, to enter the item into a field. The script can check for previous content, and add a paragraph return if necessary. It would then either close the window, or you could leave it open for more choices. In any case however put a Close (or Cancel) button on the layout, to close that window.

You could put an 'Add' button above the portal, and it would be for adding items to the list itself, not to the field with the multi-line values. (Confusing to talk about.) A simple way to do that would be a Custom Dialog with a global field. Pop it up, add the value, create a new record in the list(s) table, set the value, and commit. The new item would appear wherever it would alphabetically.

Because this is a portal, it could be filtered via a global field's relationship. So you could have mulitple lists in the same table, with only 2 fields, the name of the list, and the value. You'd set the global filter field and commit when you opened the window, and you'd see only values with that list name.

This method would also have the advantage that its values would remain after an upgrade, if you imported that table.

[Fenton]

Something like this:

ChooseFromWindow.fp7.zip

ChooseFromWindow.fp7.zip

[Dimwhit]

Fenton, that looks great! One question: after items are selected and appear in the 'items' field, is there an easy way to then be able to remove the items, one at a time?

My other problem is trying to figure out exactly how you set that up. ???

[Dimwhit]

Fenton, scratch the one question. Just realize that items can just be deleted from that list.

Which means this is exactly what I'm wanting! But I'm still having a hard time making any sense of what you did. Definitely beyond what I've done thus far with FM. I'll keep looking into it, though. Thanks a ton for this. It's perfect.

One question to point me in the right direction: I can't find where the actual item list is stored. I see the option to choose between fruit and animals, and the options in each list, but I can't find where those items are actually stored. Can you point me in the right direction there?

[Fenton]

They are in their own little table, Values, with 2 fields, ListName and Value (also global fields for each). In other words, not in in the main table. I didn't put a Delete button in the portal.

The idea is that you can have several different "lists" in that one table, using only those 2 fields. As long as you filter the portal by a global with the name of the list, no one will ever know they all in the same table.

Because the global filter is in the same table as its target, there is no need for a relationship to any other "main" table; hence it's portable. It's its own little window world.

[Fenton]

Here's the same again, but with a "Delete" choice in the Edit dialog for a value.

ChooseFromWindow2.fp7.zip

[Dimwhit]

Thanks Fenton!

I did see where you entered the records, so I've got that down. Still working on the rest, but I appreciate the files to work from.

[Fenton]

One small thing not yet mentioned. You can turn on the vertical scroll bar for the portal, if the number of entries of a list is a bit more than the number rows. If there are a great many entries a secondary global filter could be established, based on the 1st few letters of the name.

[krabbykabby]

My God, I am soooo glad I happened upon this post! The pop-up layout window is the answer to all my frustrations with pop-up menus based on value lists. Thanks!