I have a database of my students. Each student is in the database for a few clases. Every two weeks 90% of my students move on and I get new ones.

What im trying to do is set up a unique serial number for each student so that for each class there is the same unique serial number.So for example:

name class serial

record 1 Jim Hitson math 1

record 2 Jim Hitson History 1

record 3 Jim hitson Spelling 1

record 4 Tiala Johnson Math 2

record 5 Tiala Johnson History 2

ect

Now comes the hard part how do I get this serial number to reset every two weeks without messing up the serials for the students who do not move on. I have to have the serials reset so that there is no serials that are over 1000 in number.

Thank you for reading and any help would be great!!

Do you want to store into the DB the students that have moved on ?

How can we know that a student do not move on ?

You should not be concerned about resetting relational keys. The important thing is that they are unique, which is why auto-entered serial numbers work well.

Why would you want such a field reset?

When a student has moved on they are no longer in the DB. About the field reset. Im using a modern computer, but our school uses a very old antiquated system that only allows entry of a student record number up to 1000. Hard to believe but that is what I have to work with.

And you wish that Tiala Johnson ( that hasn't move on ) mantains her serial number ( 2 ) ?

Yes any student who hasnt moved on needs to keep their unique serial and the new students need to be assigned new serials that dont overlap this old serial.

Ok

Try this one...

serial_reset.zip

I use fmp7 and your example does not work with 7. Something with the value list I think. I do not know how to use a value list or I would make one. Thanks

I use fmp7 ...

and

... but our school uses a very old antiquated system that only allows entry of a student record number up to 1000.

My imagination isn't so good.

So go to change your FileMaker Profile !

With seven is easier :B

serial_reset.zip

Very sorry for the mistakes. Our school does not use filemaker, but its system that I have to data entry into only goes up to 1000. I have updated my profile to indicate fmp7. If there would be any way to update the same file but in FMP7 as my knowledge of fmp5 is very limited. Thanks Again.

Hi

look at the attachment of the above post

Thanks alot for setting it up in 7 but its not working? When I delete a record and create another all it does is put "1" as the serial. Does it do that for you?

I don't know why it don't work for you.

I downloaded the attachment, unzipped, placed the file on my desktop, opened and...it works with 8.5.

Now I'm going to try with seven.

It works even with seven !

Have you opened the unzipped file ?

Ok very strange It didnt work so I turned off FMP and restarted it and now it works??? Thank you so much for your help. I will be telling everybody at work about the god send from Italy that helped me figure this out! THANKS AGAIN!!

Glad I could help you :B