Hi there, I new at FileMaker, but some how managed to build a database temporarily and now have refined it so that i can use relationships, but i have a couple of issues i can't seem to solve.

We are a magazine and we are using the database for ad traffic and insertion orders.

I have 2 tables, one is the "client" info table and i have a portal that has the insertion #, publication, etc which then links to the "insertion order" table. Unfortunately, i can't get the client page to show the insertion info from the "insertion order" table. I've check my relationship and everything that should be the same is linked.

the other question is, we've assigned ad numbers to each ad the client is running for that particular issue, it's calculated by part of the client's name and a serial no. now i wanted to know how to have it that it'll reuse that ad number if it's the same ad as last issue to run in the current issue and will generate a new one if they are supplying a new ad for the current issue.

hope i've explaned this well enough for someone to help me.

thanks

Answer 1: It sounds like you're talking about a layout that is based on the client table which is displaying a portal based on the relationship to insertions (related by client id I presume). Make sure that the fields in the portal are also based on the correct relationship and make sure that the upper left corners of the related fields are within the upper left bounds of the portal.

Answer 2: You could script the new record process so that a serial number would either duplicate the existing number or add one to it. IOW don't use auto-generated serial numbers. (FWIW this could come back to bite you later. I'd recommend you keep a separate field with a unique auto-entered serial number -- you might be glad you did.) You'll need to make sure people use button/scripts to make new ads, and not just use the "New" command.

thanks Tom,

perhaps I need to go over the relationships again. I noticed that you are in Portland, OR. I'm in Bend, OR. If i can't get this to work, how much do you charge for consultation?

thanks

sam

Sam, feel free to contact me:

tom at pre1 dot com, or

tom at fitchandfitch dot com