auto fill

[SarahT]

I have two tables table1=FVR table2=POC. There will be three contacts on each record in table1. table2 is a list of those contacts. I want to type in the last name in table1 and have it pull the record from table2 and fill in the rest of the info. I figured out how to do it with one contact, but not with multiple.

[bcooney]

I could tell you how to do this, using three foreign key fields in FVR for each of the Contact IDs that you want to store in FVR. However, this really doesn't sound like the structure that you should build.

I'd rather suggest that you have what is called a join table between FVR and POC that stores FVRID and ContactID combinations. Then, create a portal on your FVR data entry screen to the join table and populate that with the Contact IDs. You could have the portal only display 3 rows, if you want to limit each FVR to 3 contacts.

[aldipalo]

Hi Sarah and welcome to the forums. My first question is why would you have 3 contacts in one record? Do you mean 3 contacts in the FVR table?

FileMaker is a relational database. You should keep all contacts in individual records. For instance, if you have multiple contacts within a given company (or family) you would have a company table related to a contacts table. Company::CompanyID > Contacts::fk_CompanyID. The contacts, of course, would have their own ContactID. So if each contact had, for instance, multiple phone numbers or addresses you would then relate ContactS::ContactID>TeleNumbers::fk_ContactID. Using these realtionships will help you establish layouts where all firlds related to a specific company or contact can be shown on one layout. You simply enter the "Key Field " and the related data is shown.

****************************************

Sorry BCooney, didn't see you already replied. I was on a phone call and got distracted.

Edited June 21, 2007 by Guest

[SarahT]

Thank you bcooney for you input. I think you might understand what it is i am trying to accomplish. I have to go learn join tables now. I had tunnel vision on scripting. Thank you. P.S. I used to be stationed with a B. Cooney in Nevada.

[bcooney]

btw, sarah, i've never been to Nevada.