Using variables across files

[Angus Murray]

My apologies to everyone if this has already been discussed.

I want to use a variable across two different FM8.5 files - File A (holding school pupil contact info) and File B (holding invoices / accounts). The files are separate (and not tables within the same file) for a good reason and I don't wish to alter that. The files are related remotely however - the pupil ID being the 'key'.

I want to pick up the pupil ID (the key) in File A and place it into an invoice layout in File B. I currently have a script in File A that contains a subscript. The main script sets the variable (the ID field in the Teaching file) - the sub script opens the File B, goes to the invoice layout, creates a new record and attempts (but fails) to pick up the variable and place it into the ID field, thereby triggering a lookup.

I have spent many hours and read through many of the posts on this excellent forum but am still wondering if there's a smart work-around. Yesterday, glancing through the Scott Love / Steve Lane book, I read that there is a little-known trick using the 'evaluate / get' functions. Unfortunately, this still doesn't make much sense to me and I wondered if anyone out there had used this and knew how the script(s) would need to run.

Many thanks in advance.

[Ender]

Variables are file-specific. Either use global fields or pass values in script parameters. In this case, I'd recommend passing the ID in a script parameter to the sub-script in the second file. Then pull it out in the sub-script using get(scriptparameter).

[Angus Murray]

Thanks Ender - I'll give that a try.

[Angus Murray]

Hi Ender

Being very much a newbie where scripting is concerned, I have tried the following to no avail - can you spot where my error is in here:

Set variable [$$ID no;Value:Teaching::ID_no]

Open file ["Accounts"]

Perform script ["Create Teaching invoice from file: "Accounts"]

Exit script [Result: Get (ScriptParameter)]

The sub script runs as follows:

Go to layout ["Teaching invoice" (AM_Invoices)]

New record/request

Set Field [AM_Invoices::ID_no; Get (ScriptParameter)]

I have tried Get (Script result) in the subscript but this seemed to make no difference.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received. Thanks

[Ender]

You have to explicitly specify the script parameter in the Perform Script[] step. Look at the bottom of the Specify dialog for the Perform Script[] step.

[Ender]

You might also check out the script parameter description in the application help.

[Angus Murray]

Ta da! It works - thanks Enders!