Store an Index, Display a Name

[tonyh]

I am new to FMPro so apologies if these are simple questions.

I have a relational database with several tables that all relate back to a contact list. I used a serial auto number for the index on the contact table. I use that number as the relationship to the other tables.

I was able to setup the lookup list so that it displays the name but stores the index in a pull-down. But... I cant get it to display the name in a field on the form?

Any ideas?

Thanks,

tonyh

[Fenton]

The actual field is the Contact ID, no matter what the value list is, so that's what shows in the field. What you can do is put the related name field on the layout, on top of the ID field. It should be non-enterable; Format, Field/Control, Behavior (Cmd-Opt-K).

Since the ID field is enterable, the cursor will go right through the related name field into the ID field, and the list will drop down.

There's various ways to arrange these two fields. To show the ID, offset the name field enough to show the ID (the ID field is best made at least as wide as the name field, so it is not scrunched up when the names drop down). To hide the ID, you can make the Name field opaque.

Or, if that is ugly (such as in a portal with alternating row colors), you can send the ID field to the back of the layout, behind the portal. It will still work, as everything within the bounds of a portal is considered in the portal, no matter what layer. However, this makes it a little tricky to work on the layout afterwards, as you now have a portal field which is not normally visible. It becomes too easy to move the portal and forget the poor ID field.

There is likely a method to use Conditional Formatting in FileMaker 9 to color the ID field with alternate colors, just like the portal rows. Then it could be visible in the portal, but just under the name field. I will have to investigate that. Perhaps someone knows?

[eos]

There's a much much better solution for your needs: Create a value list, as 1. Field you choose RecordID, as 2. Field the one you want to display (eg Name, or if necessary create a new calculation field for this purpose which exactly shows the desired contents); choose option to only display 2. field

Put the field on your layout, format as popup menu and choose the value list you have just created. What you will see when opening the menu - and what subsequently will show on the layout - is the 2. field, eg the name, but actually entered gets the 1. field, the ID.

Cheers,

Oliver

Edited November 25, 2007 by Guest