Conditional Value List

[blissland]

I have two main tables: Projects, Tasks. Task records include all the possible tasks I ever might apply to any Project. In my Projects layout where I define the values of the project fields, I have a field 'possible tasks' which i fill with a checkbox valuelist of all the tasks listed in the Tasks table.

I have an Activities layout where I select which project I worked on for the day and I want the task field to display only the tasks that I had selected prior. I'd prefer if this happened dynamically within the layout. I need to be able to track hours spent on particular tasks later on, which seems to further constrain my choices.

I've spent days trying to figure this out and have not a clue how to proceed! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[comment]

Try it this way?

AnotherCondVL.fp7.zip

[blissland]

This is awesome. so simple! yet, I don't fully understand it enough to mimic it. For instance:

1. Why is there both a Tasks and a Task table--I only see one being utilized.

2. Why is the Project Text field on the Log layout selected to display values from the Task valuelist and not the projects valuelist?

2b. Why is the ProjectID field to the left of that using the ProjectTasks valuelist which seems like it has Tasks, not ProjectID, as the output?

3. Can the portal on the Projects layout run on a separate layout without having to change any of the other layouts/tables?

This is awesome....once I understand this, I'm wanting to further complicate the Log by entering the Amount of Resources and the Time spent on Equipment used PER Task each day, where the Resources and the Equipment are also listed based on a checkbox selection on the Projects page. So, tasks, equip, and resources are all selected by project initially, and then equip and resources will refer to Tasks in the Weekly Log.

[comment]

1. There is only one Tasks table. It has two OCCURRENCES on the relationship graph. One ('Task') is used to associate a log entry with a specific task. The other ('Tasks') is used to associate a project with some tasks - this is what drives the conditional value list.

2. Huh? There is no Project Text field on the Log layout. There is ProjectID field (a Number field), and it selects a ProjectID from the Projects value list. When you make a log entry, you select the project (by its ID) and the task.

3. You could duplicate the layout and delete whatever you don't need. But it is still a layout of Projects, so the portal will only show entries for the current project record.

[blissland]

Thank you SO much for your help!

1. There is only one Tasks table. It has two OCCURRENCES on the relationship graph. One ('Task') is used to associate a log entry with a specific task. The other ('Tasks') is used to associate a project with some tasks - this is what drives the conditional value list.

hmmm...I thoroughly checked every reference to anything and found only the reference to one of them. I deleted the other one (that went directly into the log) and all seems to be running ok.

2. Huh? There is no Project Text field on the Log layout. There is ProjectID field (a Number field), and it selects a ProjectID from the Projects value list. When you make a log entry, you select the project (by its ID) and the task.

Yeah, the Text field somehow pointed to Tasks yet showed Projects, maybe cuz the projectID field was pointing to the Task table--i dunno--i changed it to what makes sense and it works. !!

I started to rewrite my solution with your file as the core, but what you sent me has weird things inserted into it--when i place a field on a layout it writes in "graphic" and "powerful scripts" and i can't figure out how to turn it off--it would be nice to turn it off somehow--makes me think there's some kind of virus in there or something.

[comment]

I deleted the other one (that went directly into the log) and all seems to be running ok.

It may seem OK in this simple example. But suppose the Tasks table had a field for pricing, then the Log record wouldn't know from which Task record to lookup this information - so you won't be able to do billing without it.

The file shows sample data in Layout mode - you can turn this off if you want, in the View menu.

[blissland]

t may seem OK in this simple example. But suppose the Tasks table had a field for pricing, then the Log record wouldn't know from which Task record to lookup this information - so you won't be able to do billing without it.

The file shows sample data in Layout mode - you can turn this off if you want, in the View menu.

Yeah, this part is escaping me, particularly since i don't see anywhere that reference is made to the second Task table. I've attached my solution in progress, which I've attempted to make exactly the same as your file (minus this second table)--it worked at one point but now the Task field in the Events [equiv to Log] table doesn't work--i've given up trying to figure it out myself.

sustainabledesign.fp7.zip

[comment]

Your file seems to be password-protected. I'd suggest you spend some time trying to understand the technique, before trying to implement it. Trial and error can only get you so far.

[blissland]

i'm a bit confused by your reply. getting used to the technique is exactly what i'm doing here. what else would this be?? i would say that everyone learns thru trial/error, unless by that you mean just random actions, and i hardly classify this past 60 hr week working on this solution as random.

the user/pass is mark/mark. forgot about that, sorry. i've created some extremely advanced fmp-driven websites...thru 'trial and error'...i know how to implement this on the web, but within fmp only is the new challenge.

i have taken the core code you sent me and fully developed it to where i want it to be, but the mysterious hidden scripts that came with your file make me worried, so what i sent you was a separate version that has the exact same setup...except that it doesn't work. i would think you could tell in a glance why that is, and would be greatly appreciative if you would. :)

[comment]

Is it possible you have edited your previous post AFTER I have replied to it? I seem to remember a slightly different wording, which led me to the trial and error remark.

In any case, your relationship between Projects and Tasks needs to be based on the taskspossible field in Projects - not the taskID field (which shouldn't even exist in this table, IMHO).

I thought by now you would know that there are no "mysterious hidden scripts" in my file.

[blissland]

In any case, your relationship between Projects and Tasks needs to be based on the taskspossible field in Projects - not the taskID field (which shouldn't even exist in this table, IMHO).

I thought by now you would know that there are no "mysterious hidden scripts" in my file.

OHHH! Woohoo!!! That worked! Thank you!

So, I had always been told to have an ID field in every table, so i figured you just left that out to be quick. But i see why i can get by without it too.

why do you mean 'by now'--i've been in this forum for 2 days now. all i know is that your file has behaviors and properties that i can neither create or eliminate. i've worked with fmp for years and never seen non-db-related words appear as i'm moving a field over to a layout, and i can't make a plain non-editable text field open a dialog box upon clicking it. seems odd to me.

[comment]

I had always been told to have an ID field in every table

Yes, so you should. But that would be ProjectID in the Projects table, and TaskID in the Tasks table. A TaskID field in the Projects table only makes sense if each Project belongs to a single Task.

I left out (with some hesitation), the TaskID field from the Tasks table, figuring it wouldn't sit well with the checkbox (IOW, the task names themselves would have to be unique anyway). But it's not something I would easily recommend.

why do you mean 'by now'--i've been in this forum for 2 days now. all i know is that your file has behaviors and properties that i can neither create or eliminate.

I mean after I wrote this:

The file shows sample data in Layout mode - you can turn this off if you want, in the View menu.

[dianem]

Thanks for putting together this example...but is it password protected? I'm trying to analyze the layouts and input new records to see how it's working but I get a message that the file is not modifiable.

[comment]

Which file have you downloaded? *My* file is not protected in any way.