Validate for Duplicates durring data entry???

[JediJiver]

HI All,

I'm working on upgrading a FileMaker 2.0 flat file solution. The company has been using it for 14 years and have always had a problem with duplicates. I'm using FileMaker 9 Advanced to upgrade the system and would like to be able to catch possible duplicates during data entry. I have created and indexed, text calculation filed that combines last name and zip code. I used this filed as a self relationship, but am stuck and am not sure how to proceed. If a dup is found, I'd like the user to get a custom dialog message telling them that the current record could be a duplicate and that they should do a search to be sure. This way they will only have to search if notified - not before each new entry. Am I on the right track? Can someone please advise?

Thanks,

-JJ

[_henry_]

Hi Jedi,

In my opinion, you are on the right track. In my experience, after making a "New Record" step, I would check if this record has been created before using "If" function with my "Check Duplicate" Field combined together. For example, "If ([YourField]::CheckDuplicate = "Duplicate")" then you would write "Show custom dialog" showing that there is a duplicate record created. After this, usually, I would ask the user if they want to continue or cancel. If they cancel, then I would delete the record.

Hope it helps...