Set Next Serial Value - Does not work with MAX function

[IdealData]

I am importing data to a revised solution. Whilst doing this I'm also converting all the relationship keys to strictly numeric, whereas the first version had text/number combo - so I'm just going to use the number part.

After import a re-assign the serial fields with a GetAsNumber to strip the text and use a proper number. The last step, to reset the next serial value:

Set Next Serial Value (serial-id; Max (serial_id) + 1)

does not work.

In fact it persists in returning the serial_id + 1 of the CURRENT RECORD. The workaround is to go to the last record of course (as shown in the help system) but the syntax for the calc is correct - FMP just won't do it.

I checked this in FMP 9, no joy. Is this a BUG?

[comment]

the syntax for the calc is correct

Not really. Max ( field ) refers to the field in the current record only. So it doesn't actually do anything - unless that field is a repeating field.

If you had a relationship (for example a self-join using the x operator), you could use Max ( related::field ). That would look at the entire related set. What you really want is to aggregate the found set, but only summary fields do that.

[Søren Dyhr]

There are some semantics here - "only" ... what about repeating fields or a list of fields in the same table?

--sd

[IdealData]

Thanks guys. I had over interpreted the description from the help system - you are of course correct.

[mr_vodka]

Why did gdurniak delete his post?