Four fields popup into one by a Lookup

[denisg]

Can someone help as I'm a basic FM user. I have a lookup between two tables driven by ID number. In table one, I have four fields: Name 1, 2, 3, 4. Now in table two, when I enter the ID number, I want to see all four contacts in a Pop-up menu so I can select only one…

Thanks,

Denis

[comment]

This is not a good way to go about it - not just for your current need, but in general. You should keep the multiple names in a separate Names table, related to your table one by the same ID. Then you can define your value list to show only related values from the Names table, starting from your table one.

[denisg]

Thanks for the reply. Because I'm a beginner, I didn't understand how to do what you stated. Can you please give me the steps in detail.

Thanks,

Denis

[comment]

Not really, because I don't know what your real tables are, and what your solution is about. Roughly, you need to move the names to a new table, where each name is a separate record, and make them related to... to the table where they are now.

Once you do that, you can define your value list. When you get to this point, you will understand what I wrote in the second part, because it will fit the options you'll see in the value definition window.

[denisg]

Hello and thanks again for your reply. Clarification...I'm using Filemaker 8.5 Macintosh client. I've decided to enclose the two layouts and tables that I'm talking about. In summary, I have 1 company with 4 contact names and each contact name has 3 phone numbers associated with it. Again, my goal is-once the user enters the ID number, FM pulls 4 names in puts in Popup in second table and have user pick anyone name.

Please see enclosed two PDF's and tell me what you think. I'm not clear when you say, "You should keep the multiple names in a separate Names table, related to your table one by the same ID." Does this mean because I have four contact names attached with one company, I need four tables. And how about, each contact name having three phone numbers...not sure here also?

If this is over my head, I'm willing to hire you, please advise. My number is 408-489-0970 and my email is [email protected]

...thanks, Denis

Table_1_feeds_table_2.pdf

Table_2_pulling_from_table_1.pdf

Edited March 25, 2008 by Guest

[comment]

I don't think it's that complex. See if the attached file makes sense.

Names.fp7.zip

[denisg]

greetings,

Thank you soo much. This was exactly what I wanted and I now understand the logic...Denis

[James Chung]

Hello there,

I am a new learner. Thank you for your explaining. It is really useful. I want to change it a little bit. Could you tell me that what should I do in order display the company name and contact name instead of the numbers in the another layout. Thanks

James

[comment]

You can display any field from a related record, by simply placing it on the 'another' layout. The example shows this using the Details field (the one in italics), but you can do the same thing with any other field from Contacts and/or from Companies.

[James Chung]

Thanks for your help. But I am still getting stuck here. Could you tell me what should I do in order to display the correct contact name, my contact name won't display correctly. I have changed your file's companyID to company name and contactID to contact name.

Thanks

Best Regards,

James

Names.zip

[comment]

If you don't want to display the ID numbers, go into the value list definitions and check 'Show values only from second field'. This works ONLY with a pop-up menu, not with a drop-down menu, so don't change that. It also requires the names to be unique.

(I am referring to my original file - I didn't follow all the changes you have made in yours.)

[James Chung]

Thanks, it works. May I ask why we can't use the drop-down list?

Best Regards,

James

[mr_vodka]

Perhaps you missed this part:

If you don't want to display the ID numbers, go into the value list definitions and check 'Show values only from second field'. This works ONLY with a pop-up menu, not with a drop-down menu, so don't change that.

FileMaker will only render popup menus to display the second field value only on the layout; with drop down lists, you will see the key ID value.

Yes I know, I hate it too. I have bugged FMI about this for years including directly at DevCon last year.

[James Chung]

Thank you for your reply. I think this is the first FM bug I know so far.

Best Regards,

James

[comment]

It's not a bug - it's the intended, documented behavior. I suppose the idea behind it is that drop-downs are editable, while pop-ups, checkboxes and radio buttons are not.