If Then

[dharkin]

Hello,

Help please I think with "if then"

I am using portals and would like to have a field populated with a value when a selection is made in another field. For instance:

When grade 3 is selected then the reading average is populated with a predetermined value in the reading average field. Then if grade 5 is selected then a reading average is populated in the reading average field.

Thanks for your help in advance

DH

[comment]

You could use the Case() function for this, or - if you give us the full list of grades and their corresponding values - there may be a shorter way.

[dharkin]

Thanks for your reply,

I am waiting for administration to send the averages to me. I would like to give the user the ability to change the values.

The average will change annually.

Do you think this can be accomplished?

Thanks,

DH

[comment]

If the averages will change annually, then it would be best to put them in a table and use a lookup to get the correct one.

[dharkin]

Hello,

Can you give me an example of the shorter way and using case()?

"if you give us the full list of grades and their corresponding values - there may be a shorter way".

Thanks

DH

[comment]

Not really, because (in view of your clarification) you shouldn't be using either. You shouldn't be using a calculation at all, since (a) you would have to change the formula every year, and (: all the grades from previous year would update to show the most recent year's average.

[dharkin]

Thanks for the suggestions and clarifications.

I suppose the lookups would be the most efficient?

I still would have to personally change the value each year?

Thanks for your help

DH

[comment]

I suppose the lookups would be the most efficient?

If I understand correctly what you said, yes.

I still would have to personally change the value each year?

Perhaps I don't understand what you said. I thought each year you get a new set of values to use. I don't know how you get them, and in what form, so I can only guess SOMEONE will have to input them into your solution - unless you can find a way to automate the process.

The difference between a calculation and a lookup is that with a lookup, the values are looked up from a table - and any user with enough privileges to edit the table's data can input the new values. With a calculation field, you would need to modify the calculation formula itself, i.e. do something only a developer can and should do.

[dharkin]

Hello,

What would a calculation look like. Say

I wanted, when a user selected grade 3 from a drop down the reading average field for all third graders would be 48. The math average field would be 85, The writing average field would be 86.

Grade 6 is selected the reading average field 50, math average field 65, writing average field 80. The averages would be supplied to me from some type of document (email, word doc) something a Teacher would send me.

Thanks for your help. Sorry I am not being clear.

DH

[comment]

Oh, there are multiple averages for each grade? I think you need to explain the background here: what is your solution tracking, and esp. what do you intend to do with these averages, once you get them to their proper destinations.

Maybe you don't even need to do a lookup, and can manage by merely defining a relationship between the averages and your records (students? marks?), based on matching the grade and the year (and possibly the subject - again, it depends on what your records are).

[comment]

Ahm... one more thing. Since you ask "what would a calculation look like" when I speak of lookups, please make sure you read (at least) these two subjects in the help:

http://www.filemaker.com/help/07-Related%20files.html

http://www.filemaker.com/help/07-Related%20files21.html

[dharkin]

Hello

My database is a aggregate for all tests taken by students in our school. For instance I have a table for SATs taken, a table for NWEAs taken, PSATs taken, etc...

The purpose of this is to perform a quick comparison to where the student stands when taking this specific test. So when the score is entered in the table the teacher can see how the student scored against the average. Maybe I would do some statistical reporting based upon the info, but for the most part it would be used as a comparison.

Hope this clarifies things.

Thanks for taking the time

DH

[dharkin]

Hello,

The links take me to a generic help page at Filemaker.

I have used lookups in other solutions, at times I use a lookups

when I have a student table I want to draw from say to populate a

database for a sports roster.

Thanks for your reply

DH

[comment]

Here's a simple file that shows how it could be done without calculations OR lookups. I'm not sure how closely it matches your situation, so you will need to make the necessary adjustments.

GradeVsAverage.fp7.zip

[dharkin]

Thanks for the file,

So when you choose the year it adjusts the average grade.

What method are using to accomplish this?

I don't see any calculations or lookups or scripting.

DH

[mr_vodka]

Welcome to the power of relationships. :

[dharkin]

Hello,

That would be alot of maintenance populating the Average Grade

with the correct info annually.

There must be a more effective way.

Don't you think?

DH

Edited April 21, 2008 by Guest

[comment]

when you choose the year it adjusts the average grade

More precisely, when you choose the year AND the subject.

I don't see any calculations or lookups or scripting.

There aren't any - it merely DISPLAYS the related average grade, directly from the AverageGrades table.

[comment]

That would be alot of maintenance populating the Average Grade

with the correct info annually.

There must be a more effective way.

Don't you think?

No, I don't. You need all that information, one way or another. An efficient way to get it in would be to establish a format for this data (e.g. an Excel template), then import it.

[dharkin]

Hello,

No, I don't. You need all that information, one way or another. An efficient way to get it in would be to establish a format for this data (e.g. an Excel template), then import it.

Then this is what I will do. Thank you for all of your help and suggestions today. This info will make the solution work very well.

I will formulate a spreadsheet to facilitate the input.

DH