Related fields from different tables

[istephen]

I've been working flat out to create what I've done so far, but am stuck. I'm using another file (MagnumCh7.fp7 from Filemaker Pro 8: The Missing Manual). The related fields from different tables work properly in it; changes are reflected in the other layouts. I can not duplicate this process in my own file (New DB.fp7), despite an exhaustive comparison of the two files. They're both attached, but "New DB.fp7" is the one I'm concerned about.

Does the Relationship Graph make sense? Also - to make it clearer later, is it OK to have different names in tables for the IDs which are connected (to make it clearer to me which is the primary key, and which is the foreign key? (i.e. instead of Bev_Sector_ID, would it make sense to have it called Bev_Sector_PK in the first table, and Bev_Sector_FK in the second table?)

If anyone is able to advise me on this - thanks for the help!

NEW_DB.fp7.zip

MagnumCh7.fp7.zip

[Fitch]

The related fields from different tables work properly in it; changes are reflected in the other layouts. I can not duplicate this process in my own file.

What changes, and what process? It appears that none of the relationships allow creation of related records, and there are no scripts. So what are we talking about?

Does the Relationship Graph make sense? Also - to make it clearer later, is it OK to have different names in tables for the IDs which are connected (to make it clearer to me which is the primary key, and which is the foreign key? (i.e. instead of Bev_Sector_ID, would it make sense to have it called Bev_Sector_PK in the first table, and Bev_Sector_FK in the second table?)

The names have no effect on function, so it's all up to you. It's popular to use the pk/fk nomenclature, so use it if it helps you. (My personal preference is to simply call the pk "ID" and the fk e.g. "ClientID" etc.) Some people like to preface the pk with two underscores ("__pk_ID") so it sorts to the top of the list.

See FileMaker Development Conventions

[istephen]

Thanks for your reply. I've been continuing to work on it, but in some ways I'm more confused than ever.

I want to be able to assign a specific client (a subset of the companies I'm in contact with) in my central Project table / layout. I am getting bogged down in difficulties with the "Display Data from" side of the "Field/Control Setup" dialog box.

I think that Value Lists may be part of the solution, but "Specify Fields for Value List" in the "Edit Value" dialog box.

This is not as user-friendly as Filemaker claims it is!! I'm trying to keep it all as simple as possible. Thanks.

[Fitch]

Can you be more specific? "Bogged down in difficulties" doesn't give us much to go on.