Disclaimer: I came from a Microsoft Access background and was quite proficient with it. Now I'm in a Filemaker world and am still trying to figure out how to do some coding techniques that I used to be able to do in my sleep!

Here is today's problem. I want to open up a layout and only display the records that don't have data entered in one particular field. It is a list of residents who are due to be retested. If they are no longer eligible for testing, then I fill in a "date testing terminated". So I want all of the records that don't have this date filled in to appear.

Thank you in advance!

Create a script.

Go to Layout [LayoutName]

Enter Find Mode

Set Field [ date testing terminated ; "==" ]

Perform Find

Set that script as your file's opening script (File > File Options)

I hope that helps. Let me know if you need more details!

The set field step:

The field you are setting is "date testing terminated"

You're setting it to the following calculation:

"=="

which looks for empty values in that field.

You can shorten that a bit by leaving off the Enter Find Mode[] altogether if you use instead a Find Request as:

Go to Layout [yourLayout]

Perform Find [ Restore ]

... find request would be: date testing terminated =

... in other words, specify a find request, select your date field then type ONLY [color:green]= into [color:red]the find criteria box and hit ADD. It's a small few changes but can save time over the long run once you get used to using it.

CORRECTION IN RED: I had typed 'field' and I meant 'the find criteria box.' Sorry about that. Also, one equal sign will do it.

Edited June 16, 200817 yr by Guest

Oh hey, GadgetGirl! Welcome to FM Forums!

I should also mention that you should trap for 'no records' yourself.

Go to Layout [LayoutName]

Set Error Capture [ On ]

Perform Find [ Restore ]

If [ not Get ( FoundCount ) ]

Show Custom Dialog [ OK ; "No records found." ]

Show All Records

Go To Layout [ original layout ]

Halt Script

End If

... records found, do whatever you wish with them.

Edited June 16, 200817 yr by Guest
corrected typo ;-/

Whew! Thanks! I had only seen the first response and tried it and it WORKED!!! Oh Happy Days!

Now I see there are other ways to refine my script - Thanks for the tips!

Thanks for the welcome! Sure wish I had found this forum about 2 years ago!!! I've finally starting to like FileMaker instead of wishing that I could still use Access.

Plug in here at FM Forums and you will have thousands of wonderful people to assist you. You couldn't ask for a better place to learn and get assistance. The brightest minds in FileMaker hang around here. And so do I! :jester: