Hi

I am trying to create a portal which displays the current found set of records with an alphabetical sub-title (see attached example file).

So far I have managed to get the portal working via a relationship to display the current found and have added an additional 26 records to act as alphabetical sub-titles. However I only want the relevant sub-titles displayed when their are corresponding records.

I'm sure this could be created via a series of calculation key fields and relationships but have not managed to achieve it yet.

Any thought on a simple and elegant solution would be most appreciated.

portal_list.zip

I don't like much the idea of dummy records. I prefer to do it this way:

http://www.fmforums.com/forum/showpost.php?post/266405/

Alternatively, you could modify the custom function so that if it sees a record that starts with "X", it adds the primary key of the "X" spacer record to the list.

BTW, the calculation field using the custom function should be unstored.

Here is a method that I use...

portal_list.fp7_2.zip

Edited July 4, 200817 yr by Guest
fixed file

Hi Chris, I did not see how the example file posted worked for only a found set. When performing a find on the Party layout, the portal did not restrict nor does it if a record is omitted. In fact, I wouldn't handle the structure like this either; instead I would have a table of people and then a table of parties. And records would be created for a specific party and records created for attendees - no need for a found set portal at all.

There appeared to be many other things which I believe could be simplified and I had reworked the file as I would have done it. For instance, without spacers, there is no longer a script and two relationships are gone. I wouldn't use spacers either and I see that my file is like Michael's in many ways (in fact, I've no doubt that I stolen his ideas (throughout the years) for much of my work anyway).

Overall, I decided to still attach the file I had created in hopes that the visual comparison between your file and mine would be of some use to you.

LaRetta

portal_listMOD.zip

Edited July 5, 200817 yr by Guest

Many thanks for all your comments. Its given me a lot to think about.