Field types for key fields

[polarpro]

Hey,

A lot of people recommend to make key fields numeric fields to avoid problems when it comes to searching. (As searching 123 in a text field returns 123, but also 1230, 1231,...)

Both my primary and my foreign keys are numeric fields and look like PER00001 or LOC00035. When I take the value from such a primary key and put it into a foreign key field somewhere else using a variable, Filemaker cuts LOC00035 down to 35. Changing the settings on a layout for a numeric field doesn’t help.

When the foreign key is a text field, this doesn’t happen. Also, when I use copy and paste script steps, LOC00035 stays LOC00035.

So, I’m about to change my key fields from numeric into text.

Does anybody know of unwanted side effects when it comes to setting the type of key fields as text?

Thanks, Mike

[Phillip Holmes]

As long as both sides of the relationship are TEXT and are EXACT in content I do not know of any issues in setting up the links in that fashion.

Regards

Phillip

[polarpro]

Hey Phillip,

Thanks for your thoughts - helps a lot!

Regards,

Mike :(