the table that won't leave

[turnstone]

I'm brand new at this and feeling completely idiotic.

I'm trying to develop a databsse for managing and researching a collection of art objects. I have three tables -- object, maker, value -- that I have set up following the recipe in the Missing Manual. Using the database manager, I established relationships and entered fields. All seemed fine until I looked at them with the browse and layout buttons. The Maker table was missing all its fields except the first Maker ID field. But when I went back into the database mangager, I could see all the fields. After fiddling and checking the online Knowledge Base, I decided to delete the Maker field and try again -- which I did by deleting it through the Database Manager. Set it up again, entered all the fields -- same thing...no table in browse or layout mode. Decided to quit and have dinner.

Now, for whatever reason, it's taken pity on me. I can see the new Maker table. But the drop down menu for browse and layout still shows the original version as well as the new: it lists Maker (so I have it twice in the dropdown) and clicking on it shows that one ID field. Is there any way to make that first failed table go away? It doesn't show up in the database manager. It's making me crazy.

And does it mean anything that when I click preview for the Object table it shows a list of fields, but when I try to preview the other tables, I get nothing?

[mr_vodka]

Okay there are a few things that you have missed in your learning.

There is a difference between a table and a table occurence. Layouts are based on table occurences.

You should double check your relationships graph to see how many table occurences there are of a particular table as well as checking each layout to see what table occurence that they are based off.

By default when you create a brand new table, FileMaker creates a table occurence of it and a layout based off that table occurence.

[turnstone]

Many thanks for your response. My language might have been sloppy, but I think I understand the difference between tables and table occurences -- a TO just being the graphic representation of a table. But here's the confusion: when I look at the relationships graph in the database manager, I see only three TOs -- object, maker, value. When I click out of it, and start to browse through them, I get two Maker tables showing on the drop down list under Layout. One is fine. The other -- the problem one that I thought I had deleted -- shows up looking as it did before I deleted it, with just one field. But here's the thing: When I click on it, I get an error message saying "This action cannot be performed because the required table is missing." So FP knows it's been deleted. Why can't I get it out of that drop-down list?

I'm sure this is really one of those stupid new-user problems. But I've spent hours trying to figure this out and would be very grateful for your help.

[comment]

Go into Layout mode, delete the layout that belongs to the deleted table (or is it a deleted TO?) and create new layouts as required. There's an 'assistant' that will help you with that, and more info can be found in the help.

Note: what you see in the Manage Database window is at the data level. Layouts are at the presentation level - they are your windows into the data. These windows are highly customizable: you can have many fields in a table, but choose to display only a few of them on a layout. You can also have many layouts for a single TO.

BTW, a TO is NOT a graphic representation of a table. It's a logical representation of a table within its relational context.

[turnstone]

Hooray! That worked! Thanks so much. Not sure I actually deleted it, but I was able to click on something that removed it from the drop down menu, so I am happy. And I will return to your message often I'm sure, because it's useful in learning to think like FM. Thanks for clarifying the TO.

[jmelvin]

Go to Layout in the table you wish to delete. At the top is the Layouts button (File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, Layouts, etc.)

Select Delete Layout.

I just figured it out myself.

-Jeff