type ahead question

[javabandit]

I have a field that is a drop-down list displaying a value list. The value list is "Use values from field: " and I'm selecting a field from another table.

It all works fine, except one thing. If you enter the field and begin to type, the list will scroll to the whatever you're typing... as long as you type fast enough. If you pause in your typing, it starts over.

If I type "Cust" quickly it will go to "Customer".

But, if I type slowly, it will go to "Customer", then "User", then "Supervisor", then "Trainee"

I have other databases where you can type as fast or slow as you like and it works the same. I can't tell the difference in the field setup or in the value lists.

I've searched, but no results. Perhaps it's too simple and I'm the only one having the trouble?

Thanks...

[LaRetta]

If you check the box 'Auto Complete' (which is in the same dialog as specifying your dropdown box) then it should keep filtering no matter how slowly you type. Am I missing something more in what you need?

Edited October 24, 2008 by Guest

[javabandit]

Thanks, but I think something must be missing.

I have two databases open, 1 works, 2 doesn't.

In the Field/Control Setup dialog for -both- fields the "Auto-complete using value list" is greyed out... unavailable. I also checked the value lists, since I saw that Auto-complete isn't available when entering data from the second shown field. But, I'm not in that circumstance... at least I think.

What else can I check?

edit: I should note I'm using WinXP

Edited October 24, 2008 by Guest

[LaRetta]

It probably means that the field being referenced is not indexable. Check it's field definition under Storage and see if NONE is selected and the auto index checkbox is unchecked. That would cause it.

[javabandit]

Thank you LaRetta.

Unfortunately that's not it either. I checked the field definition in the Storage tab, as suggested, and Indexing is marked 'All'. I also checked the database that the value list is referencing. It also has Indexing: All.

I tried to package this up and post it here so anyone could see it, but when I imported the table I'm referencing, it suddenly worked. So, that's no help. Why would it be different if the value list is referencing a local table or an external table?

As always, any further suggestions will be -greatly- appreciated.

[LaRetta]

Ummmm, check that value list again ... from FM Help:

[color:gray]Auto-complete is not supported in drop-down lists when the value list used is configured to use Also display values from second field, Show values only from second field, or Sort by second field.

Could this be the issue then?

Update:

Why would it be different if the value list is referencing a local table or an external table?

It makes no difference whether the value list is from another table.

Edited October 27, 2008 by Guest
Added update

[javabandit]

Thank you for taking time with my ridiculous problem.

I did see that in the help when I was searching for an answer. I double checked my value list. I'm not using a second field.

Maybe these screenshots will shed some light on the situation.

[LaRetta]

I cannot see these shots; maybe others can. Either that or you'll need to attach your file. :wink2:

[javabandit]

Try the direct links instead:

http://madisonnet.googlepages.com/fm_screen1.JPG

http://madisonnet.googlepages.com/fm_screen2.JPG

http://madisonnet.googlepages.com/fm_screen3.JPG

[LaRetta]

Very strange. Why does your first screen shot show a company at the top, Defense Corp of America and it also shows an entry in the portal but ... it shows no records found and no records total? Have you had problems with this file? Try File > Save Copy As and specify compacted and see if that helps. Something isn't right here ...

[Inky Phil]

Hi LaRetta

S'funny that. I can see 9 found and 9 total

Phil

[LaRetta]

Hi there, Phil!!

Well this is what I saw. If I go to full screen, I can barely tell that they are nines but the standard view on my Dell 19" most certainly looks like zeros, don't you think?!

Hey Javabandit,

You might try unindexing, exit Define Fields and going back in. Anyway, nobody else is jumping in to help here and I have no other suggestions. So my last suggestion is for you to attach your zipped file.

[javabandit]

LaRetta, Inky!

I tried un-indexing, exiting the "Manage Database", closing the database, then re-opening. I still can't set it to Autocomplete Using Value List.

So, I got the db out of the filemaker server, and zipped it up. You can find it here:

http://madisonnet.googlepages.com/x_numbers_Copy.zip

Maybe you can find something in it, but I can't really post our Customer database. And, oddly enough, if I create a dummy customer database and use it for the value list, Autocomplete starts to work.

To answer your other question, yes. I did have some sort of computer crash happen while developing this database (power outage, I think?). Filemaker ended up doing a recovery on it. Could this be the issue?

[javabandit]

Solved, I think.

It seems that the "customer" database that I was using to populate my value list was strange... very strange. The problem was not with my new database at all, but rather with the way that values were -not- being stored in the "customer" db.

Sorry to all (especially LaRetta) who spent their time on this. I do really appreciate this forum, I've learned many, many, things by searching and reading the solutions offered by all the generous people contributing here.

Thanks to all.