Newbie... Script to add to portal from secondary table

[Jeremy Curry]

I've done work with databases in a Web environment, manipulating them with SQL through PHP and Ruby... But I seem unable to get a handle on how FileMaker works. I can't seem to do regularly simple and logical tasks with FileMaker...

Using a button, I would like to take a field from the most recent record in another table into a field in the last row of a portal. I've been working on this simple task for over a week, and it has frustrated me, and I have gotten no where.

This is for a kids program that has weekly programs (and has for years) and we keep track of the kids and their attendance... In the file they have now, they have 5 years of data based on a single table, so there is a boolean field for every single date that there has been a program.

I have made it so that there is a seperate table that is related by the child_id, and then just has a field for notes, and the date. this table is called "attendance" and the related records are found in the portal.

Then there is a table called "saturdays" with an id and date field—this keeps track of all the saturdays that have had programs on them. I want my script attached to the "Add" button to add the latest "saturdays" date to the "attendance" date field.

I have attached the file because I have asked for help before, and it was explained to me, but I couldn't seem to get it to work either... So I might not understand how FileMaker scripting works exactly... so it would be so helpful if someone might even be able to upload a version that shows how it's done.

KidsEvents.fp7.zip

Edited October 31, 2008 by Guest

[Fitch]

There are a few ways to do this. I hope I understood your question. I added one (cartesian) relationship to Saturdays, and modified your script.

KidsEvents.fp7.zip

[aldipalo]

Is it that you are looking to fill the Date field with the next Saturday's date? Why not just set the drop down to a "Drop Down Calendar" and show the calendar Icon. Then it's easy to check on any saturdays date.

Perhaps I'm missing what you are after, if so, please explain.

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Also, look at your Saturday layout for the add button. Does this help?

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Or your add button on Child Layout.

As Fitch said there are many ways to approach, some (Fitch's) a little more elegant.

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KidsEvents_Revised.zip

Edited October 31, 2008 by Guest

[Jeremy Curry]

Hey Fitch, thanks a bunch! That worked exactly how I want it to work...

I just don't have a complete understanding at how to get at the information and move it around yet... The reason I need it like this is for three reasons.

1. The program doesn't run every single Saturday

2. Once there are lots of portal rows, the last row where you can add information becomes hidden at the bottom.

3. There are over 700 kids that attend each week, and I want to make data entry as few clicks as possible.

Though, I suppose it might be helpful to have a drop down beside the "Add" button, where you could select which week to add to the attendance portal... That way if data entry was missed or had to carry over to the next week, that a different week could be selected... Though, I don't know how I'd do that either...