I'm having a problem with Instant Web Publishing, where my calendar drop down box isn’t appearing on the screen, but only when I am accessing the file through IWP.

I have a SQL backend database, where there are some date fields which are of a date/time data type (which means that in FileMaker these fields are automatically made to be of type timestamp). I have set up the layout so that these fields have a drop down calendar available, to make it easier for the users to enter the date in the correct format.

When I am in browse mode on FileMaker I am able to use and see the drop down calendar. However if I access the file through IWP, the drop down calendar doesn't show up, not in any mode, browse or find.

Originally I thought that IWP wasn't able to display the drop down calendars, but then I created a field, which is of type text and assigned it to have a drop down calendar box. When I opened the file through IWP, only THIS field’s drop down calendar showed up.

Is this a known problem? Is there a way of getting around it? I was thinking to try and change the data type that FileMaker sets up for date/time data types, so change it from being a timestamp to text... but it doesn’t let me change the data type

Any help would be very much appreciated

Regards

YKB

Let me check the facts: the trouble is with the fields formatted as drop-down calendar, and the fields are from a back-end SQL database?

My guess is that the fields are read-only because the IWP does not extend to the SQL database.

Is the SQL database accessed using ESS?

No, our database isn't accessed using ESS

The original field, in SQL is a date/time field

When I link the database to FileMaker, it automatically configures this field to be a timestamp field... and I can't change it to be any other field. when I add a drop down calendar to the field I am able to use and see this drop down calendar (when viewing the file through FileMaker itself) but when viewing the file through IWP I can't see or use the drop down calendar, I have to enter the date manually, meaning that I also have to enter a time with it... the users of the application won’t be happy to be entering a time with every date. So I need to overcome this problem.

From the FMP Help...

"The drop-down calendar inserts the current date and time in an empty timestamp field."

When entering another date (other than the current date) what time will it enter?

I don't think the drop down calendar is a good data entry format for a timestamp field, regardless of whether it's used through IWP or not. The calendar only enters a date.

On the contrary, when using a calendar you only need to select the date and it will enter the current time for you

I made a recent topic myself on DATE and TIME fields...

The FM knowledge base shows that SQL Server doesn't have a corresponding entry for DATE or TIME fields (all other variants of SQL do, however!)

So, how do I handle the SQL field if I only have a date, like a transaction date, and I want to update the SQL field.

Conversely, when I read the SQL field will I only get the date part back into my transaction date?

Will I need to redefine my transaction date to be an FM Timestamp.

If any one can give a "heads up" on similar items then that would be great.

Maybe a clue?