I have a database of plants where users can search on a large number of fields. I want to be able to "save searches" so it works like "smart playlists" in itunes. Users can then go back to their custom lists of plants.

I am trying to determine the best way to do this. Would I duplicate my Plants table, call it UserSearches, and then

1. enter each new set of search data in browse mode (or select a previous Usersearches record)

2. run a script that

--places each UserSearches field value into variables

--goes to a Plants layout

--enters Find mode

--enters the variables into each of the Plants fields

--conducts Search

Or would there be a better strategy?

Do you want to save search criteria or found sets? The difference is new records which are added that match the criteria. If you're saving the criteria, those will be found. If you're saving the found set, they won't be.

That's a good point. I want to save the criteria so it operates like 'smart folders' in many apple programs. My current setup does this. Its not saving foundsets.

I just noticed that the new filemaker has a way to save searches--I believe that is also criteria, so I am wondering if I can use this new functionality in place of a separate table.

In my setup, I duplicated the Plants table to make a UserSearches table. So now i have a user-friendly listview of their searches, which re-perform the find thru a script upon buttonpress. But can I recreate this same functionality/interface with the new saved-searches feature, or is that feature only something that can be utilized through the new topbar icon? I don't see any way that I can create viewable lists of searches through this new feature, but I don't know. And I'm not sure if the method I'm currently using is best--it seems a bit clunky that I have two tables with nearly identical fields, and that I'd have to create each variable in the script separately. But its not bad either.

The script code activated from a record in the UserSearch List is:

Set variable ....[for all fields]

....

Go to layout [PlantList]

Enter Find mode

Set Field ...[For all variables]

...

Perform Find

Thank you.