i have a table called "emails", and one called "search" which are related by a serial number.

Emails all contain 1 serial number and "search" contains a list of serial number.

Emails has a field called "temperature" which can be marked hot, warm or cold.

I want to put in start date hot, and end date hot fields into "search"

have tried this

Min ( Filter ( Emails::temperature ; "HOT" ) ; Emails::newDate )

and other similar things

please help!

I don't understand why you need the Search table. To find emails that are hot between two dates, then just Find in the Email table entering a date range and the temperature criteria.

its because reviewers are constantly marking things hot warm or cold.

I'm lost...Do you know how to do a Find in Filemaker?

yes, i do.

There are many other relationships running in the background that will be altered when these dates change.

Thats why i need the field to be calculated

It would help if you explained what are you trying to accomplish (explaining only what you have tried doesn't really help).