Field INheritance

[markfmf]

Dear all

I would firstly like to know whether it is possible to let users of my still-to-be-developed FM solution select an option that allows all (or only selected fields) to be “inherited” from another record. Such that selected fields for that particular record are always linked and updated subject to its “parent” record.

Secondly, if the above is possible, what would be the best way to go about this in FM10.

THanks

[Søren Dyhr]

Sure- but without purpose and context would it be pretty difficult to answer somewhat in the vicinity of what you're after?

--sd

[Fenton]

Showing or "looking up" data from a parent table is pretty much the basis of a relational database. So the simple answer to your question is "Yes." But the word "inherited" is too vague, as you can either dynamically "see" the parent's data (which remains in the parent table), or you can "look up" the parent's data into the child table (in which case it is no longer dynamic, without an additional more complex method to keep it updated).

In most cases the first method of just seeing the parent data is recommended. You would need a non-ambiguous relational tie between the parent and the child. This involves creating a primary auto-enter serial ID field in the parent and a plain foreign key field in the child, and a method of getting the parent ID into the child table; either plain data entry (from a value list of parent IDs), a portal with the relationship option of [x] Allow creation of related records, or a script.

This is basic FileMaker, and some of it should likely be learned from a book. It is hard to start from scratch without any knowledge of a database program. Though the basics of what you want to do are fairly simple; but there are considerations.

[Søren Dyhr]

I forgot to say that filemaker doesn't automatically fit any object oriented development methodology here exists other more directly aiming products such as:

http://www.intersystems.com/cache/index.html

--sd