Layout with merged fields

[jockm]

I have a database with about 1800 names, addresses, phone numbers, emails and checkboxes for 8 categories.

I would like to create a layout in which the 5 fields devoted to the individual's record are merged into one field so that I can easily search the records when I dont know which field exactly the search word happens to be in.

I'm sure this is dead easy but the Filemaker 7 help (for Macintosh) doesnt seem to tell me how to do it.

[comment]

Merged fields are purely a display device - you cannot enter a merged field, and you cannot search its contents.

To make this work, define a calculation field that concatenates the 5 fields (don't forget to put spaces or carriage returns in-between them), then search this field.

Alternatively, you could enter the search criteria into a global field, then run a script like:

Enter Find Mode []

Set Field [ Name ; gSearchCriteria ]

New Record/Request

Set Field [ Address ; gSearchCriteria ]

New Record/Request

Set Field [ Phone ; gSearchCriteria ]

...

Perform Find []

[jockm]

Merged fields are purely a display device - you cannot enter a merged field, and you cannot search its contents.

To make this work, define a calculation field that concatenates the 5 fields (don't forget to put spaces or carriage returns in-between them), then search this field.

I am now ready to try to do this, but where can I read about how to define a calculation field that concatenates other fields and where I do find a list of characters like spaces and CRs that I'll need. I dont have a Filemaker 7 for Mac manual, tho I went to eBay to try to pick up a 2nd hand one. So I find it difficult to start to work creating the scripts and stuff I need.

While I am at it, I dont even know how to get my reply to quote back the previous poster's words!

Thanks for some help to get me started

[Lee Smith]

where can I read about how to define a calculation field that concatenates other fields and where I do find a list of characters like spaces and CRs that I'll need.

Concatenate = [color:red]& Operator and is known as AMPERSAND

Used to combine text fields such as FirstName and LastName, etc.

5 fields devoted

I'll assume you are using names something like these, so you would add the & to your fields like;

FirstName [color:red]& LastName [color:red]& StreetAddress [color:red]& City [color:red]& State

to put a space between the fields, all you need to do is to and " " & between the fields like;

FirstName [color:red]& " " [color:red]& LastName [color:red]& " " [color:red]& StreetAddress [color:red]& " " [color:red]& City [color:red]& " " [color:red]& State

HTH

Lee

Edited July 14, 2009 by Guest

[comment]

I dont have a Filemaker 7 for Mac manual

I don't think you need it much - use the Help instead.

[Lee Smith]

There are some aftermarket books for v7 available at Amazon. You might find "Special Edition Using FileMaker 7 (Paperback)" useful.

Lee