Help with understanding Relationship Graphs

[John Chamberlain]

I have spent the past 15 years in FMP 4, 5, & 6. This week I was forced into FMP 7 (because that's what the customer has). I am having a terrible time understanding Relationship Graphs.

Can someone point me toward an explanation that is geared toward a FMP 7 newbie?

Confused in Torrance

[bcooney]

Perhaps it is the way the former developer used the RG. There are several approaches, and if some method isn't followed, the RG is a complete disaster.

Here is a doc from FMI that should help.

FMI Developer Conventions

[comment]

Or this one:

http://developer.filemaker.com/content/technet/pdf/approaches_to_graph_modeling_en.pdf

It's hard to tell where exactly your difficulty lies - perhaps you should start with a general book on Filemaker 7+.

[John Chamberlain]

Please understand - I have a firm understanding of relationships in FMP 6 - I am now trying to build a new data base in FMP 7 and, when I try to relate two files with an ID number field, I get fields that contain or

Both files have an Identity No. field, and each is related to the Identity No. field other file in their Relationship Graphs.

BTW http://developer.filemaker.com/content/technet/pdf/approaches_to_graph_mode... led me to a blank page.

[comment]

I get fields that contain or

Enter Layout mode and see where (which table occurrence) are these fields coming from. Also check your layout definition and see which TO it is assigned to.

The change from 6 to 7 was a big one, especially in the realm of relationships. There's a lot of new things to learn, and also quite a few that need to be unlearned. Expect it to take some time before you get comfortable with the new paradigm.

Why don't you build it as a single file?

[John Chamberlain]

How do you handle one on many relationships in a single file?

This is for a non-prof (e.g. donor names, donations, etc.)

[bcooney]

You may also wish to read Kevin Frank's paper, Anchor-Buoy .

[comment]

How do you handle one on many relationships in a single file?

That's one of the changes - you can have many tables in the same file.

You really cannot jump into version 7+ without familiarizing yourself with it first. In many aspects (relationships in particular) it's a completely different application. No offense to your skills in v.6, you should start by reading the help and looking at the example files. Then look for these white papers on the FMI site:

Key Concepts in FileMaker 7

Upgrading to FileMaker 7: Migrating Existing Solutions

Upgrading to FileMaker 7: Migration Foundations and Methodologies

Save the other papers mentioned above for later.

[John Chamberlain]

OK, I get the point. You have given me more than enough to chew on this weekend.

I will probably be back with more questions in a day or two.

Thanks again.

[mr_vodka]

John.

I believe that this PDF should help you understand the new concepts a lot.

http://www.fmp.it/download/files/FM7_key_concepts.pdf

*Edit - Michael mentioned it earlier but I didnt see it. Here is a mirror link to it because the orig link no longer exists.

Edited June 26, 2009 by Guest

[John Chamberlain]

Mr. Vodka this PDF is a great help, and I think I am beginning to get a glimmer. Thanks.

[bruceR]

Posting an example of what you are working on is always helpful. Likewise, looking at examples such as the template files that come with Filemaker can be useful.

[John Chamberlain]

Attached are the files I am working with. User name is John, P/W is Gracie. If it asks for a file called "Names" that is the Fix Nation DB file; if it asks for "Donations" that is the Donation file.

I have succeeded in importing the donations data into the Fix Nation DB file (because someone previously said that it would be better to deal with just one file), and I eventually want to have a table for Personnel, Donations, Traps, Events, and probably 2 or 3 more.

But the sample Fix Nation file simply has Personnel and Donation data in it as of now. If you look at the Fix Nation layout cald CN FN Donors,you will see that I am trying to view Personnel data inside the displayed Donation data, but all I get is . I know this is some error I have made in the Relationship Graph, but I just can't seem to get straight on how to do this.

Thanks in advance for any help.

John Chamberlain

Donation_File_10-19-17.fp7.zip

Fix_Nation_DB.fp7.zip

[bruceR]

Attached are the files I am working with. User name is John, P/W is Gracie. If it asks for a file called "Names" that is the Fix Nation DB file; if it asks for "Donations" that is the Donation file.

I have succeeded in importing the donations data into the Fix Nation DB file (because someone previously said that it would be better to deal with just one file), and I eventually want to have a table for Personnel, Donations, Traps, Events, and probably 2 or 3 more.

But the sample Fix Nation file simply has Personnel and Donation data in it as of now. If you look at the Fix Nation layout cald CN FN Donors,you will see that I am trying to view Personnel data inside the displayed Donation data, but all I get is . I know this is some error I have made in the Relationship Graph, but I just can't seem to get straight on how to do this.

Thanks in advance for any help.

John Chamberlain

1. The fields on the Donations layout are from the Donations table but there was no instance of the Donations table in the graph.

2. The Donations layout was not based on the Donations table.

3. The CN FN Donors table occurrence pointed to a non existent table.

4. The table occurrence CN FN Donors 2 was not linked to anything.

Fix_Nation_DB.fp7.zip

Edited July 1, 2009 by Guest

[bruceR]

No table occurrence is specified ("show records from...") for layout TRAPS

[bruceR]

NEVER name your files like this:

Donation_File_10-19-17.fp7

You have a file reference in Fix Nations but it is looking for Donations.fp7

[bruceR]

Your table Donations and CN FN Donors seem be almost exactly the same except for a misspelling of Acknowledgments in Donations. Why are they two different tables?

[John Chamberlain]

Thanks for your comments this morning. I think they helped me to finally get my head (at least partially) around the Relationship Graph concept.

I now have the first two functions (Persons and Donations) working together, and am confident that I can blunder my way through the rest.

It sure is hell trying to overcome and/or or unlearn FMP concepts that you have been working with for years.