Is there a way to do this...:

I have a Herd database. The animal records all have a unique ID. Each animal record has 2 name fields, a full (registered name) and a short or common name. Each animal can also have a parent relationship (ie. dam and sire.)

So, Animal A can have Dam D and Sire S. Dam D and Sire S each has a full name and short name. Animal A;s record stores the ID number for Dam D and Sire S and uses calc fields for full or short name using current relationships.

On Animal A's screen, the dam and sire fields each have a non-enterable calc field in front that always displays the full name. Behind that is an enterable field that uses a drop-down list for selection by short name. If a name is selected, a script trigger sets the ID number for the dam or sire and the correct full name is displayed in the front calc field.

What I would like to do is give the user a choice of listing the animals (in the drop-down) by either full or short name; probably with a radio button choice. I want it to be seamless to the user (still hidden behind the front field). I can't think of any way to do this.

Using a calc field based on the choice doesn't work since it is referencing a global field and cannot be indexed for the values list. BTW; the values list is just a list taken from the short name field.

Please let me know if there is a way to do this.

Thanks

Here's one possibility.

Note that the calculation field is not necessary, nor is the switching of name to ID.

PickVL10.fp7.zip

Sweet... exactly what I needed.

Thanks.