creating a conditional record listing

[RonL]

Hello, I'm new to FM (10 Pro Adv - XP) and this forum. I've tried searching here but probably don't know enough to know what to search for. I just started with FM after not doing anything with databases for a number of years (dBase III & IV, some Access). I am "awed" by FM.

My questions are: I want to create a layout with three tabs, one for each of the three different type of companies. Should I create a single table for all companies with a "type" field and the display each type in its own tab using a "condition" based on type? If so how? It doesn't make sense to create three tables-one for each type as there would be no logical relationship. Or is there a better way?

Thanks a bunch,

Ron

[bcooney]

Welcome Ron!

Can a company be more than one type? If not, I'd stay with one table for all companies and a type field.

Why do you feel that you need a tab panel on the Company Entry form? Aren't many fields the same for each company type?

If not, you may wish to explore a SuperType/Type setup. Have a look at this thread: Link

[RonL]

The only fields that would be the same would be name, address, zip, phone. One company type would be trucking, with their rates, etc., while another would be manufacturing with inventories, and so forth. The link sounds a great deal like my problem; enough differences and enough similarities to make a single table "good and bad" and everything complicated. I do appreciate your response and will work through the linked suggestion, it may work.......

Thanks again.

[bcooney]

I'm finding it difficult to imagine why you have such different company types in one system. You really lost me when you said one company will have a related rate system and one would have inventory. Inventory?

What are you building and for whom? Just curious.

[RonL]

I need to track a product as it moves through different companies in the production chain. We buy it from one, ship it to another, and pay or are payed freight. I need to track the product, inventory, prices, freight, payables, receivables, etc.