Value Lists

[Bazb1]

FileMaker Pro v6

I have a list of around 7000 names which I want to place into a drop down list which then lookups up a related account code.

I have found that a value list is limited to a maximum number of charachters which is far less than the proposed names list.

Is there any workaround.

[TheTominator]

If you are designing this list of 7000 for your users, consider the implications of the user being confronted with a list of 7000 entries. Even given the opportunity to type the first letter to bounce to the right section of the list, the user may still be overwhelmed.

Alternatives involve scripting the user interface. Turn off the ability for the user to abort the script. Design a new layout for the user to select a name. Provide a cancel button to navigate back with no name selected. Provide a "Select" or "Choose" button for the user to pick a name.

Designing your own layout presenting the available names gives you lots of flexibility. You can choose the width, present additional fields, span multiple lines, include buttons, filter the list, etc.

You can design the name selection layout in a variety of ways.

(a) Send the user to a different layout that has a portal displaying these 7000. Put a button on the portal row labeled "Select". You can provide your user with filters for the portal by putting filter criteria in global fields and making it part of a calculated relationship match key.

( Send the user to a layout displaying all of these 7000 names in list mode. Put a button alongside each labeled "Select". You can provide filtering on the list by providing the user with search criteria fields (global fields) in the header and a "Filter" button that will create a search using those criteria.

Edited November 10, 2009 by Guest