auto enter last visited....sometimes

[Jondb]

I find the 'auto enter last visited' option erratic. Sometimes when I make a new record, all the fields with this option perform properly. Other times they all remain blank. I've checked the obvious - that the record I start from has values in the fields - but I can't discern any pattern to the problem.

Can anyone suggest what I might be missing?

Thanks

[dayzrespite]

can you explain a bit more

[Jondb]

Sure.

I have a monthly budget file; one record per month. When I create a new record I want some of the fields to inherit the value from the previous month. I've specified 'auto enter from last record visited' in the setup for these fields. I ensure when I make a new record that I make it from the previous month, so that's the 'last visited.'

Sometimes the fields inherit their previous value, but sometimes they all remain blank. I can't find what I'm doing differently to cause this discrepancy.

[dayzrespite]

To help you I don't feel I have enough info.

You say you have more than one field getting their values from last record visited?

Could you perhaps share a file, a mockup of your database, or some screenshots.

The idea is that the field (ie: date) on the current record must have a value, and when you create a new record, that same field (date) will be created with the value from the last record.

But as I said, share an example, and perhaps I could help you more.

[Jondb]

Here are two screenshots.

In the first you can see a typical record. The fields in the text column and the two number columns are all set to auto-enter the value from the previous record, each time a new record is made. The other screenshot shows the setup for one of these fields.

What puzzles me is that this works fine, but only sometimes. I always use the button at top left to make a new record (it triggers a simple 'new record/request' function), and always from a record with values in the fields. Sometimes all the values come in, and sometimes none of them do. I can't see any pattern to this.

[LaRetta]

I find the 'auto enter last visited' option erratic. Sometimes when I make a new record, all the fields with this option perform properly. Other times they all remain blank.

What is the last visited record? If you first open the file, there is no last visited record. And if, in the middle, you go to a different record (and modify it in any way) then create a new record, the new record will inherit the values from THAT record (because it was the last visited).

The purpose of the auto-enter 'last visited' is for rapid data-entry but you are correct, it can bite the User because they are rapidly entering and depend upon the values pre-filling properly.

If you always go to the record you want to replicate, might you sometimes not modify the record? If you don't then FM won't see it as the last visited record. But I haven't had time to properly assess your situation and make suggestions. And it would certainly help to understand more and see a file. :smile2:

[comment]

I've played with this a little: it seems you need to at least click into a field to make a record "visited". Just browsing the records, e.g. by clicking the rolodex, does NOT make the current record "visited".

[LaRetta]

Hello there, Michael!

I just came back to clarify and here you are! I was thinking one must modify a record for FM to recognize it but entering the field alone will do it (even testing back in vs. 6). :smile2:

[Jondb]

Excellent! Thanks, both of you - that was the missing element. I've written a simple script which enters text in a dummy field before making the new record, which automates the process. Works every time.