calculation field doesn't change when related data does!

[neldom]

It must be me that I am tired but I can't believe I cannot make a calculation field to change as the related data does! The only new thing to me is that I am working from data from a portal, but it shouldn't matter:THEY ARE NUMBERS FOR GOODNESS SAKE!.

I use FM since the time it was claris. I am sure things got better with the new stuff, but this is basic and I am growing frustrated with 8.5 as it was a difficult migration (still is) from previous versions!

[LaRetta]

You have given us nothing to work with to help you solve your problem. :wink2:

[Søren Dyhr]

It must be me that I am tired but I can't believe I cannot make a calculation field to change as the related data does!

This is a classic design error - You are expecting a spreadsheet'ish behavior not quite catered for, due to a engineered elimination of of some of the chatter in the networked protocol. What you seems to forget is that some 250 seats might be working on the same data in a multiuser scenario - opposed to what you are used to with spreadsheets, which are file genuinely and not protocols.

Some sort of trigging might be required to get the needed priority over the broadcasted. Layout renderings are usually in charge of this refreshing, so if a dependency is "out of sight" won't anything happen to it, unless a scripted event does it specifically.

This problem usually occurs when developers tries to establish an overdue calculation, where the current date is used to get the arrears or in bookings where free resources needs to be singled out. Which of these are you most likely to fell under?

--sd

[neldom]

Thank you 4 y/ reply. I will try to be more graphic:

Table A contains a calculation field (actually 10 fields) that depend on dynamic data (changes all the time) that is contained within a portal from Table B. Intended it is that if the portal info changes, Table A's calculation fields do change too. In other words:

Table A's calculation field is as follows:

If(GetNthRecord (Mon::hrswkam BIS2; 1) < 7.5;GetNthRecord (Mon::hrswkam BIS2; 1);

If(GetNthRecord (Tues::hrswkam BIS3; 1)< 7.5;GetNthRecord (Tues::hrswkam BIS3; 1);

If(GetNthRecord (Wed::hrswkam BIS4; 1)< 7.5;GetNthRecord (Wed::hrswkam BIS4; 1);

If(GetNthRecord (thu::hrswkam BIS5; 1)<7.5;GetNthRecord (Thu::hrswkam BIS5; 1);

If(GetNthRecord (Fri::hrswkam BIS6; 1)<7.5;GetNthRecord(Fri::hrswkam BIS6; 1);

If(GetNthRecord (Sat::hrswkam BIS7; 1)<7.5;GetNthRecord (Sat::hrswkam BIS7; 1);""))))))

The above represents 1 field that will get portal info in line #1

for each day of the week ( each day of the week is a portal)

Simplifying the idea, the calculation is:

if(portalfield<7.5,portalfield,""). As simple as that. This action is repeated for each line into a each field for each day of the week.

You see, the calculation works but as you mentioned it doesn't get triggered by itself when the portal data changes leaving old data in table's A calculation field. That, I tried refreshing the window but it just doesn't work. In regards to the spreadsheetish effect it may be true, because I base my calculation as if I would be using excell, but I've developed several databases and must admit that 8.5 has stopped me from loving FM momentarily.

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance. I am not that tired today!

Nd

[Søren Dyhr]

I've developed several databases and must admit that 8.5 has stopped me from loving FM momentarily.

But the behaviour is nowhere new by the migration from fm6 to the new realm.

But then does your calc give you away, you normalization is pretty randomly performed since you would need to postfix fields to make sense.

By and large does your approach look like an evasive attitude to subsummary reporting ... but then again must I some time tomorrow try to setup what you're attempting to do, to see where you have skipped the normalization and if it can be justified. It would of course help if you could send me at template using the relevant fields ... to help me digest what is your context and purpose. Whether or not is should be a public efford is your choise, you can attach the file to a private post to me if you wish.

--sd

[mr_vodka]

I dont understand the purpose of your calculation here. What is the effect that you are going for?

[Søren Dyhr]

Neither do I, hence the request for either a template or some time to tinker with it?

--sd

[neldom]

Yes, thank you. I will see to send you a template.

[LaRetta]

What I see are tables Mon, Tues, Wed, Thu ... and I see multiple fields hrswkam BIS3, hrswkam BIS4, hrswkam BIS5 etc. I don't see multiple records and I would be greatly concerned about the structure. But with Mr. Vodka and Søren on the task, you should be able to get it straightened out. :wink2:

[neldom]

Hey yall: I will really need to learn communication skills in the future to make myself better understood. Is sooooo frustrating when you explain something and discover that you are not clear to others!. For that I must apologize and really thank you for your effort. Hopefully, in the future I 'll try better ways... As I intended to explain, I found that the calculation worked but it needed some sort of refreshing in order to display new results when produced in the portal. I just figured that by turning indexing off and checked off the "do not evaluate if all reference fields are empty" box made the trick. I am so happy, because I taught myself all these years and mostly I find the solutions to continue improving. One day I may be like u guys!. Did you attend courses? I eventually want to be better knowledged in FM.

Best regards!

ND

[Søren Dyhr]

I just figured that by turning indexing off and checked off the "do not evaluate if all reference fields are empty" box made the trick.

Ah! But you would better get the structure straightened as well? At this day of age isn't there need for a relation for each weekday as well as the cascade of identical fields with almost same purpose.

What I regard as less arbitrarily normalized calendaring solution is this:

http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/176396/post/204083/hl//fromsearch/1/

When the apparent workhours is plotted in this way, is it straight forward to make a subsummary report based on found sets.

One day I may be like u guys!. Did you attend courses? I eventually want to be better knowledged in FM.

No we have for most of us I think bantered/crunched each others approaches for ages in forums like this... in an eagerness to learn.

--sd

[neldom]

Jeg læser du og jeg vil se på linket for. Tak

ND

[Lee Smith]

Please use English on this forum.

[LaRetta]

I see no problem with greeting people in other languages. It is done all the time, Lee.

[Lee Smith]

I do not see the reason to greet or communicate using a foreign language on a ENGLISH List.

I tried to translate it using Babel Fish to ensure compliance with list etiquette, but couldn't figure out which language was being used.

[Søren Dyhr]

It seems google translated already ... the grammar flawed sligthly - but it's near norwegian/danish!

--sd

[LaRetta]

I do not see the reason to greet or communicate using a foreign language on a ENGLISH List.

Then you'd better not go to FileMaker's forum and see what goes on; nor many other forums where Italian and German is spoken sometimes. It is NOT against rules to greet in another language; in fact, it is not against forum rules to put an entire post in another language. There are many posts on this forum where we've all had fun translating from one language or another.

Just because you couldn't translate ... you could ask but it isn't right to demand they only speak English.

[Lee Smith]

Thanks Soren,

[Lee Smith]

This kind of response is totally uncalled for.

[LaRetta]

I'm trembling.

[neldom]

Look guys, I am new to the forum and did not want to offend anyone. I just wanted to greet in the language I thought soren was native and because he tried to help me as others, but I spotted him being from dmk. Greeting in other languages is being cordial and opened to other cultures. This how I learned english ( I think so) because I admire the culture. The same with portuguese. I am native in spanish and if there are rules in regards to languages I hope there will be consideration to maintain greetings multicultural. Buenas noches a todos y muchas gracias!

ND

Edited January 27, 2010 by Guest
changed text formatting

[Ocean West]

There is no restrictions for foreign language as we are a worldwide community. However if possible perhaps a google translation on part of the poster would be appreciative.

Lets all play nice and keep the forum productive and educational.

I split the topic as the remainder of the post wasn't productive.

[neldom]

That's great with me!