solutions wanted Seeking simple solution to character conversions

[fedixon]

I know there is an elegant solution to this problem... just can't seem to find it! I have an FMP interface into an Oracle table via ODBC which contains a number of text-entry fields. These fields are ultimately delivered to an online application and some are used for display, others for things like searching and sorting.

During data entry, users are entering or pasting special (high-ASCII) characters from their keyboards. Depending on the field, these need to be converted. In some fields they need to be "flattened" (ex: á changed to a)... and in others they need to be changed to a valid HTML character entity (ex: á changed to ampersand+aacute;). Right now, I have OnFieldExit trigger scripts that execute a series of Substitute statements, one for each search/replace string. But I end up writing a separate script for each field, just so that I can set the Specify Field for each statement, and set the (text)parameter of the Substitute calculation. Hugely time-consuming and seemingly inefficient!

There MUST be an easier, more centralized way to approach this problem. : Any suggestions and/or solutions for better text handling? I'd be very grateful to know and learn.

[comment]

The best way to handle this, I think, would be to auto-enter the calculated value in the field definition. To avoid duplicating the formula, you could use a custom function - but this requires the Advanced version.

But even with a triggered script, you can use the script parameter and Get (Active...) functions to make one script serve all.

[PotzUK]

Filemaker 10 has a Set field by Name script step now, which you could pass as a parameter as Comment suggests.

[lesjokolat]

Hi it sounds to me you have more of a character set entry and moving issue. Check out fx.php for use with filemaker it may be the universal translator you are looking for.