checkbox data unreliable

[sboldt]

I'm and advanced beginner with Filemaker. I'm working with a database that's on a server, and am having a problem with some of my checkbox sets. There are a few, but I'll start with the simplest. I have a checkbox for whether or not a record is "active". Then I have a calculation field, whose value is 1 if the checkbox is checked, and zero if not, called "cue count active calc". Then I have a summary field for a total of that field.

Sometimes the summary field displays a different total than what I know to be correct. There are records with checkboxes that visually appear to be checked, but they are not making it into the total. I then go through all of my records, uncheck and recheck the boxes, and then I get the correct total. Sometimes when I open the database it's correct, other times not. There are a few of us sharing the database, but that particular data has been pretty stable for a while. Also, sometimes I download the database and make changes offline, and it sometimes goes wonky when I open the downloaded file.

I've just created another "diagnostic" layout with the fields for which I elsewhere use checkboxes here simply displaying the data - it's all text - to see if I can get a clue about where it's going wrong

[bruceR]

Why the calc field? The original "Active" field should be a number field with value of 1 when checked, empty if unchecked.. Use a value list "Mark" with a single entry 1. Use this for all your single value on/off checkbox fields.

[sboldt]

Thanks. I'll try that. I also have 2 checkbox sets that each have more than 1 value, and they also sometimes show up incorrectly in their corresponding summary fields...

[bruceR]

Thanks. I'll try that. I also have 2 checkbox sets that each have more than 1 value, and they also sometimes show up incorrectly in their corresponding summary fields...

What does that mean? What are you expecting to happen? How can you summarize a multi-valued checkbox field? Can you post an example?

[David Jondreau]

Then I have a calculation field, whose value is 1 if the checkbox is checked, and zero if not, called "cue count active calc"

What is that expression used in the calculation field?

[sboldt]

For one of my checkbox sets, I have 4 possible values, only one of which would be chosen - always one, never more or none. There is also a timing associated with each record. In one of my layouts I have a sub-summary field to sort by these 4 values. The total # of records for each group, and a total timing are displayed in the sub-summaries. These sub-summary totals have not always been accurate. The timing total used that intermediary calculation which you suggested getting rid of. I have changed the value list to just have a vale of "1" and rewritten any scripts and calculations that were using the old additional field.

Since I made those changes things have been working properly, though none of the other users will be using it til next week. But thank you for that suggestion, and I'll see if things keep behaving once everyone is back on.