updating portal field

[AlesD]

Hi all,

I'm using portal to show data from related table "Tasks". One of field in task table is taken/related from another table "Contacts". How to make contact field in portal always up to date when data in contact table was changed. I was thinking use contact id instead contact name but I want to visualy operate with name and no id number.

I must admit I'm total beginner in FM so if my question sounds silly be patient with me please:-)

I would prefer step by step description. thank you.

Edited August 4, 2010 by Guest

[Matthew F]

...How to make contact field in portal always up to date when data in contact table was changed.

It should not be a problem (and is a good idea), to link tasks to contacts with a contactID number instead of a name. This should not adversely effect your ability to view the contacts info in the tasks portal (assuming your relationships are working correctly), and changes to the contacts records show update automatically.

However, you will need some way of linking contacts to tasks. You could put the contactID number on the tasks layout or tasks portal and design it to use a popup field linked to a value list that displays both contactID and name.

[Matthew F]

Here's an example.

example.fp7.zip

[AlesD]

Thank you for quick reply and example. It's almost there. What I would like to achieve is completely hide contact id from portal and expose to user contact field only. To be honest I did same as you with one difference. I put both field contactid + contact name one over other where user is editing contact id but see only contact name(which is dissabled for editing) as result. But I think it is like dirty hack:-) and there must be better solution.

Ales

Edited August 5, 2010 by Guest

[Matthew F]

What I would like to achieve is completely hide contact id from portal and expose to user contact field only.

The only reason to put the contactID in the portal is to allow the user to make a connection between the Tasks and Contacts on this layout. You can delete the contactID field and the portal will still display data fine, you just won't be able to assign contacts to the tasks. You would need to use some other way to make the connection, i.e. populate tasks with contactIDs.

[AlesD]

I see, I like this way of adding tasks, but you know it is much user friendly to work with names than with numbers. And I supposed the way I've solved it is kinda novice solution.

I would be grateful if you could specify other possible ways?

[bcooney]

http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?tid/213125/post/349448/hl/popup+select/fromsearch/1/#349448

[AlesD]

ouups. It looks I don't know use Search button:-)

I went trough your files and I found solution for me too. The trick was use the popup list instead of dropdown which behaves little differently. How easy solution could be:-)

Thank you all of you for helping me.

One consequent question pops in my mind. Is possible make popup list either wider or somehow formated if the list is very long?

Edited August 6, 2010 by Guest

[Matthew F]

You both bring up good points. To summarize:

1) Display the contactID in the portal

2) Create a value list for the contactID and check 'also display values from second field (the contact name), and

3) Set the value list to 'show values only from second field'.

When the value list is setup this way then formatting the contactID as a Popup Menu has the advantage of displaying the contact name instead of the ID number. On the other hand Drop Down List has the advantage of letting you type in a new contactID number, thus creating a new contact record if the person doesn't already exist in the database.

example.fp7.zip

Edited August 8, 2010 by Guest
Added example file

[AlesD]

another thread with same question and solution Link