what's the 'x'?

[tomp]

What is the 'x' option for associating the 2 fields in a relationship? Can't find it documented and it wasn't obvious what it did when I used it in a test relationship.

Thanks in advance.

[Lee Smith]

Read about "About relationships using comparative operators" in the online help when FileMake is open.

Lee

[Lee Smith]

p.s.

I never used v7, so I'm not positive that they said it this way in the Help.

Let me know if you don't find it, and I'll post another link.

Lee

[Fitch]

http://fmhelp.filemaker.com/fmphelp_11/en/html/relational.11.8.html#1028014

[Lee Smith]

That is the link I was going to provide.

Lee

[tomp]

Thanks!

Not sure which version of FM it first appeared in, but I just noticed it.

Sounds like it makes obsolete the 'link' field, always with value of 1, I have in each table to get access from one record to all the records in another table.

[Lee Smith]

Yep, I always referred to it as a ~constant.

[helen07]

Thank you so much. The link suggested by you is very helpful. My issue has been solved.

[LaRetta]

The 'X' is known as Cartesian join (Cartesian Product) by everyone within the world of FileMaker except ... the Help file. Cartesian isn't mentioned anywhere. So if someone suggests using Cartesian, you'll know what they mean ... use the 'X'. :wink2:

[RodSierra]

I often wonder who started using a word that is totally meaningless with regards to its use in this context. I really see no link between what a cartesian coordinate is and its use in this case, or perhaps there is another definition that is more suitable I'm not aware of. Any Descartes experts out there that can enlighten me?

[bruceR]

Suggest you google Cartesian join. You'll get results like this:

http://www.orafaq.com/wiki/Cartesian_join

[comment]

I really see no link between what a cartesian coordinate is and its use in this case

Me neither. However, the correct term is Cartesian product.