Excel vs. FM Pro question

[Bonesnbraids]

In Excel I can click data in a field and, once selected, I have the option to drag in whichever direction I like, and Excel enters/copies the data if I've selected one "box" or, if two boxes are selected and are in order (say "21,22..."), it will number the drag for me in order ("...23,24,25,26) etc.

Is there a way to do this in FMPro? I'm sure it's something easy that I'm just blind to. But it gets annoying when I have 40 or 50 blanks fields that need the same data entered and I can't duplicate it easily, forcing me to go field by field to enter the same number or letter.

[Donkick]

I'm sure you can use a script with a find and replace step. but I'm not quite following you as far as the way that excel works.

[Lee Smith]

Hi Bonesnbraids, and welcome to the Forum,

Why in the world would you need the same data in "40 or 50" blank fields?

Lee

[bcooney]

Check out the Replace command. Be very careful, there's no undo.

But Lee poses a good question since you might actually have a design problem, not a technique problem.

Also, check out auto-enter options.

[Bonesnbraids]

Hi Lee,

So the reason: Let's say I have a database of 10,000 or so records. Each record is comprised of 20 or 30 fields.

Within these fields I have some errors that need to be addressed over time. So I create a new field, called "FLAG" where I put an X for each field that has an error, allowing me to scan the database quickly, find records with errors (the more XXXXX's the more errors) and work with the database accordingly, allowing me to prioritize records.

Now, I do a Find in one field called "Date" to find dates that were input correctly or not input at all. I get 500 records in which that field has an error. I want to FLAG all those so I can get back to them in some order. Unfortunately, in order to do that, I have to click an "X" in every FLAG field associated with the Record. And since I can't TAB or RETURN down (I have to click CONTROL and the down key) and have to individually insert the "X", it takes a long time.

I'm trying to avoid that cumbersome data entry.

[Kris M]

Lets say your on a layout and have used find to isolate records that you want to flag...

lets call the flag field Table1::flag and the field with the errors Table1::data

If you write and execute a script like...

Loop

Set field Table1::flag = "x"

Go To Next Record (exit at last)

End Loop

you will have set Table1::flag field to "x" for every record where Table1::field contains an error

Edited October 22, 2010 by Guest

[efen]

When you have your found set of records that need marking in the Flag field use the Replace field contents with a calculated result of:

your table::Flag & "X"

This will add an X to any other Xes that are in the Flag field in your found set

[Bonesnbraids]

Let me see if I can explain it better DonKick,

Let's use the same example (below/above?) where I have the database and the FLAG field.

If I was in Excel, I could click on one box in the Flag field with an "X" in it (or any alpha/numeric combination or formula) and a little "+" is created in the lower right-hand corner of the box. I can then drag that in any direction and it copies what was in that box to wherever you are dragging it within the column. It's also handy with dates. If you have a long column that needs dates entered consecutively, you just enter the date once, click on the box, drag the "+" down, and it automatically enters all the dates in order as you drag.

When I click on that one box in Excel it is highlighted much as it is in FMPro. In FMPro you can then drag and drop the data, effectively copying it to one box in one field. It leaves the original data in the box. But I can't find a way to copy or input large amounts of similar or identical or consecutive data in one field of a record. That's a bit frustrating. I'll try and add some images to further elaborate.

[comment]

Filemaker is not a spreadsheet, despite the simulated table view. As Barbara suggested, use the Replace Field Contents… command to populate a field for the entire found set.