hey guys

i have a database that i use to keep track of my paychecks, etc. two fields define the pay period - "payperiod begin" and "payperiod end". typically the pay period starts on a friday and ends two weeks later on a thursday (eg, begin: friday, nov. 26th; end: thursday, dec. 9th).

is there a way to have filemaker auto-enter the pay period end date once i set the start date? this would be one less thing to enter and it would be quite handy. additionally, it would be handy to have an option that would allow the user to select whether the pay period is 1 or 2 weeks, however this isn't necessary although it would be neat to know how to do that.

thank you filemaker genius' :

Define the endDate field to have an Auto-Enter > Calculated value.

For a 1 or 2 week's option, you could use a global field to hold the selected option, then have your Auto-Enter calculation refer to the value of the global field.

is there a way to have filemaker auto-enter the pay period end date once i set the start date?

There is no reason why you couldn't calculate BOTH start AND end date. The question is what do you start with - e.g. the current date, or the previous pay period, or ... ?

Define the endDate field to have an Auto-Enter > Calculated value.

I would use a calculation field for this, unless the result needs to be modifiable by the user.

Thanks for the thorough answer comment; I went for the short/easy one :

There is no reason why you couldn't calculate BOTH start AND end date. The question is what do you start with - e.g. the current date, or the previous pay period, or ... ?

I would use a calculation field for this, unless the result needs to be modifiable by the user.

what do you mean what do i start with? i just click "new pay period" - i guess it could automatically set the fields when i click this? the result needs to be modified by the user though if necessary, which is why i want the end date to set once i set the start date.

thanks!

Define the endDate field to have an Auto-Enter > Calculated value.

For a 1 or 2 week's option, you could use a global field to hold the selected option, then have your Auto-Enter calculation refer to the value of the global field.

perhaps not a global field as i may want to keep track of more than one job which has a different pay period duration.

what calculation would i use? the duration option isn't necessary as the user could just override the calculated value. the pay period fields have drop down calendars. i was just curious to see how to turn the duration number (i.e. 1, 2, etc..) in to a date. somewhere i'd need to tell filemaker 1 is equivalent to 7, 2 is equivalent to 14, etc.

this database has been a good learning opportunity for me so please explain any calculations you provide.

thanks!

what do you mean what do i start with?

I mean that the process by which YOU set the start date could be automated - assuming it's a consistent process.

For example, if you have a table of PayPeriods AND each period is (consistently) two weeks long, you could calculate the starting date from the auto-entered serial number.

i was just curious to see how to turn the duration number (i.e. 1, 2, etc..) in to a date. somewhere i'd need to tell filemaker 1 is equivalent to 7, 2 is equivalent to 14, etc.

Try =

StartDate + 7 * Duration

I mean that the process by which YOU set the start date could be automated - assuming it's a consistent process.

For example, if you have a table of PayPeriods AND each period is (consistently) two weeks long, you could calculate the starting date from the auto-entered serial number.

Try =

StartDate + 7 * Duration

ok, each pay period starts with a new blank pay period. in the start date i click in the drop down calendar, set the date, and i do the same with the end date. very manual.

-- is this an accurate way of calculating a bi-weekly pay period? i would assume that it would be + 13 since they always end one day short of a full two weeks.

thanks again.

StartDate + 14

Well, if you wanted, you could calculate the start date as =

14 * PayPeriodID + C 

where PayperiodID is an auto-entered serial number and C is a constant determined by the date of first period. For example:

14 * PayPeriodID + 732702 

would return Nov 26, 2010 for PayPeriodID 100, Dec 12, 2010 for PayPeriodID 101, and so on.  

i would assume that it would be + 13 since they always end one day short of a full two weeks.

If you want the EndDate to be inclusive (i.e. a Duration of 1 translates to 6 days, 2 to 13 days, etc.) use =

StartDate + 7 * Duration - 1

Well, if you wanted, you could calculate the start date as =

14 * PayPeriodID + C 

where PayperiodID is an auto-entered serial number and C is a constant determined by the date of first period. For example:

14 * PayPeriodID + 732702 

would return Nov 26, 2010 for PayPeriodID 100, Dec 12, 2010 for PayPeriodID 101, and so on.  









If you want the EndDate to be inclusive (i.e. a Duration of 1 translates to 6 days, 2 to 13 days, etc.) use =

StartDate + 7 * Duration - 1

comment, you really are an expert. many many thanks.