Determine highest serial number

[Mandu]

What is the easiest way to compute the highest serial number in a column, in FM10?

The serial numbers are of the form P-000002 - that is, fixed-width integer with alpha prefix (thus unusable by the max() function).

If sort / goto record is the only way, so be it - just thought there might be a better way.

Thanks,

Chap

[Aussie John]

Without going into detail you could strip out the "P-" and use the remainder in the MAX function.

[Raybaudi]

...thus unusable by the max() function).

Hi

what about using the Min ( ) function ?

Try this calculation:

"P-" & Right ( "000000" & Abs ( Min ( YourSerial ) ) ; 6 )

Note that this will work ONLY if your serial is always in the format: P-nnnnnn

[comment]

 Min ( YourSerial )

I don't think that's a valid expression (unless YourSerial is a repeating field).

My impression is that OP wants the highest serial number in a found set, and cannot use a summary field for this. We need to know if the prefix character is always a single "P".

[Raybaudi]

I don't think that's a valid expression (unless YourSerial is a repeating field).

My impression is that OP wants the highest serial number in a found set, and cannot use a summary field for this. We need to know if the prefix character is always a single "P".

YourSerial was an abbreviation for a self-related field, commonly used for the Summary functions, but you are right... it is better to specify:

"P-" & Right ( "000000" & Abs ( Min ( CartesianSelfJoin::YourSerial ) ) ; 6 )

He said that cannot use the Max( ) function, so I think that he needs the max from all the records.

[comment]

Well. if you have a x self-join, you could sort it by the serial, descending. Then

SelfJoin::YourSerial 

would be the answer.

[Raybaudi]

Of couse, your answers are always the best :)

[bcooney]

No warning that calculating keys can be error-prone, guys? Seems like that's what the OP is doing..