Selecting a field from different table on a print layout using drop down list?

October 2, 201114 yr

Can anyone please help me with this problem (and thanks in advance):

I am using FM Pro 10 Advanced.

I want the user to be able to print out a letter containing the text of any of a number of letters stored in a table (tLetter) to a found set of individuals from a table tPeople (this group of people need to receive a letter asking them to return their subscription form, or inviting them to come to a meeting, etc).

I have a table (tPeople) containing people’s records (table starts with ID field for each person which is indexed), and a second (unrelated) table (tLetter) with the fields ID, title and content, containing any number of different letters (similarly indexed), so that the text of any number of letters can be entered by the user and then recalled to be sent to any number of people.

To do this, I have a layout (LetterPrint) based on tPeople in the form of a letter, but I want to add the letter content from tLetter into that layout, selecting it from a drop down list based on the letter title, so that different letters can be selected and printed and sent to any number of people (based on a found set).

At first, I thought I might need a link table managing a many to many relationship. But then I realised that I didn’t need to store all of these letter runs; all I needed was to print a layout with fields from different tables, having selected the content of the letter each time.

So I assume that getting the content of the letter into the LetterPrint layout is simply a case of adding the field tLetter::content into that layout. But how do I select which letter? I get an unrelated table error, and I don’t know how to do the drop down list to select the letter.

I have created a much simplified database showing the problem I have, which is attached.

I have tried searching ‘The Missing Manual’ but haven’t found it much help. Please can someone assist?

letter_trial.zip