Multiple finds within a found set

[sflynn]

Hi.

I have a ton of records. 250,000 in one table. More than half are records I don't need to search for this particular script.

Here is what I'd like to do.

Find: All records where "name" field is empty. (this shows me all the records I don't want).

Show Omitted records: This inverts the find and shows me the records I want to work with.

This part I'm good with.

Now, I want to run multiple finds because I am using a summary field to generate totals from the records.

The first time I run a find from the my found set, it is all good. But then I need to go back to that first found list to run my second find. I don't want to have to "show all records" and do the find empty, omit step... takes a really long time.

What can I do? Can I "save" some kind of snapshot of a found set? Or go back a level?

Thanks for your help.

Steve.

[comment]

You could open a new window before constraining your found set. When you are done, close the current window and return to the original found set.

However, i am not sure this is necessary, because:

1. If the Name field is indexed, the find should be very fast;

2. There's no increased efficiency in splitting the find into two stages (in fact, it's probably slower);

and most of all:

3. I really don't get this part:

I want to run multiple finds because I am using a summary field to generate totals from the records.

[sflynn]

thanks for that. I'll try it.

What i meant by: I want to run multiple finds because I am using a summary field to generate totals from the records. was:

I know how to make layouts summarize data.... with the sort function and a summary field. But I need to ask the table to sort by the name field for many names. I was under the impression I needed to do that one at a time to grab the total for each name to be used in a calculation. Is there a way to pull summary data out of a layout for multiple names without doing it one at a time?

[comment]

Is there a way to pull summary data out of a layout for multiple names without doing it one at a time?

If I understand correctly, you need to add a sub-summary part by Name to your layout, and place the summary field/s in this part. Then sort the records by Name and (if you are using version 8.5) enter Preview mode.