Finding specific record numbers

[enquirerfm]

Say, I have a file which has 1000 records in it. Is there a quick and easy way to find record numbers 500-900, for example? I could write a script that would go to record 500 then put something into a field up until 900 and then do a 'find' on this field but that all seems rather complicated. Thx.

[Ocean West]

provided you had a field defined with auto-incremented serial number you can find with 500...900 as a range.

if you don't have a serial number field you will need to create one then serialize it by performing a Replace on that field with a serial number.

[comment]

I could write a script that would go to record 500 then put something into a field up until 900

Or you could show all records, go to record number 500, omit 400 records, then show omitted only. Not sure what sense it makes, though.

[bcooney]

@enquirefm - record "positions" are not fixed -- they change with the found set and sort order. So, what are you trying to achieve?

[enquirerfm]

If I show 'all records' I have all the records (unsorted) in creation date order. I want to (working backwards) take, say, the last 500 records I created and export these to a list (say, for emailing purposes). I suppose this suggests a solution

show all records

go to, say record no 500 and see the creation date

find records created after this date...

Not a bad solution but I can't FIND on this field - why not?

[bcooney]

You certainly can find on creation date.

However, if you are processing records, it is most likely better to set a flag in each record, something like "flag_emailSent." Then, just find records where flag_emailSent is empty.

Can't help you more without more details.

[comment]

Or create a mailing record every time you mail, so you can find records created (or modified) after the last mailing.