Can not go to layout by a name calculation

[jjjjp]

After making a number of changes to a database, I ran into a perplexing problem where I would call up a layout in a script by a name calculation, and the proper layout wouldn't appear. But the layout of that name very definitely exists, so there seems to be no rhyme or reason why I would get an error.

 

Does anybody know if there are situations where a layout can't be navigated to by name?

 

If it would help to have a demonstration of the problem, I have taken the database, which is fairly complex, and modified it so that the problem can be easily observed. At 12 MB, I cannot attach it, but it can be downloaded from Dropbox.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/uo2akt6vxljfk58/LayoutNotFoundTest.fp7

 

Just log in with user name test2 and password test. The topmost layout in Manage Layouts is the one that I am having difficulties with. The topmost script in the menu or in Manage Scripts demonstrates the error by trying to execute a GoToLayout with a literal set to the layout name.

 

If I change the name of the layout, then I don't have a problem. If I change it back to the original name ("SelectWorkshops"), the problem returns. It's as though the name is tainted (by some past history?). If so, is there any way to give the name a clean bill of health?

 

I checked the consistency of the database. No problems there.

 

 

[LaRetta]

Yes, this is a known issue.  You have a folder the same name "SelectWorkshops" and that can break Go To Layout [ by calculation ] for versions 10 and 11.  Here is screen shot where I found your folder by that name and here is link to the issue:

 

http://forums.filemaker.com/posts/895990ac41

 

ADDED:  I now see your version is 11   :-)

By the way, I must tell you that using roll-your-own login is quite unsafe and I highly recommend you use FileMaker Security which is designed for the fast.  :-)

Edited December 16, 2013 by LaRetta

[jjjjp]

Thank you very much, LaRetta for the quick and incisive diagnosis. I changed the folder name, which fixed the problem. Good to hear that the issue has been addressed in FM 12 and 13, but the price of FM Server means I won't be able to switch anytime soon. (At the moment, the database serves a relatively modest number of users.)

 

I'd love to use FM's authentication, but my previous IT person said that every user would have to have an account on the server where the database is hosted, and that was not feasible, since many of the users are outside our unit. Is his understanding correct?

[LaRetta]

I am not sure what you mean by 'outside your unit'.  Everyone now has to sign into your system so why is setting them up as Account Name with Passwords any different?  Usually IP people are pretty clueless when it comes to FileMaker particularly FMS.  

 

I suggest that you post the question over in the Server forum and get one of those experts to respond.  Please provide more detailed information of your setup so you will receive the best suggestions.  Also if you would, please update your profile with your OS platform; it can help as well.  :-)

[jjjjp]

My database is hosted in a university divided up into colleges. Other colleges use the database, but only members of the college have accounts on the server. That isn't to say that I couldn't convince my current IT person to create an exception, but if the accounts need to be created manually one-at-a-time and by him, it will almost certainly be a no-go. I secured hosting privileges on the understanding that there wouldn't be any ongoing responsibility for the overtaxed IT staff, beyond setting up and dealing with connection issues. I doubt I would be given the power to directly create these accounts myself, so unless there is some way of, say, scripting the process, I don't think the option is viable. As soon as I have the time I will try to read more about FM authentication, so that I can go back to the forum reasonably well-informed.