I need help understanding this kind of relationship - field\database\field

[ifthen]

I don't understand relationships like this. Instead of just the name of the related database there is a field, a backslash, then the name of the database, another backslash followed by another field. Here is a picture of an example.

How are these relationships created? Why are they used? Can anyone point me to an in depth reference that covers them?

 

[eos]

What you're describing (and showing in your screenshot) is not a relationship; it is the name of a table occurrence (TO for short), which is an instance of a table, used (among other things) to create a relationship by relating one (or more) of its fields to those of another TO.

A TO can have the same name as its base table, but doesn't have to; within certain constraints, you're free to choose a (unique) name. Usually, that name conveys something about the base table and about the context and/or purpose of that TO within its solution – as, presumably, does the name of the TO in your screenshot.

Note that in FileMaker, a relationship itself does not have a name. 

I suggest you open the FileMaker Help (or get another resource, e.g. the FileMaker Training Series) and study the introduction(s) to the how & why of creating table occurrences and relationships. Understanding TOs is fundamental to developing in FileMaker.

Edited August 13, 2015 by eos

[ifthen]

Thank you! OMG having the right term has made my day so much better. I will check out the FileMaker Training Series.