two many fields to search

[chris_brown]

Hello, I have a database that is used for job descriptions. I have a form the following feilds.

-job number

-job description

-date finished

the problem Im having is that I have these fields 20 times, because there are 20 lines on the form. So I have job number1, job number2, job number3 and so on until I get to job number 20 and the same with the other feilds. This causes a problem when using the search in web view, because I need to do a search on all the job numbers and I cant have the users typing the job number in all the job number fields up you 20. I f anyone understands what I mean please help.

Thanks

Chris..

[LiveOak]

It sounds like you have a problem with the way you have organized your files. Why have 20 jobs and 20 fields in the same record? This doesn't sound like what you need. Why not make the 20 jobs, 20 RECORDS in a related file (or the same file). Your searching problems will disappear.

For example, if you end up with 200 fields of similar data and one record in your FM file containing the same type of data with labels such as "Name 1", "Name 2", "Name 3", etc., this is a clue that you need to restructure.

Tell us a little more about what you are trying to do. A different file structure will likely solve your problems.

-bd

[chris_brown]

Thanks for your reply, the form I have created is based on the date that a certain job has been done, there may be 20 jobs done in a day. So there needs to be 20 job number fields on one record. I can't see any way of getting round this problem, can you think of anything? any help is much appreciated.

Thanks

Chris

[IdealData]

Chris

Reconsider the design.

If you're having problems now, then consider what things will be like later.

If the design is correct at the beginning then much of the FM functionality just drops to hand naturally. You will, of course, need to have studied the functionla requirements for your solution to give consideration to the design.

I agree with the guys at "Live Oak" - you should be using a RELATED file. But I know you're pretty new to FMP, so this can be a bit daunting, especially as you appear to be involved in a fairly advanceed requirement. You're just going to have to burn some midnight oil reading up on FMP.

[oilman]

hi chris

I had a similar problem with a welders continuity log form. I agree with mark and live oak. I had a form that had more than one welding process for welder to be quailfy and had only one date. The date had to be applied to both process separately. After thinking and trying many ways, which prove to be unsucessful, I made another db to hold a single process,date and welder id number and dumb each process into it separately by establishing a relationship between the two db and check create a new record in the dialog box and a script attached to a button that is activited once the record is completed. hope this helps

oilman

[Vaughan]

Relational. If you don't know about them, NOW is the time to learn. It's not hard and it makes stuff like this sooooo easy.

Do it now.