Filter Data Based on Dropdown list

[Nuno Neto]

Good morning,

 

I have a table with Jobs and each job is related to a specific year.

 

I would like to have a Drop down list in my Jobs layout that would filter all the jobs for the specfic year. I have tried to use Value lists and read the year data from a table. Both options and due to the fact that I have to select a Jobs table related field to use the Dropdown invalidates my attempts.

 

I would like to have a dropdown list that does not store anything and it just serves as a trigger to filter data. Is this possible? If so, how?

 

Thank you for your time in advance.

 

Nuno Neto

[ggt667]

What you are looking for is a valuelist based on the content of a field; Perhaps seen through a relationship?

Edited September 8, 2015 by ggt667

[comment]

I would like to have a dropdown list that does not store anything and it just serves as a trigger to filter data. Is this possible? If so, how?

You are describing a global field: http://www.filemaker.com/help/14/fmp/en/html/create_db.8.26.html

If you want your selection to "filter" data in the Jobs table while you're in a layout of the Jobs table, you will have to perform a find after making the selection (you could use a script triggered by modifying the global field for this). Alternatively, you can use a relationship to show the filtered records in a portal.

Edited September 8, 2015 by comment

[ggt667]

If you are keeping track of user activity this field will most likely be a regular field and not a global one.

[bruceR]

Not a global. Hm.

So you are recommending that when I search for something, your found set changes and you see my results?

[Nuno Neto]

Thank you for all your help guys. The solution was using a Global Field for the value list inside the Jobs table.

[ggt667]

Not a global. Hm.

So you are recommending that when I search for something, your found set changes and you see my results?

Only if you want to track user activity in the user interface itself.

[bruceR]

Maybe you could explain, or provide an example? Not quite following.

[ggt667]

If you design the solution in a way that your GUI is your log table and view the data via relationships. You will be able to make a solution much like a web browser.

[bruceR]

Again: pretty much incomprehensible. Can you point to an example?