new and need list help

[rebafallawake]

Hey everyone,

I am brand new to FMP and I have one really important question. I collect alot of names, address, emails, etc.

I have people who fall into several groups and want to know the best way to keep them all in one databse even though not everyone is in the same group. some fall in several groups, and some one group. I hope this makes sence? How could i do this and mark which groups they are in wether it be one group or 5 groups?

Reba

[andygaunt]

Hi,

Well a value list on a field such as Group [text field] will suffice.

Create a new value list and enter the group names.

then, format your group field as a checkbox field. You can now mark any person in one, some or all groups.

HTH

[Vaughan]

The best design is relational.

Three files: people, memberships, groups. (The memberships database is a join file because there is a many-to-many relationship between people and groups.)

Create a portal in the people file that relates to the memberships file. In the portal make a pop-up list that displays the groups (based on a field from the groups database).

Put the names in the people file (one per record), the groups in the groups file (one per record), then start adding memberships into the portal for each person.

When you want to list group members etc, do it from the memberships database.

[danjacoby]

Um...

Between Andy's checkbox field and Vaughan's relationships, I'd choose the simpler checkbox field -- unless there's a reason for needing the relationships. Chances are the simpler solution will do; in fact, I'd lay long odds on it.

Assuming this is true, however, once you have it set up, make a copy and try the relationships solution as well -- even though you (probably) don't need it for this problem, learning how to do relationships now will help a lot later on, when you do need this skill.

[rebafallawake]

thanks i will try this.

Reba