Define Fields - please have pity on a newby

[pk5]

Hi,

I am writing a report database for a primary school and need help with field types.

If the goal is to collate records and eventually view as percentages and perhaps graphs:

Should checkbox fields (defined list: data1: yes,) which record a level acheived by students - "achieved and working towards" and results such as "commended, satisfactory and needs improvement" [pull-down menu] be text or numbers?

Sorry for the stoopid start - love FM Pro and want to learn.

[LiveOak]

The really could be either and not cause a problem downstream. What I usually do is make the field text if the entry is "Yes" or use a value list with a "1" instead of "Yes" and set the field to type to number. Your checkbox can still look like it has a "Yes" entry if you format the actual checkbox field small so that only the checkbox itself shows and add text next to it with the "Yes" option.

-bd