How can I add static options to a dynamic value list?

[Chuck]

Has anyone come up with a way to nicely add a couple of static options to a value list generated from a field?

For example, assuming I have a field that I'm using to create a value list. I want the exact same value list, but with "All", "Mine", and a separator to appear at the top. I figured out a way to create a value list that includes "All" and "Mine" in addition to the names in the field the values are drawn from, but the words appear in their alphabetical order, not at the top.

My fallback solution is to have radio buttons for "All", "Mine" and "Values" with the value list only showing up if the user selects the "Values" radio button, but this wouldn't be as elegant as what I'm trying to do.

Thanks,
Chuck

[innodat]

I removed my comment because I did not read your question carefully... sorry,

I don't know of any solution for the sorting problem. In your scenario that works only in combination custom value lists, I think. Though you could capitalize "ALL" and such values to make them stand out at least?

Untitled.fmp12.zip

Edited March 31, 2016 by artvault

[Lee Smith]

Conditional Value List maybe?

[webko]

See http://filemakerhacks.com/2013/11/22/its-sorta-a-value-list-thing/

[webko]

See http://filemakerhacks.com/2013/11/22/its-sorta-a-value-list-thing/

[normanicus]

Create a one record table.

Create a calculation field that gets the 'ValueListItems' from the value list in question.

Add any static elements you want in the calculation then reference this field as your value list. 

I'm a bit rusty but I think that should work.

You could put the static items in a text field and add that to your list. That way the list is editable.

[innodat]

7 hours ago, normanicus said:

Create a one record table.

Create a calculation field that gets the 'ValueListItems' from the value list in question.

Add any static elements you want in the calculation then reference this field as your value list. 

I'm a bit rusty but I think that should work.

You could put the static items in a text field and add that to your list. That way the list is editable.

That's exactly the sample file that I created for this thread and added above... :-)  BUT it doesn't solve the problem with the order of the entries. FileMaker re-sorts alphabetically. And that was the actual question of the poster.

Edited April 2, 2016 by artvault

[comment]

On 03/28/2016 at 1:39 AM, Chuck said:

I want the exact same value list, but with "All", "Mine", and a separator to appear at the top. I figured out a way to create a value list that includes "All" and "Mine" in addition to the names in the field the values are drawn from, but the words appear in their alphabetical order, not at the top.

A value list based on values from a field will always be sorted alphabetically (if the field type is Text). If you want some values to appear at the top, prefix them by a space (for example). For the same reason, I don't know of a method to insert a separator at a chosen location.