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Groups > comp.databases.filemaker > #3098

Re: Value List From a Field

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On 2018-03-19 20:27:03 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:
> Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> wrote:
>> On 2018-03-18 23:39:33 +0000, Charles H. Sampson said:
>>> 
>>> I'm back for my latest public tutorial on how to use FileMaker. I'm not
>>> sure how to describe what's going wrong, so I'll start with what I'm
>>> trying to do.
>>> 
>>> Conceptually, I want to create a list of values in a "file". I write
>>> "file" because I don't really want to use an external file, I want to
>>> use a table in my database. So I create such a table (call it "the value
>>> table") and populate it with a few values. I also create a value list
>>> (call it "the value list") whose values come from a field in that table.
>>> Then I create a field (call it "the value field") in another table that
>>> is going to get its values from the value table. On a layout that has
>>> the value field, I set things up using the Inspector so the value field
>>> gets its values from the value list as a drop-down list. At least, I
>>> think that's what I've done.
>>> 
>>> It doesn't work. To begin with, when I click in the field that is
>>> supposed to be a drop-down list, I get a protest that the value table is
>>> an unrelated table. In desperation, I create dummy link fields in the
>>> two tables, just so I can say that they are related. Now when I click in
>>> the field that is supposed to be a drop-down list, I no longer get the
>>> protest, but nothing happens at all.
>>> 
>>> Help?
>>> 
>>> Charlier
>> 
>> The word "file" may be confusing things.
> 
> I hope not. I was only usomg t to explain my concept.
> 
>> - In the "Edit Value List" window you should be using the
>> option "Use values from field", and specify the field
>> from your Value List Table.
> 
> I did this.
> 
>> - Also check in the "Specify Fields for Value List" window
>> that it is using the option "Include all values".
> 
> Also did this.
> 
>> All done. Just set the data field format in the (horrible!) Inspector
>> window to use this Value List.
> 
> I'm not clear here. The Inspector has a Data Formatting section, but it
> doesn't have anything relevant that I can see. In its Field section are
> a bunch of things that are like what you're describing. Specifically,
> I've set Display Data From to the field of the values table that I want,

I think this is the cause of the problem. You shouldn't really ever 
change "Display Data From" option. You want the main data entry Field 
to display its data from its own Table, not the "Values Table" - that 
does require a Relationship link.

Delete that Field form the Layout, and put a new copy of the main 
Table's data entry field. Select the Field, and then in the silly 
Inspector's "Data" tab:

   - The "Display Data From" option must stay the same as the default.
     This is for the what the record's stored data the field displays
     is.

   - Underneath that is the "Control Style", which you want to be
     "Drop-down List".

   - The options under that then change and you can set the "Values
     from" option to be your defined Value List - these are the items
     that will be displayed in the Drop-down List for the user to
     choose from.



> I've set Control Style to Drop-down List, and I've set Values From to
> use the list.
> 
> And it doesn't work. (But see below.)
> 
>> You don't need a relationship link at all, unless you only want some of
>> the Value Table data to be shown in the Value List.
> 
> Without the bogus link, <Unrelated Table> is displayed in the space for
> the drop-down list that I want. If I go ahead and click in that space, I
> get a pop-up that says, "This operation could not be completed because
> the target is not part of a related table."
> 
> Here's breaking news of more bizarre behavior. Something inspired me to
> try a Find using that space. When I click in it while setting up a find,
> the drop-down list appears! I can even select one of the items to
> populate the field! However, when I try to perform the find, I get the
> pop-up above ("This operation ...").

The reason the field list works in Find Mode is because FileMaker is 
displaying all the possible values you might want to Find, rather than 
only the related values that setting the Field to display values from 
the Values Table would


Yet again, the process in newer versions of FileMaker Pro is far more 
complicated that it used to be, and far more complicated than it needs 
to be!  :o(


Helpful Harry  :o)

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Thread

Value List From a Field csampson@inetworld.net (Charles H. Sampson) - 2018-03-18 16:39 -0700
  Re: Value List From a Field Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2018-03-19 13:41 +1300
    Re: Value List From a Field csampson@inetworld.net (Charles H. Sampson) - 2018-03-19 13:27 -0700
      Re: Value List From a Field Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2018-03-20 10:12 +1300
        Re: Value List From a Field csampson@inetworld.net (Charles H. Sampson) - 2018-03-22 13:57 -0700
      Re: Value List From a Field Howard Schlossberg <howard@nospam.fmprosolutions.com> - 2018-03-20 14:46 -0700
  Re: Value List From a Field Martin Τrautmann <t-usenet@gmx.net> - 2018-03-19 06:32 +0000
    Re: Value List From a Field csampson@inetworld.net (Charles H. Sampson) - 2018-03-19 13:32 -0700
      Re: Value List From a Field Martin Τrautmann <t-usenet@gmx.net> - 2018-03-19 21:01 +0000
        Re: Value List From a Field csampson@inetworld.net (Charles H. Sampson) - 2018-03-20 14:33 -0700
          Re: Value List From a Field Martin Τrautmann <t-usenet@gmx.net> - 2018-03-21 06:38 +0000
      Re: Value List From a Field Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2018-03-20 10:15 +1300
        Re: Value List From a Field csampson@inetworld.net (Charles H. Sampson) - 2018-03-20 14:33 -0700
          Re: Value List From a Field Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2018-03-21 14:07 +1300

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