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Re: [FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times

From Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com>
Newsgroups comp.databases.filemaker
Subject Re: [FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times
Date 2023-09-18 10:28 +1200
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <ue7uhp$ipln$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References <slrnug0o5n.rce.t-usenet@ID-685.user.individual.de> <slrnugd9tl.rce.t-usenet@ID-685.user.individual.de>

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On 2023-09-17 07:16:05 +0000, Martin Τrautmann said:
> On Sun, 17 Sep 2023 09:58:02 +1200, Helpful Harry wrote:
>>>> I think part of the weirdness you were seeing is possibly also due to
>>>> this, unless I'm reading it wrong:
>>> 
>>> The weirdness is that there are multiple repetitions of the same values,
>>> depending on how many records do contain this value, but not a 1:1
>>> match. I'd have to run some checks, but it's about the square root of
>>> records - so for 10 records of California, the dropdown list would offer
>>> 
>>> Azusa
>>> Azusa
>>> Azusa
>>> Bakersfield
>>> Bakersfield
>>> Bakersfield
>>> ...
>> 
>> I haven't tested it, but if the value list was just getting values
>> directly from the field, you'd probably get one entry from each
>> separate People table records.
>> 
>> But since the value list is getting it's values via a relationship link
>> to the same field, you'll get an increasing number of values as each
>> spearate People table record finds more and more related records as new
>> records are added.
> 
> I disagree. Why would there be any benefit in order to show the same
> value multiple times - especially if it is not a 1:1 number of
> repetitions, that you will have exactly the same number of matching
> entries?

There probably is no benefit, which is why you don't really want to do 
it this way.  :o)

The number of values is not 1:1 because the relationship is not 1:1, 
but exponential. If you have two records with "ABC" then you would get 
two relationship links.
i.e.       Record 1  ->  Record 2
           Record 2  ->  Record 1

(Without testing it, I'm not sure if you would also get Record 1 -> 
Record 1 and Record 2 -> Record 2.)

If you have three records with "ABC" then you would get six relationship links.
i.e.       Record 1  ->  Record 2
           Record 1  ->  Record 3
           Record 2  ->  Record 1
           Record 2  ->  Record 3
           Record 3  ->  Record 1
           Record 3  ->  Record 2

Each of those related data values will appear in the drop-down list 
seperately ... which is what you were seeing happen.



>> That makes it difficult for users to enter a new City because it
>> doesn't have a previous existing record - value lists from fields can't
>> be edited like normal static lists can.
> 
> A drop down list is a suggestion only. You still can edit other values
> here, although those values shall not become part of the drop down
> suggestions. Usually this would be villages which muss less importance.

Except if someone edits the data in People::City, then that data will 
also appear in the value list because of the circular relationship link 
to the field itself.

Perhaps a better way would be to have an "Other" option in the value 
list (from the Cities table) and an OtherCity field to fill in. You 
will of course need to add an "Other" city for every state in the 
Cities table.


Helpful Harry  :o)

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Thread

[FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times Martin Τrautmann <t-usenet@gmx.net> - 2023-09-12 14:59 +0200
  Re: [FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2023-09-15 18:02 +1200
    Re: [FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times Martin Τrautmann <t-usenet@gmx.net> - 2023-09-15 10:44 +0200
      Re: [FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2023-09-16 11:06 +1200
        Re: [FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times Martin Τrautmann <t-usenet@gmx.net> - 2023-09-16 10:39 +0200
          Re: [FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2023-09-17 09:58 +1200
            Re: [FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times Martin Τrautmann <t-usenet@gmx.net> - 2023-09-17 09:16 +0200
              Re: [FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2023-09-18 10:28 +1200
    Re: [FMP11] value lists and secondary fields - shows secondary value multiple times Martin Τrautmann <t-usenet@gmx.net> - 2023-09-15 11:06 +0200

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