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Merging fields (for real)

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  Merging fields (for real) a.ludovico.neural@gmail.com - 2013-11-28 10:07 -0800
    Re: Merging fields (for real) clkaufmann@gmx.ch (Christoph Kaufmann) - 2013-11-28 19:26 +0100
      Re: Merging fields (for real) Neural magazine <a.ludovico.neural@gmail.com> - 2013-11-28 10:54 -0800
        Re: Merging fields (for real) Neural magazine <a.ludovico.neural@gmail.com> - 2013-11-28 11:34 -0800
          Re: Merging fields (for real) Helpful Harry <HelpfulHarry@BusyWorking.com> - 2013-11-29 09:15 +1300
            Re: Merging fields (for real) Neural magazine <a.ludovico.neural@gmail.com> - 2013-11-30 06:44 -0800

#1544 — Merging fields (for real)

A hopefully simple question by a non-expert:

In a database I have two fields ('name' and 'family name') and I realized I don't need them separated since it's inconvenient in searching (it makes me waste time).

How can I merge them in a single field (not a text field in a layout, but a single field in the database) with the new field called, say, 'complete name' containing the previous 'name' + [space] + 'family name'?

I've searched quite a bit but haven't found a simple solution, while I think this problem shouldn't be so rare...

Thanks in advance for any help!
a.

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#1545

<a.ludovico.neural@gmail.com> wrote:

> In a database I have two fields ('name' and 'family name') and I realized
> I don't need them separated since it's inconvenient in searching (it makes
> me waste time).
> 
> How can I merge them in a single field (not a text field in a layout, but
> a single field in the database) with the new field called, say, 'complete
> name' containing the previous 'name' + [space] + 'family name'?

Create a calc field doing this. I suggest you rather use list ( name ;
family name ) as calculation. The result will be name and familiy name
in separate lines, which will make them usable for relational searchs. 

In a more advanced stage, you might want a text field that lists all
names you might use to look for this record. Use a text field with the
above mentioned list function in the auto-enter options.
-- 
Christoph Kaufmann
http://clk.ch

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#1546

Hi Christopher and thank you!

Question is: in this way will I be able to enter name and family name in a single field for new records ?

(indeed, I don't need relational searches, but quickly find a record, and also printing tidy address labels)

Thanks again for your time and patience,
a. 

On Thursday, November 28, 2013 7:26:08 PM UTC+1, Christoph Kaufmann wrote:
> <a.> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> > In a database I have two fields ('name' and 'family name') and I realized
> 
> > I don't need them separated since it's inconvenient in searching (it makes
> 
> > me waste time).
> 
> > 
> 
> > How can I merge them in a single field (not a text field in a layout, but
> 
> > a single field in the database) with the new field called, say, 'complete
> 
> > name' containing the previous 'name' + [space] + 'family name'?
> 
> 
> 
> Create a calc field doing this. I suggest you rather use list ( name ;
> 
> family name ) as calculation. The result will be name and familiy name
> 
> in separate lines, which will make them usable for relational searchs. 
> 
> 
> 
> In a more advanced stage, you might want a text field that lists all
> 
> names you might use to look for this record. Use a text field with the
> 
> above mentioned list function in the auto-enter options.
> 
> -- 
> 
> Christoph Kaufmann
> 
> http://clk.ch

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#1547

I mean: I'd need to substitute the previous two fields with a new single one (or use one of the two) containing data from both.

Sorry if I've been unclear and thanks again anyway,
a.

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#1548

In article <0dad27ee-a9e3-45fd-95ee-7879663d6892@googlegroups.com>,
Neural magazine <a.ludovico.neural@gmail.com> wrote:

> I mean: I'd need to substitute the previous two fields with a new single one
> (or use one of the two) containing data from both.
> 
> Sorry if I've been unclear and thanks again anyway,
> a.

It is possible to get Filemaker to re-use one of the existing fields,
but it's safer to use a Calculation field as Christoph suggested ...
but you can the change it to a normal Text field to replace the
existing ones on the Layout(s).

  1.  Go into the Define Fields window and create a new 
      Calculation Field:
         CompleteName    Calculation, Text Result, Unstored
            = Name & " " & FamilyName

  2.  Exit from the Define Fields window and let FileMaker
      calculate the results for all the records (which might
      take a while on a huge database)

  3.  Go back into the Define Fields window and change the 
      CompleteName field into a Text field ... it will retain
      the existing calculated data.

  4.  Change the Layout(s) to use the new CompleteName field


Depending on what you're using the database for and how names are being
entered, keeping the names separated is usually best since it can be
difficult to get FileMaker to separate them (finding the first space
character is not always correct), but is easy for FileMaker to combine
them.

You can always enter the data into the separate fields, and use the
combined field when performing searches.


Helpful Harry   :o)

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#1549

Harry, needless to say, you're really Helpful!

Thanks so much!
a.

 
> It is possible to get Filemaker to re-use one of the existing fields,
> 
> but it's safer to use a Calculation field as Christoph suggested ...
> 
> but you can the change it to a normal Text field to replace the
> 
> existing ones on the Layout(s).
> 
> 
> 
>   1.  Go into the Define Fields window and create a new 
> 
>       Calculation Field:
> 
>          CompleteName    Calculation, Text Result, Unstored
> 
>             = Name & " " & FamilyName
> 
> 
> 
>   2.  Exit from the Define Fields window and let FileMaker
> 
>       calculate the results for all the records (which might
> 
>       take a while on a huge database)
> 
> 
> 
>   3.  Go back into the Define Fields window and change the 
> 
>       CompleteName field into a Text field ... it will retain
> 
>       the existing calculated data.
> 
> 
> 
>   4.  Change the Layout(s) to use the new CompleteName field
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Depending on what you're using the database for and how names are being
> 
> entered, keeping the names separated is usually best since it can be
> 
> difficult to get FileMaker to separate them (finding the first space
> 
> character is not always correct), but is easy for FileMaker to combine
> 
> them.
> 
> 
> 
> You can always enter the data into the separate fields, and use the
> 
> combined field when performing searches.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Helpful Harry   :o)

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