FM 5.5 script for omitting duplicates

[Shar]

Does anyone have a script for omitting duplicate names to print mailing labels? We have a database of about 2000 building permits and want to send letters to builders but many of these are duplicates. I created a calculation field that combines Last name and first name. Since I don't know a lot about scripts except very basic, nothing I have tried has worked.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[AHunter3]

You want them DELETED or OMITTED? If you're deleting, make a backup FIRST lest things go awry. Omitting is safe though.

 

Create a global text field, g.Text

 

Before printing, sort by the field (name? full name?). Go to first record. Then loop:

 

.. Set Field [g.Text, ""]

Loop

..If [Full Name = g.Text]

.... Omit Record

.. Else

.... Set Field [g.Text, Full Name]

.... Go to Record [Next]

.. End If

.. Exit Loop If [status(CurrentFoundCount) = Status(CurrentRecordNumber) and g.Text≠Full Name]

End Loop

 

That's off the top of my head but barring a slip of the brain on my part that should do it.

 

Then you can print and should get one printout per name only.

[Shar]

I just want the duplicate records omitted from printing labels or envelopes.

[Shar]

AHunter3,

 

I set up the script but in the

 

Exit Loop If [status(CurrentFoundCount) = Status(CurrentRecordNumber) and g.Text≠Full Name]

 

it would not accept g.Text#IndexName. Message was "gText#Index Name" not found.

 

I set up a gText global field and already had Index Name.

 

Do you know what I am doing wrong? Thanks you so much for your help.

[AHunter3]

Look closer. What I wrote was g.Text ≠ Full Name.

 

What you wrote, and what you may have entered into FileMaker, was gText # Index Name. That's a number sign not a doesnt-equals sign.

 

If you are on a Windows PC, you may not actually have ≠ (for us Mac folk it's option-equals). If that is the case, FileMaker understands to mean the same thing.

[Shar]

Thank you so much, I will try that. I am in a Windows environment. Really appreciate the information. Won't be able to work on it for a couple days because of other job. Again thanks. Will let you know if I get it.

[the magician]

Hi, and thanks for your help. I'm a FMP newbie, but familiar with VB and VBA, and programming in general, so still learning how to make FMP work for me. A question:

How do you create a global text field?

 

You want them DELETED or OMITTED? If you're deleting, make a backup FIRST lest things go awry. Omitting is safe though.

 

Create a global text field, g.Text

 

Before printing, sort by the field (name? full name?). Go to first record. Then loop:

 

.. Set Field [g.Text, ""]

Loop

..If [Full Name = g.Text]

.... Omit Record

.. Else

.... Set Field [g.Text, Full Name]

.... Go to Record [Next]

.. End If

.. Exit Loop If [status(CurrentFoundCount) = Status(CurrentRecordNumber) and g.Text≠Full Name]

End Loop

 

That's off the top of my head but barring a slip of the brain on my part that should do it.

 

Then you can print and should get one printout per name only.

[AHunter3]

In Filemaker any-version-between-3-and-6:

 

Field Definitions --> Define new field, type "Global", subtype "text".

 

 

See the radio button option for "global". Once you pick that, give field a name and hit the Create button, you'll see a place where you can specify "text","Number", "Date", etc as the type of global. It should default to text already.

[the magician]

Got it, thanks. Next thing in the script I can't seem to do:

Sort[Table::Field,ascending, no dialog]

I don't see how to add identifiers to the brackets. Options are "Restore sort order" and "no dialog". Is that post-5.5?

 

In Filemaker any-version-between-3-and-6:

 

Field Definitions --> Define new field, type "Global", subtype "text".

 

See the radio button option for "global". Once you pick that, give field a name and hit the Create button, you'll see a place where you can specify "text","Number", "Date", etc as the type of global. It should default to text already.

[the magician]

By the way, the script I found (apparently in a later version forum here) is this:

Show All Records <---
Sort [YourTable::YourField, ascending, no dialog]
Go to Record [First]
Set Variable [$Value, YourTable::YourField]
Go to Record/Request [Next, Exit After Last]
Loop
..If [ YourTable::YourField = $Value ]
....Delete Record/Request (no dialog)
..Else
....Set Variable [$Value, YourTable::YourField]
....Go to Record/Request [Next, Exit After Last]
..EndIf
End Loop

 

I guess I'm trying to duplicate it in 5.5-speak. thanks.

[AHunter3]

Got it, thanks. Next thing in the script I can't seem to do:

Sort[Table::Field,ascending, no dialog]

I don't see how to add identifiers to the brackets. Options are "Restore sort order" and "no dialog". Is that post-5.5?

 

My fault. In pre-FileMaker 7, you can't specify what to sort BY right there in the script. You have to sort MANUALLY first, sorting by the correct fields and by ascending or descending, etc... THEN you go back into your script and insert a script step that simply says Sort [restore sort order, no dialog].

 

When you OK the script say YES to replacing any previously saved sort order.

[the magician]

Thanks for you help. I think I have it now. Will test, and if not, I'll be back tomorrow!