Conditional lists in repeating fields help

[Gonz]

Hi

Im a bit stuck for ideas on how to get this one to work.

Im trying to create a simple stand alone delivery note layout which is related to a another master inventory file.

Layout fields will be Quantity, Manufacturer, description.

Ive made them repeating fields with 20 repetitions, manufacturer and description fields are value lists. Description is based on a related values.

How do i get the related list to work correctly after the first entry?

When i choose another manufacturer on the second field down the description remains the same as for the first entry if that makes sense?!

Ive obvoiusly got it setup wrong but im not sure how you would go about this?

Cheers guys

[AHunter3]

I would start by getting rid of those accursed repeating fields. They are awful things best avoided for any data-containing purposes.

 

You would want a Delivery file and then a Delivery LineItems file. You would create a Delivery record and then the Delivery LineItems records would each have Quantity, Manfacturer, and Description.

 

Your desired value list behavior needs further explanation. You seem surprised that the second line would have the same dropdown values as the first — are you trying to create a context-dependent value list? If so based on what? I could see picking the manufacturer and then going to Product Name or Product SKU and getting a list of only the products of that chosen manufacturer; is that how you are using the field "Description"?

[Gonz]

Hi

Cheers for the reply.

Ive been reading up a bit on the repeating fields thing and everywhere says the same, dont use them!

Yes you are right in thinking how im using the drop down list for quick data entry, so product is related to the manufacturer and only there products appear in the list which expands as more are added.

I already have an inventory file with over 1000 items in it and i was hopeing to create the delivery / supply note via a related file to pick up the manufacturers and related products.

There is a search funtion working in that with the drop down related lists.

To be honest this is just a quick and dirty solution to help us keep track of dry hired items. Im not expecting it to be a perfect solution.

Which other method should i use to get the look of the repeating fields in the delivery / supply note and have the ablity to use related drop down lists?

Now ive had a think about it i guess it makes sense that the first entry in the repeating fields determines the values in the related drop down product list.

Please could you explain the 2 files "delivery" and "delivery line items" as you suggest?

Cheers

[AHunter3]

Each delivery is "all the stuff that arrived on the 20th of June 2008 at 4:11 PM" or some such.

 

Each such delivery would have anywhere from 1 to several dozen line items, each of which is a replacement for a single repetition of your repeating fields. Now they are each separate records in a Line Items table, see?

[Gonz]

Each delivery is "all the stuff that arrived on the 20th of June 2008 at 4:11 PM" or some such.

 

Each such delivery would have anywhere from 1 to several dozen line items, each of which is a replacement for a single repetition of your repeating fields. Now they are each separate records in a Line Items table, see?

 

Hi

I get the bit where the individual records appear in a table to look like repeating fields.

So each product with its description would take up one record in the "delivery" file? I have this already within the inventory i guess.

Im not sure how i can get this to work with what i have already.

I guess i need a layout where we select items (with drop down lists..) with quantity and customer details, then display this in another layout as the delivery / supplied note.

How would i go about doing the related list thing with the table view?

Im not looking to create invoices from this, just a list record of whats beens hired.

Im looking at the demo FMP9, i guess if possible it would be worth upgrading..

[AHunter3]

Hi

I get the bit where the individual records appear in a table to look like repeating fields.

So each product with its description would take up one record in the "delivery" file?

 

No, it would NOT! Each product with its description as delivered on one specific date as opposed to being part of some other delivery's date occurrence of that product being delivered would take up one record, but NOT in the Delivery file, in the Delivery LINE ITEMS file.

 

The Delivery file would not list ANY products or their description. It would have a date and any other info specific to the delivery AS A WHOLE. Each such delivery would have a portal to several line items. That portal is a window to another totally separate file, the Delivery LINE ITEMS file.

 

Is that clearer?

 

I have this already within the inventory i guess.

 

 

Don't know what your Inventory file is all about but there should be SOME file where each named product occurs ONLY ONCE. With a SKU, a Name, a Manufacturer, and any other info that is specific to the product but not to one specific copy of that product arriving on June the 13th as part of some specific delivery that came in that day.

 

That table is where you get your related values from: having picked manufacturer, you get a dropdown list of that manufacturer's products.

[Gonz]

No, it would NOT! Each product with its description as delivered on one specific date as opposed to being part of some other delivery's date occurrence of that product being delivered would take up one record, but NOT in the Delivery file, in the Delivery LINE ITEMS file.

 

Ok ive got the wrong idea there then!

l'll read the above a few more times after walking away and try reading it again.

 

The Delivery file would not list ANY products or their description. It would have a date and any other info specific to the delivery AS A WHOLE. Each such delivery would have a portal to several line items. That portal is a window to another totally separate file, the Delivery LINE ITEMS file.

 

Is that clearer?

 

That bits clearer now, thanks.

 

Don't know what your Inventory file is all about but there should be SOME file where each named product occurs ONLY ONCE. With a SKU, a Name, a Manufacturer, and any other info that is specific to the product but not to one specific copy of that product arriving on June the 13th as part of some specific delivery that came in that day.

 

That table is where you get your related values from: having picked manufacturer, you get a dropdown list of that manufacturer's products.

 

The inventory file is the main product list ive created for every individual product in hire stock. So products do appear more than once because each has its own serial No, date of purchase, pat test date etc.

 

It sounds like i need to create a new file with just one entry for each product but with a SKU. I guess i can link this into my inventory file?

Without over complicating this as im very much a beginner in these things, all we need today, even if someone else comes in and rewrites everything correctly, is to be able to print of a delivery note as proof of whats been supplied.

It doesent need to track numbers available or anything like that.

That was the idea of the drop down lists on each line to add an entry.

I know this isint the way to do this, but as i said we wanted a quick and dirty solution just to get us going.

If i can get my head around the correct way of doing this then i will.

Is there anything available online that i can read to get the basics of how to set this up?

Thanks for all you help so far... sorry its a long post Opps!