Dropdown Box Population

[chockey]

Hello,

 

I'm a novice user of Filemaker 10 and am having an issue with a drop down box population. Here's what I'm trying to do:

 

I have two databases:

Database 1 contains a listing of new students and their information - this database contains fields for information related to their "mentor"

Database 2 contains all of the information related to the 27 mentors.

 

I am trying to set it up so when I click on the "Mentor Last Name" field in Database 1 - a dropdown box will appear with all of the mentor last names from Database 2

 

In addition...I would like the remaining fields related to the the mentor (ie. first name, major, etc) to automatically populate based on the last name selected in the "Mentor Last Name" field.

 

I believe I have all of the relationships set and the value lists created but when I click the arrow next to the "Mentor Last Name" field, nothing appears.

 

I am completely stumped. I would be willing to email the files for someone to look at for me.

 

Thank you.

[AHunter3]

I am trying to set it up so when I click on the "Mentor Last Name" field in Database 1 - a dropdown box will appear with all of the mentor last names from Database 2

 

 

Define value list in Database 1, let's call it "MentorLastNames". Source should be from a field value, ALL values, of the field Mentor Last Name field from Database 2. If you have not already done so, you'll have to add Database 2 as an external reference in Database 1, assuming Database 2 and 1 are two different FILES. If they are two different TABLES within the same FILE, you don't have to do that part.

 

 

Note that you should not, in fact, use Mentor Last Name to link the two tables/databases. Sooner or later, if not yet already, you'll have John L. Smith and Susan J. Smith, two different mentors with the same last name, in Database 2. You should instead have a serial number field in Database 2, and make the dropdown field be a field of MentorSerials, with the value list showing all values of Database 2::Serial Number also showing values of Mentor's FULL name, so you know who you are selecting when you select serial# 34215 or whatever.

[chockey]

They are two separate files so how would I add database 2 as an external reference to database 1?

 

Define value list in Database 1, let's call it "MentorLastNames". Source should be from a field value, ALL values, of the field Mentor Last Name field from Database 2. If you have not already done so, you'll have to add Database 2 as an external reference in Database 1, assuming Database 2 and 1 are two different FILES. If they are two different TABLES within the same FILE, you don't have to do that part.

 

 

Note that you should not, in fact, use Mentor Last Name to link the two tables/databases. Sooner or later, if not yet already, you'll have John L. Smith and Susan J. Smith, two different mentors with the same last name, in Database 2. You should instead have a serial number field in Database 2, and make the dropdown field be a field of MentorSerials, with the value list showing all values of Database 2::Serial Number also showing values of Mentor's FULL name, so you know who you are selecting when you select serial# 34215 or whatever.

[chockey]

Database 2 is listed as an external reference to database 1. I followed your instructions exactly and it still does not work.

Define value list in Database 1, let's call it "MentorLastNames". Source should be from a field value, ALL values, of the field Mentor Last Name field from Database 2. If you have not already done so, you'll have to add Database 2 as an external reference in Database 1, assuming Database 2 and 1 are two different FILES. If they are two different TABLES within the same FILE, you don't have to do that part.

 

 

Note that you should not, in fact, use Mentor Last Name to link the two tables/databases. Sooner or later, if not yet already, you'll have John L. Smith and Susan J. Smith, two different mentors with the same last name, in Database 2. You should instead have a serial number field in Database 2, and make the dropdown field be a field of MentorSerials, with the value list showing all values of Database 2::Serial Number also showing values of Mentor's FULL name, so you know who you are selecting when you select serial# 34215 or whatever.

[Techphan]

I would be willing to email the files for someone to look at for me.

Better yet would be to join as a paid member and be able to post on this site.

[AHunter3]

I followed your instructions exactly and it still does not work.

 

I assume the value list does pop down but when it pops down it is empty? If that is not the case please explain EXACTLY what happens when you click into the field.

 

Assuming, though, that it does pop down but shows no values when it does:

 

Things to check for:

 

• make SURE that the value list is defined as showing ALL values of LastName (or Serial Number) and not RELATED VALUES.

 

• make sure that the field you have selected for the value list is the one in the table in Database 2 and not the field you're attaching the value list TO which is over here in Database 1

 

• the field you have selected: make sure that that field is indexable. It is not indexable if it is a calculation field that references related table values, and also if it is a global field or references a global field.

 

• check in Database 2 and make sure that the field in question, LastName (or Serial Number) is indeed not empty in all records.