value list with unique options by current record

[Michael Bystroem]

How can I make a value list to which I can add not only to the whole
list by checking the possibility to show "edit", but also add options
stored to a local (repetitive I guess) field in the current phoneNo
record?

What I want is to be able to use labels for phone numbers and similar
that are sometimes unique for each phonenumber and thus not visible in
other records, at the same time as I want to the user to be able to add
options that are visible in every other listing.

I suppose to just show these labels, that I keep in my separate
PhoneAddress DB, in order to have a various amount of records, that I
show in my Individual DB through a portal, could be managed by keeping
the basic value list in a repetitive field, the current addons in
another such field, storing these in my PhoneAddress post and then base
the actual display on a concatenation of these 2 fields.

But what would my options be to I let the user add local values? I can't
sem to find a way to do that through the value list itself if I choose
to display it as a popup or dropdown. Do I have to build a separate
solution for adding local values? How have you guys solved similar
problems?

[Bridget Eley]

I don't quite follow.

I get that you want to have a value list of phone types attached to a field
that will function as a label for a phone number field (although it is not
clear whether this takes the form of a single field or multiple fields or
related fields or even a repeating field).

I think I get that you want the value list to show standard values, such as
office, home, and cell, but also values that are unique to the current
record. Why? Surely if the unique/local value has already been entered for
the current record, there would be no need to use it again for that record,
and if it is unique to that record, no need to use it anywhere else either.
I guess what I am asking is, what is the point of putting it in a value
list? Why can't the user just tab into the field, hit esc and manually
enter the unique value?

Bridget Eley


in article 1g16464.1is8qlb1m6ulz4N%michaellastname@mac.com, Michael Bystroem
at [email]michaellastname@mac.com[/email] wrote on 12/9/03 8:52 PM:

> How can I make a value list to which I can add not only to the whole
> list by checking the possibility to show "edit", but also add options
> stored to a local (repetitive I guess) field in the current phoneNo
> record?
>
> What I want is to be able to use labels for phone numbers and similar
> that are sometimes unique for each phonenumber and thus not visible in
> other records, at the same time as I want to the user to be able to add
> options that are visible in every other listing.
>
> I suppose to just show these labels, that I keep in my separate
> PhoneAddress DB, in order to have a various amount of records, that I
> show in my Individual DB through a portal, could be managed by keeping
> the basic value list in a repetitive field, the current addons in
> another such field, storing these in my PhoneAddress post and then base
> the actual display on a concatenation of these 2 fields.
>
> But what would my options be to I let the user add local values? I can't
> sem to find a way to do that through the value list itself if I choose
> to display it as a popup or dropdown. Do I have to build a separate
> solution for adding local values? How have you guys solved similar
> problems?

[Michael Bystroem]

Bridget Eley <bridgeteley@ihug.com.au> wrote:

> I guess what I am asking is, what is the point of putting it in a value
> list? Why can't the user just tab into the field, hit esc and manually
> enter the unique value?

Hmmm, maybe I should rethink that. Sometimes the easiest is better.
However, I'm not completely sure this could work if the value list is
imported into other databases, the edit would have to be stored into the
Phone DB. But I'll see it this approach wouldn't work in that case also.
Thanks (again).

[Bridget Eley]

I wasn't trying to argue you out of it - it was a request for more
information. From my point of view, it seems strange to put a unique value
into a value list, but I don't have all the information. You may have a
perfectly legitimate reason for doing so. I really do think there is
something that I am missing here.

What do you mean by "if the value list is imported into other databases"?
Do you mean sharing a value list between two files. Did you know that you
can use a custom value list that exists in File A from File B, and even edit
it from File B as long as that option is enabled?

Bridget Eley

in article 1g195cy.5ye30c51jdr0N%michaellastname@mac.com, Michael Bystroem
at [email]michaellastname@mac.com[/email] wrote on 14/9/03 9:30 AM:

> Bridget Eley <bridgeteley@ihug.com.au> wrote:
>

>> I guess what I am asking is, what is the point of putting it in a value
>> list? Why can't the user just tab into the field, hit esc and manually
>> enter the unique value?

> Hmmm, maybe I should rethink that. Sometimes the easiest is better.
> However, I'm not completely sure this could work if the value list is
> imported into other databases, the edit would have to be stored into the
> Phone DB. But I'll see it this approach wouldn't work in that case also.
> Thanks (again).
>

[Michael Bystroem]

Bridget Eley <bridgeteley@ihug.com.au> wrote:

> I wasn't trying to argue you out of it - it was a request for more
> information. From my point of view, it seems strange to put a unique
> value into a value list, but I don't have all the information. You may
> have a perfectly legitimate reason for doing so. I really do think there
> is something that I am missing here.

Well, I think I decided I didn't have a legitmate reason. However, I
have a field with a popuplist and it's not enterable as of now. If I can
set it enterable for only hat post and stil maintain usability, I'll do
that.

>
> What do you mean by "if the value list is imported into other
> databases"? Do you mean sharing a value list between two files. Did
> you know that you can use a custom value list that exists in File A from
> File B, and even edit it from File B as long as that option is enabled?

No., I didn't know that. I'm all fresh with Filemaker, but not with
Databases in general.

At the moment, I'm revising central issues in my current DB that uses
popuplists for excluding categories (nested) and I'm thus not ready to
choose what approach to use, but I find your observation refreshing.

My major issue at the moment lie with interface vs data model, as you
might remember from another thread "Re: many-to-many and certain Layout
criteria REPOST" where I had a conversation with you. The situation is
updated there, but I still have tough decisions to take. Would you read
that if I repost it with updated information?

[Bridget Eley]

There are differences between popup menus and popup lists, but both allow
you to edit the value list providing that the value list is a custom list,
and both allow you to add values that are not on the list, although in
different ways. If a value list uses a custom list, you can not only use it
from any other file, but edit it from the other file also. You cannot edit a
value list if the value list is uses values from a field, including
conditional value lists.

Here is a summary of the pros and cons of popup menus and popup lists.

You can tab into a popup list, and select a value by using the down arrow to
move to it, then pressing return to select it. If the value list is very
long, you can rapidly type the first 2 or 3 letters to jump to that section
of the list. Popup lists allow entry of value list items and/or manual
entry of values that are not on the value list (EITHER tab, esc OR tab,
enter OR tab, click OR double click). To enter two or more values, the
second and subsequent values must be entered manually, separated by a
return. If you try to select a second value from the list it will replace
the first. If you need to restrict entry to value list items only, you must
use field validation.

Popup menus usually only allow entry of value list items, unless the
"Other..." option is selected, in which case you can add values that are not
on the value list without editing the value list. You cannot tab into a
popup menu. You can use the down arrow to move through the list and return
to select a value, but you cannot type letters to jump to the first matching
value. To select more than one item on a popup menu, hold down the shift
key for the second and subsequent selections.

Bridget Eley


in article 1g19wb8.9l4y6y1x1n80wN%michaellastname@mac.com, Michael Bystroem
at [email]michaellastname@mac.com[/email] wrote on 14/9/03 7:15 PM:

> Bridget Eley <bridgeteley@ihug.com.au> wrote:
>

>> I wasn't trying to argue you out of it - it was a request for more
>> information. From my point of view, it seems strange to put a unique
>> value into a value list, but I don't have all the information. You may
>> have a perfectly legitimate reason for doing so. I really do think there
>> is something that I am missing here.

>
> Well, I think I decided I didn't have a legitimate reason. However, I
> have a field with a popup list and it's not enterable as of now. If I can
> set it enterable for only hat post and still maintain usability, I'll do
> that.

>>
>> What do you mean by "if the value list is imported into other
>> databases"? Do you mean sharing a value list between two files. Did
>> you know that you can use a custom value list that exists in File A from
>> File B, and even edit it from File B as long as that option is enabled?

> No., I didn't know that. I'm all fresh with Filemaker, but not with
> Databases in general.
>
> At the moment, I'm revising central issues in my current DB that uses
> popuplists for excluding categories (nested) and I'm thus not ready to
> choose what approach to use, but I find your observation refreshing.
>
> My major issue at the moment lie with interface vs data model, as you
> might remember from another thread "Re: many-to-many and certain Layout
> criteria REPOST" where I had a conversation with you. The situation is
> updated there, but I still have tough decisions to take. Would you read
> that if I repost it with updated information?