Dear File-Makers,
I am using FileMaker Pro 5.5/6.0 on a PC.
I have in a data-base a field that should be unique (there should not
be two "usernames" with the same name). I defined this field as unique
(under Validation). If I input the field manually and the "Username"
already exists, I receive an error message leting me know that it is a
duplicate.
The problem begins when I update this field by importing the data from
another file: the system does not alert me that this "Username"
already exists.
Two questions: Is there a way to tell FileMaker not to import the
information if the "Username" already exists while importing as a
batch? and, Is there a way to retrieve all records that have no unique
"Usernames."?
Thank you for any hint and help,
Joseph Galron
galron dot one at osu dot edu

To retrieve all records that have no usernames, enter find mode, enter an
asterisk in the username field, press Enter (this will find all records
with a username) then find omitted.

As to the main part of your question, you are entering dangerous ground by
using usernames (not always unique) to identify users (always unique ;-).
The problem you identify is only the start of it. Just wait until someone
wants to change their username (or realises they have spelt their username
incorrectly and decide to fix it) thereby breaking all links established by
the original username. Before you go any further, it might be well worth
your while to consider a system of identifying users by/issuing them with
unique serial numbers.

Bridget Eley

in article 9737f8db.0307181015.22b2e54a (AT) po...OT) google.com, Joseph Galron at
galron.1 (AT) osu (DOT) edu wrote on 19/7/03 4:15 AM:

Joseph Galron wrote:
Find mode, search on "!" in the relevant field.

Webko

I did not know that the asterisk works like this. Up to now I was using "="
and checking the omit. You just saved me a step. Thanks.

errol

"Bridget Eley" <bridgeteley (AT) ihug (DOT) com.au> wrote

In article <mF%Xa.2650$_a4.530731 (AT) news20 (DOT) bellglobal.com>, "e" <e@e.com>
wrote:

"*" will only work in Text fields (or calculation fields with a text
result).

"=" on the other hand will work in all field types except Container or
calculated container fields.

Helpful Harry
"Just trying to help whenever I can." )

"=" will not work when searching on related fields (well, it will if the
related record exists but the field is empty). If you are trying to
find all recordswhere there is no related record, you can use the "*"
with the omit option.

Also, it is said that in general the '=' find takes longer then the
'*'/omit method. The reality is that many times, there is no
significant difference. But if your '=' search goes slower than you
think it should, then you should try the other approach to see if things
speed up for you.

Helpful Harry wrote:
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Howard Schlossberg (818) 883-2846
FM Pro Solutions Los Angeles, California
Associate Member, FileMaker Solutions Alliance