I have 4 files total. They are...Dispatch, Carriers, Bill To, and
shiprecaddressbook. In the Dispatch file I have several layouts using the
same information and fields in different ways, mostly different print setups
and two reports. Each of the last three are address book files, with a
single layout each.
As I noted before ( MP 5.5 Extreme dilemma, need assistance with
relationships or?) ,
I have 8 identical sections for displaying the information needed to
complete either 8 pickups or 8 deliveries, or a combination.

I have the following fields in the "Main" layout...

shiprecname1
shiprecname2
shiprecname3
shiprecname4
shiprecname5
shiprecname6
shiprecname7
shiprecname8

shiprecaddress1
shiprecaddress2
shiprecaddress3
shiprecaddress4
shiprecaddress5
shiprecaddress6
shiprecaddress7
shiprecaddress8

Also numbered 1-8, I have...

city, state, zip
phone1
phone2
fax 1
fax2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have ONE address book for this, shiprecaddressbook. The other two are for
different sections, have no commonality, and they work fine. On it's layout,
I have...

shiprecname
shiprecaddress
shipreccity
shiprecstate
shipreczip
shiprecphone1
shiprecphone2
shiprecfax1
shiprecfax2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My objective is, using a drop down menu, select a company name
(shiprecname1) from the value list and have the related information filled
in-in the fields below it.

I have a relationship matching the data from the Main layout in the
shiprecname1 field to the shiprecaddressbook field of shiprecname.

The shiprecname1 field on the Main layout uses a value list of
shippersreceivers located in the
Main layout's Relationship list.

The related fields are set to use data from the like named and content
fields in the related shiprecaddressbook. This works, but only for
shiprecname1, as you noted it should.

You suggested I might create 7 additional relationships, which makes perfect
sense to me, and I like that idea. The problem is, I can't. I have tried,
but they don't work. Once I select a company name from the value list, the
remaining fields either remain blank or, they fill in properly, but, change
the other 7 sections to match. I think I'm doing the relationship wrong, and
can't figure it out.

Would you be so kind as to step me through this with a couple of examples?

Thanks again.

In article <boBfi.79$_e7.37 (AT) newsfe04 (DOT) lga>, "Latka Gravis"
<itsmewhoelse (AT) fastmail (DOT) fm> wrote:

As before, this appears to be an over-complicated way of doing it, but
if you want to stick with it then you do need those 8 relationships
matching the separate shiprecname fields to the Name in the
AddressBook.
ie.
rel_name1 shiprecname1 = AddressBook::Name

rel_name2 shiprecname2 = AddressBook::Name

rel_name3 shiprecname3 = AddressBook::Name

etc.

You then need to make sure all the fields are using the correct
relationship to obtain their data.
ie.
shipreaddress1 must use the rel_name1 relationship

shipreaddress2 must use the rel_name2 relationship

shipreaddress3 must use the rel_name3 relationship

etc.

When a field changes because you alter the wrong numbered field, then
it's using the wrong relationship. For example, if when you change
shiprecname4 the data in shiprecaddress2 changes, then the
shiprecaddress2 field is incorrectly using the relationship that is
matching shiprecname4.

It's a cumbersome approach that needs to be VERY carefully set-up and
when not working needs to be throughly checked because it's extremely
easy to make a silly mistake that cause havoc.


Helpful Harry
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)

In article <clJfi.92$_e7.62 (AT) newsfe04 (DOT) lga>, "Latka Gravis"
<itsmewhoelse (AT) fastmail (DOT) fm> wrote:

You only need one AddressBook file. If you start creating more you
heading for an extremely messy and hopelessly diificult to use system.

You then need 8 relationships defined as:

rel_name1 shiprecname1 = AddressBook::Name

rel_name2 shiprecname2 = AddressBook::Name

rel_name3 shiprecname3 = AddressBook::Name

rel_name4 shiprecname4 = AddressBook::Name

rel_name5 shiprecname5 = AddressBook::Name

rel_name6 shiprecname6 = AddressBook::Name

rel_name7 shiprecname7 = AddressBook::Name

rel_name8 shiprecname8 = AddressBook::Name

These are in addition to the relationship used to give you the list of
names in the shiprecnameX pop-up menu fields on the layout.

Using these new relationships you can define 8 Calculation fields which
obtain the Address as:

shiprecaddress1 = rel_Name1::Address

shiprecaddress2 = rel_Name2::Address

shiprecaddress3 = rel_Name3::Address

shiprecaddress4 = rel_Name4::Address

shiprecaddress5 = rel_Name5::Address

shiprecaddress6 = rel_Name6::Address

shiprecaddress7 = rel_Name7::Address

shiprecaddress8 = rel_Name8::Address

and the same for 8 copies of the other needed fields (City, State, Zip,
etc.).

You have to make sure that each relationship is using the correct
shiprecname field. ie. rel_name1 is using shiprecname1, rel_name5 is
using shiprecname5, etc.

You also have to make sure that each set of fields is using the correct
relationship. ie. ALL the "1" fields use rel_name1, all "7" fields use
rel_name7, etc. (you choose the appropriate relationship via the pop-up
menu at the top of the list of field names in the Define Calculation
window.)

You will get faulty data showing up if either:

- the relationship is using the wrong shiprecnameX field
or
- the field is using the wrong relationship

Once you pick the name "Fred Jones" in the shiprecname1 pop-up menu
field, the shiprecaddress1 field should automatically pick up that
person's address from the single Address Book file.


The one hiccup here can be if you've got faulty data in the Address
Book file. If there are multiple Address Book records with the same
name, then the shiprecaddressX fields above will pick-up the address
from the FIRST matching name (where "first" depends on how the
relationship is sorting the records).




Helpful Harry
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)

Harry, I DO appreciate your help and advice, thank you very much. I didn't
go with your other idea beacuse it's simply above me to understand it.

I have the 8 relationships working, but they are exhibiting the same
behavior as the using the same relationship for all. That is, they all
display the same information. Argghh!
So, I did create 7 more address books (I know you're laughing at me now for
sure), and that works...EXCEPT, if one changes, as you said, the others,
abviously won't.
So, I tried to create a script to save a copy as...(addressbookX) but, I
guess you knw what happended then...every copy was appended with "copy", and
then "copy, copy". LOL
So, then i tried to create a script to delete all records in addressbooks
2-8, and import records from address book 1. You probably know that result,
as well. "File is locked, or you do not have permission". So, now I'm
stumped...again! How can I create a script to run on a different file?

I am SO close!

Thanks.

"Helpful Harry" <helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com> wrote

....And that's not gonna work, either. If I use the Open command in my
script, it opens another instance of the address book I want to import into,
and I wind up with 16,32, etc opened addressbooks. (I'm laughing at myself
now!) I tried using a relationship and a GoTo command instead, but then I'm
back to "The file is locked" error message.




"Latka Gravis" <itsmewhoelse (AT) fastmail (DOT) fm> wrote

"Latka Gravis" <itsmewhoelse (AT) fastmail (DOT) fm> schreef in bericht
news:PYJfi.95$_e7.61 (AT) newsfe04 (DOT) lga...
I Think Harry explained it very well. And I'm only going to repeat what he
has said in other words.
Create ONE addressbook file.
Create EIGHT relationships from your main file to the addressbook file.

What could be more easy than that?

Keep Well, Ursus

I think I should be asking...what is the simplest way for someone, who IS
NOT smarter than a 5th grader,
to "synchronize" multiple address books in FMP 5.5?

G'night and thanks, again.


"Latka Gravis" <itsmewhoelse (AT) fastmail (DOT) fm> wrote

Good Morning,

Thanks Harry for your help...and your patience. I'll try again. And thanks
Ursus for your kind words, too.



"Ursus" <ursus.kirk (AT) wanadoo (DOT) nl> wrote