Hello, everyone. I was wondering if anyone might have a suggestion
about how to accomplish the following task in FMP6.0?

I have a database with two tables: main and tasks. In the Main table,
I have a portal to tasks. My intention is to populate the portal with
a list of tasks due (or overdue!) today. That's easy enough. However,
I would also like to have the ability to narrow down the data based on
a selected employee. So, the portal would show all tasks due for John
(or whoever's name is selected from a global field). This is fairly
easy as well.

Now, is it possible to show all tasks due for *all* employees if the
global field is left blank (or perhaps "All" is selected)?

I know that I could have a script change to a nearly-identical layout
that has a portal with a different relationship on it. However, I
would like to avoid doing this. Am I missing an easier way?

Thanks for your advice.

"Eric Brown" <eric.joseph.brown (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

I have done something similar to this with a Calendar system for a client.

You can set the Tasks Table's link Field data to be something like:
All
Fred
Barney
Wilma
etc.
with Return characters between each one and FileMaker will match the
appropriate one from the Main Table. If the Main Table link Field says
"Barney", the Portal will display all the related "Barney" Tasks. If the
Main Table link Field says "All", then all the tasks are displayed in the
Portal.

You can also combine link data using a unique Main record ID, so that the
Tasks Table link field might be:
Job00015-All
Job00015-Fred
Job00015-Barney
etc.
so that you separate Tasks for the same person from different jobs.

It gets a little complicated, but it does work.

Helpful Harry )