How do I index on two fields?

[rollypac]

I have a family # and an individual #. I need to index on both fields. The family is a character field with numbers so I am indexing on the value; the individual field is numeric.
my code looks like this for the family:
index on val(alltrim(familynum)) to 23idx

How do I add the individual?

 

[rgbean]

First, the Alltrim() really isn't necessary - Val() logically will do this.

Normally when indexing on two fields you simply concatenate character fields - changing any numbers to strings. e.g.

INDEX on FamilyNum+STR(IndivNum,2) to FamIndiv

If you want to use a numeric index, then you'd have to scale the family value and add on the individual value. e.g.

INDEX on VAL(FamilyNum)*100+IndivNum to FamIndiv

In both these cases I'm assuming that the Individual Number is just 2 digits (0-99), you'd change the "2" in the first expression and the "100" in the second one to the appropriate values if you need a different scalling.

Rick

 

[alvechurchdata]

I was about to report a typo here and say that it should be "Tag" not "To":

Index on <expression> Tag <indexname>

Then I remembered that "To" creates an Idx file rather than a tag in a Cdx file. Are you still using Idx files in VFP?

Geoff Franklin

http://www.alvechurchdata.co.uk