Not displaying all chosen fields? 1

[KarenDay]

Hi,

I am creating a reporting system for the company I work for through FileMaker and I am very new to it so please bear with me I am a FM noob.

I have created a layout (columnar) and it is using grouped data. For about 30 minutes after I created the layout it worked perfectly, then it just stopped working. I wasn't working on that layout when it stopped working or any fields related to that layout.

It went from displaying all chosen fields, to just the fields in the last column. I thought I must have done something wrong so I created a new layout exactly the same as the old one and for some reason, when I finished creating it they BOTH worked. So the first one fixed itself up when there was a second one the same as it.

30 minutes later they both dont work.

Its all quite bizarre :?

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Karen Day

 

[KarenDay]

UPDATE:

It has done it on another one of my layouts as well just now. I have noticed that it doesnt display any of the fields except for those that are left over in the body. It doesnt like the hierarchy system of the fields.

 

[marty1452]

Are you working with a portal or relationship to bring in these fields on your layout?

You mentioned left over in the body. What do you mean?

How many databases are included in your solution?

Did you select new record or anything like that prior to the records disappearing?

Email the file to mlisonbee@charter.net and I'll look at it for you.

Marty

 

[KarenDay]

no portal or relationships.

I meant to say the right side (my bad) over in the body section where it displays the fields that are in the lowest section of the hierarchy.

Just one database.

When it is in browse mode it displays each one correctly, but when I go into preview mode it doesnt work.

Thanks for offering to look over it. I just emailed it.

 

[marty1452]

I understand now. I opened your solution and you need to remember, the purpose of PREVIEW mode is to print documents. The fields you are loosing in the preview mode are formatted so to speak off the page.

To correct this you need to go to layout mode, select view, select page margins and you will see the page margin is right where you are loosing your field. I don't think FM is as forgiving or as good as it could be when it comes to working with legal letter landscape portrait printing. You can go and select legal landscape for example through the printer setup and your print out will likely give you what you want. But the next time you print a letter document that is portrait, it will not be right. You have to tell the printer again letter portrait then print. You could maybe have a script do this for you but the printer setup function will delay the printing several seconds, like 20-30 seconds on my system.

A work around for this is to modify your thinking a bit. The list view you are printing could be a multi-line document with little negative impact on the functionality. By multi-line I mean, place the address or contact information right below the company name. Make your "body" section slightly taller then all of the fields will fit when you print.

When defining the print feature, be sure in the layout mode to look under layout setup. The bottom part of the screen is where you will define the page margins.

I also want to say your layout is very tastefully done. Nice buttons and well done.

I hope this helps.

Marty

 

[KarenDay]

thanks for the tips ... although that didnt solve the problem of it not using the heirarchy system, but it did neaten up those other two layouts that were out of whack thanks!

Unfortunately though that original problem still exists. Ill talk you through one specific layout. Go to "Renewal Dates" and view it in browse mode. You will see that it displays each record one by one using the proper heiarchy levels. If you go to Layout mode you will be able to see more clearly what the levels are. But I want it to display all records at the one time, grouped into their proper categories according to the fields. I'll map it out below.... (replace the "." with spaces to get the idea)

2004
.......January
.................Business Name 1 ..... Type of Account
.................Business Name 2 ..... Type of Account
.................Business Name 3 ..... Type of Account
.................Business Name 4 ..... Type of Account
.......June
.................Business Name 5 ..... Type of Account
.................Business Name 6 ..... Type of Account
2005
.......November
.................Business Name 7 ..... Type of Account
.................Business Name 8 ..... Type of Account
.................Business Name 9 ..... Type of Account


Now go into Preview Mode and you will notice that it is only displaying that last two columns (cos they are on the same line). It isnt displaying the month or year.

If there is no way to fix this in preview mode, is there a way to display all records on the one page without having to go into Preview mode? Ive noticed that the other layouts i do without the heirarchy thing work, so I may just make it into a normal table. I just liked the look of the levels because it neatened it up and was a bit easier to read.

And thanks for your comments about the layout Design is what I am skilled in, not working out programs like this Which is why I love forums that have people willing to help. But when the Boss says to develop a reporting system, I have to step outside of my comfort zone

 

[marty1452]

Why are you putting these fields in a subsummary part definition instead of body?

I will assume you were hoping to have the month and year appear once with each of the renewals recursed under that. I'll raise my hand and say subsummaries are not my expertice so I hope anyone up on this may have a better solution for you. But I think the fields are disappearing because they are not a summary field on a subsummary part definition. I think that is the root of the problem. I don't have time tonight to solve this but I'll look at some more tomorrow. I thought I'd pass this much on in hopes it sparks something in you or someone else to help with the solution.

More later.

Marty

 

[KarenDay]

thanks for your help Marty It has helped me rule out some factors that could have been possible solutions. So the list of things to try has lessened thanks to your help.

The reason I want them divided that way is that we bill people at the end of every month. This way I could just bring up that one list of businesses easily.

I see advantages to doing it this way instead of in a standard table, such as its alot easier to skim. We have a database of 6000 businesses and it may appear too clogged having a normal table. But I could always just do a find when im up to a certain month.

 

[KarenDay]

problem solved a fellow from another set of forums has written a script and he also set up my part definitions. I thought that it automatically did that when I created the layout. But obviously not

So that was my main problem in the end. Now it displays each record individually when it first loads up, then I just click a button and it displays all of them correctly.

Thanks again Marty for your help!