Database Reference
In-Depth Information
You can use a calculation field just like any other field: Put it on a layout, use it in Find
mode, and even use it in other calculation fields. But as a calculation field, its value always
stays up to date automatically.
Instant re-computation is what makes calculations useful for so many tasks. For example,
you can use a calculation with the Records→Replace Field Contents command (see Using
the Replace Command ). Instead of replacing the data in every record with the same value, a
calculation can produce a unique value for each record. In the Manage Database dialog box,
you can start using the “Auto-Enter Calculated value” and “Validated by Calculation” field
options, making those features much more powerful. Scripts, as you'll learn in Chapter 11 ,
use calculations in many of their script steps. Here are some other places you can use the
Specify Calculation dialog box:
Auto-enter field options let you put a calculated result in a field when someone creates a
record or edits data ( Container ).
Field validation uses calculations to make sure the data entered in a field conforms to
rules you set up ( Looked-Up Value ) .
Portal filtering lets you show only some related records in a portal ( Portal Filtering ).
For example, you can filter a portal so it shows only invoices with the status “Unpaid,”
or another portal could show only completed jobs.
▪ The Send Mail command can create email addresses or concatenate the body of an email
( Branching with If, Else If, Else, and End If ).
Chart titles , labels, and even x- and y-axes can be calculated ( Basic Charting (Found Set
Charts) ) .
Tooltips can use calculations to determine the message that gets displayed ( Tooltips ). For
example, you can show a list of related data, like the number of items remaining in in-
ventory, or the total of all Invoices for a specific customer.
Conditional formatting lets you apply logic to objects on a layout to change the way
they look ( Conditional Formatting ). On an invoice layout, for example, you can display
the Total Due field in a bold red font if the invoice is more than 30 days overdue.
Scripts let you use calculations to change the way script steps work. You can test condi-
tions, create dynamic data, or even take different actions based on the results of calcula-
tions. Chapter 11 introduces you to scripts.
▪ The Data Viewer lets you preview your calculations without making a fake field or
messing with an otherwise good calculation that needs a little tweaking. (You need
FileMaker Pro Advanced to use the Data Viewer; see The Data Viewer . )
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