Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Here are the steps to set up the invoice privileges described above:
1.
In the Custom Record Privileges window, select the Invoices table. Then, from
the Create pop-up menu, choose Yes
.
FileMaker puts “yes” in the Create column, meaning that managers with this privilege
set can create invoice records. From here on, things get more complicated.
2.
From the Edit pop-up menu, choose “limited.”
You don't want the person to be able to edit
any
invoice record. Instead, you're giving
her
limited
edit privileges. Your old friend, the Specify Calculation window, appears.
3.
In the Calculation box, enter
Date ≥ Get(CurrentDate)
.
This calculation returns a True result when the invoice date is on or after the current
date. It's False for invoices dated before today, so FileMaker lets project managers
edit today's invoices or those with a future date.
NOTE
This security calculation has a significant weakness: Someone can simply change the date
on his computer to bypass the restriction. Luckily, in most cases, a secured multiuser data-
base is shared with FileMaker Server (
Chapter 19
)
. When that's the case, you can use a more
robust calculation:
Date ≥ GetAsDate (Get(CurrentHostTimeStamp))
. The
Get(CurrentHostTimeStamp)
function gets the date and time from the server computer.
Since you, or your IT folks, control this computer, ordinary people can't fiddle with its
clock.
4.
Select the entire calculation, choose Edit
→
Copy and then click OK to close the
Specify Calculation window. (In Windows, the entire menu bar is disabled, limit-
ing the ability to copy and paste in this dialog box.)
You've copied the calculation so that you can paste it into another privilege calcula-
tion. The word “limited” shows in the Edit column for Invoices.
5.
From the Delete pop-up menu, choose Limited
.
The Specify Calculation window returns. This time, you're going to limit the man-
agers' ability to delete invoice records. The rule is the same: They can only delete in-
voices dated on or after today.
6.
Choose Edit
→
Paste to use the calculation from step 3 here. (Windows users need
to manually enter the calculation again.)
FileMaker adds the calculation to the Calculation box. Click OK when you're done.
