Someone in our business set up an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of
orders going through our pipeline. Several people need to use it at
once, the file grows larger and larger - predictably minor disasters
have occured, and the situation is not too sustainable.

So we're evaluating FileMaker as a possible solution - we're trying
out the demo version, and it seems pretty nifty for what we want to
do. But there's one feature that Excel has that I haven't been able to
find in FileMaker. In Excel, users can enter a date (or whatever data)
in a field, and then if necessary, right-click to add a comment, if
there's additional information. Then that field has a red triangle
flag notifying the viewer that there's a comment there, and when they
move the mouse over it, the comment pops up.

I've thought of one work-around - the user can just enter in the date,
along with the comment as as one string of text, and then remember to
colorize the text to make it stand out. Then the viewer can tell
there's a comment there, and click on the field to see all the text
(albeit with longer words split up due to the line wrapping). I
suppose that could work, but it would be really nice if there is a
more elegant solution. I've looked for plugins, but haven't come
across anything that looks like it would allow for this (at least not
without some involved programming).

Any ideas would be appreciated. Suggestions about alternative
databases to look into would be appreciated too. We're also looking at
Access, but that seems to have its limitations for our application as
well.

David

I would use extra text fields that are placed next to the actual fields that
have to be filled in.
Create 2 layouts,
1 with only the fields that have to be filled
1 with all field (including the comment fields)
Create GO TO LAYOUT buttons to switch between 1 and the other layout.
create 1 extra field that calculates the length of all comment fields, if
this is longer than 1, display red triangle, exclamation mark, ...

This formula could look like this :
if(length(comment1&comment2&comment3)>0;"!!!!";"")

good luck and please go fo FileMaker - the best there is.

Rob Paredis
Consultant/coach FileMaker
0032 495574112
----------
"David Carlyon" <malamute@davidcarlyon.com> wrote in message
news:aaaba7d.0309110310.369db749@posting.google.com...
> Someone in our business set up an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of
> orders going through our pipeline. Several people need to use it at
> once, the file grows larger and larger - predictably minor disasters
> have occured, and the situation is not too sustainable.
>
> So we're evaluating FileMaker as a possible solution - we're trying
> out the demo version, and it seems pretty nifty for what we want to
> do. But there's one feature that Excel has that I haven't been able to
> find in FileMaker. In Excel, users can enter a date (or whatever data)
> in a field, and then if necessary, right-click to add a comment, if
> there's additional information. Then that field has a red triangle
> flag notifying the viewer that there's a comment there, and when they
> move the mouse over it, the comment pops up.
>
> I've thought of one work-around - the user can just enter in the date,
> along with the comment as as one string of text, and then remember to
> colorize the text to make it stand out. Then the viewer can tell
> there's a comment there, and click on the field to see all the text
> (albeit with longer words split up due to the line wrapping). I
> suppose that could work, but it would be really nice if there is a
> more elegant solution. I've looked for plugins, but haven't come
> across anything that looks like it would allow for this (at least not
> without some involved programming).
>
> Any ideas would be appreciated. Suggestions about alternative
> databases to look into would be appreciated too. We're also looking at
> Access, but that seems to have its limitations for our application as
> well.
>
> David

There is a plug-in available at http://www.your-filemaker.com/ which 
will do what you want.
If you don't want to go the plug-in route try something like the following:
Create a duplicate layout (remove access to any scripts, field entry, 
etc...)
Add to this layout a message box displaying your message, attach a 
script to this message box that when clicked will bring the user back to 
the original layout.
On the original layout add a small button next to the field needing a 
message pop-up that runs a script taking the user to the duplicate 
layout, giving the appearance a message has popped up.
A little clumsy but probably the best that can be done without a plug-in.

Michael Myett

David Carlyon wrote:
> Someone in our business set up an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of
> orders going through our pipeline. Several people need to use it at
> once, the file grows larger and larger - predictably minor disasters
> have occured, and the situation is not too sustainable.
> 
> So we're evaluating FileMaker as a possible solution - we're trying
> out the demo version, and it seems pretty nifty for what we want to
> do. But there's one feature that Excel has that I haven't been able to
> find in FileMaker. In Excel, users can enter a date (or whatever data)
> in a field, and then if necessary, right-click to add a comment, if
> there's additional information. Then that field has a red triangle
> flag notifying the viewer that there's a comment there, and when they
> move the mouse over it, the comment pops up.
> 
> I've thought of one work-around - the user can just enter in the date,
> along with the comment as as one string of text, and then remember to
> colorize the text to make it stand out. Then the viewer can tell
> there's a comment there, and click on the field to see all the text
> (albeit with longer words split up due to the line wrapping). I
> suppose that could work, but it would be really nice if there is a
> more elegant solution. I've looked for plugins, but haven't come
> across anything that looks like it would allow for this (at least not
> without some involved programming).
> 
> Any ideas would be appreciated. Suggestions about alternative
> databases to look into would be appreciated too. We're also looking at
> Access, but that seems to have its limitations for our application as
> well.
> 
> David

David Carlyon wrote:
> there's additional information. Then that field has a red triangle
> flag notifying the viewer that there's a comment there, and when they
> move the mouse over it, the comment pops up.

There is a 'ToolTips' plug-in from http://www.24uSoftware.com that will 
allow the user to roll over any layout object and see an associated text 
pop up in yellow.  You could combine this with either a 'comments' field 
on another screen or used in a custom dialog box to allow users to enter 
or edit comments, and have them displayed through the plug-in.

Something else I've done is to create an extra comment field, and put it 
on the layout with a height of 1 pixel and a background color of yellow. 
  Use a button to go to that 1px field, which in effect makes the field 
as big as it needs to be to show the comment.  You will probably find 
examples of this with detail instructions in the Tips section of John 
Mark Osborne's website, at http://www.databasepros.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Howard Schlossberg              (818) 883-2846
FM Pro Solutions       Los Angeles, California
Associate Member, FileMaker Solutions Alliance

> David said…

> I've thought of one work-around - the user can just enter in the date,
> along with the comment as one string of text�

I would caution about combining information like this.  The purpose of a
database is to break each part down into its smallest increment.  If you
combine a date and text (for instance), you will lose the ability to
search for dates, calculate time periods, etc. without a LOT of extra
work.  Sorting by date would also be impossible.  It's really best to
keep different data pieces separate.



What I would do is have a button by the field in which a User might want
to comment.  This button will say whether there is a comment or not and
when you click the button, the comment field will appear at that exact
spot in place of the button and expand to display the entire comment.
Here�s how:



You will be stacking three items:  A Comment field, a button and a
calculation.  Your button will display �Comment� or �No Comment"
depending upon whether the field is empty.  By clicking the button, the
field will display so the user can either 1) Add a comment or 2) Read an
existing comment.  Otherwise, it won�t be seen.



Specific steps:  Add a new standard text field called Comment, place it
on your layout and change its format to disallow entry into the field.
This will remove it from the tab order so Users won�t be bothered by it
(or it won�t display) if they don�t have a comment to add.  Size this
comment field one row high (for example) 100  px wide by 12 px high.



Create a button, size it exactly as the comment field (using View >
Object size) and place it on top of the field.  Create a script with one
line:  Go To Field [Comment] and attach the script to the button (maybe
use the hand indicator so the User knows it will do something
interesting).



Create a calculation (text) with: Case(not IsEmpty(Comment), "Comment",
"No Comment").  Make it the same size as the field and button.  Colour
or size the text as you wish, but place it on top of your button.  Also
change the calc�s format to disallow entry into field.  Select all three
items and set their alignment Center-To-Center.  You're in business!



There are fancier ways to accomplish this � having little red
triangles appear instead of straight text etc, but the above process
would be the simplest and would accomplish three things:  1) Provide a
label for the button so Users know what it�s for, 2) Indicate whether
the Comment field holds text or not, and 3) Hide the Comment field
when it isn�t needed.



It sure beats the cost of plug-ins or extra layouts and I think Users
would find it very workable.  Instead of right-clicking on a field, they
just click a button.  I have a very simple demo if anyone is interested,
but I hope I gave enough information that it will be simple to
accomplish.  Just an idea. :)



Cheers,

LaRetta


--
Posted via http://dbforums.com

Hi David

There are many techniques for building that kind of a feature, a couple of
which have already been mentioned in this thread.  In fact, you will be
amazed at the extra functionality that filemaker can provide, turning
spreadsheets into powerful, customised, fully relational databases, and
databases into fully integrated, full featured, user friendly applications,
all within a relatively short space of time. Hope you decide to go with it,
and to join us here at cdf!

I'm going to tackle this problem from a slightly different perspective, that
of data modelling.

The trouble with a Comments field and its close cousin, the ubiquitous notes
fields, is that they are kind of like the ballpark in Field of Dreams: if
you build it, he will come.  Users tend to use them just because they are
there, but not always for the same reasons.  As a result, they tend to
become catch alls for all kinds of data that may or may not be useful, that
may or may not belong in other fields that already exist, or that may or may
not deserve to be in more appropriately labelled new fields.

Analyse the comments in the existing excel document:
1. are they always the same type of comments, or are there two or more
distinct types of data?
2. should any of that data be in an existing field or fields?
2. could the data be more useful in a new, more appropriately labelled field
or fields?

If the additional information that is being put in this field can be broken
down into more useful categories, it should be. The data will be much more
useful to you that way.

If you can get rid of the comments field altogether, you should.

If you still need a comments field after all that, continue to monitor what
goes into it very closely.

Bridget Eley

in article aaaba7d.0309110310.369db749@posting.google.com, David Carlyon at
malamute@davidcarlyon.com wrote on 11/9/03 9:10 PM:

> Someone in our business set up an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of
> orders going through our pipeline. Several people need to use it at
> once, the file grows larger and larger - predictably minor disasters
> have occured, and the situation is not too sustainable.
> 
> So we're evaluating FileMaker as a possible solution - we're trying
> out the demo version, and it seems pretty nifty for what we want to
> do. But there's one feature that Excel has that I haven't been able to
> find in FileMaker. In Excel, users can enter a date (or whatever data)
> in a field, and then if necessary, right-click to add a comment, if
> there's additional information. Then that field has a red triangle
> flag notifying the viewer that there's a comment there, and when they
> move the mouse over it, the comment pops up.
> 
> I've thought of one work-around - the user can just enter in the date,
> along with the comment as as one string of text, and then remember to
> colorize the text to make it stand out. Then the viewer can tell
> there's a comment there, and click on the field to see all the text
> (albeit with longer words split up due to the line wrapping). I
> suppose that could work, but it would be really nice if there is a
> more elegant solution. I've looked for plugins, but haven't come
> across anything that looks like it would allow for this (at least not
> without some involved programming).
> 
> Any ideas would be appreciated. Suggestions about alternative
> databases to look into would be appreciated too. We're also looking at
> Access, but that seems to have its limitations for our application as
> well.
> 
> David

LaRetta,

I've been struggling with that same problem for months. I have made several
"workarounds" but yours is awesome! It works well, and it's just exactly
what I needed. So thanks for the knowledge and thanks to David for asking
the question.

Wesley

"LaRetta" <member30258@dbforums.com> wrote in message
news:3359910.1063311790@dbforums.com...
>
> > David said�.
>
> > I've thought of one work-around - the user can just enter in the date,
> > along with the comment as one string of text.
>
> I would caution about combining information like this.  The purpose of a
> database is to break each part down into its smallest increment.  If you
> combine a date and text (for instance), you will lose the ability to
> search for dates, calculate time periods, etc. without a LOT of extra
> work.  Sorting by date would also be impossible.  It's really best to
> keep different data pieces separate.
>
>
>
> What I would do is have a button by the field in which a User might want
> to comment.  This button will say whether there is a comment or not and
> when you click the button, the comment field will appear at that exact
> spot in place of the button and expand to display the entire comment.
> Here's how:
>
>
>
> You will be stacking three items:  A Comment field, a button and a
> calculation.  Your button will display "Comment" or "No Comment"
> depending upon whether the field is empty.  By clicking the button, the
> field will display so the user can either 1) Add a comment or 2) Read an
> existing comment.  Otherwise, it won't be seen.
>
>
>
> Specific steps:  Add a new standard text field called Comment, place it
> on your layout and change its format to disallow entry into the field.
> This will remove it from the tab order so Users won't be bothered by it
> (or it won't display) if they don't have a comment to add.  Size this
> comment field one row high (for example) 100  px wide by 12 px high.
>
>
>
> Create a button, size it exactly as the comment field (using View >
> Object size) and place it on top of the field.  Create a script with one
> line:  Go To Field [Comment] and attach the script to the button (maybe
> use the hand indicator so the User knows it will do something
> interesting).
>
>
>
> Create a calculation (text) with: Case(not IsEmpty(Comment), "Comment",
> "No Comment").  Make it the same size as the field and button.  Colour
> or size the text as you wish, but place it on top of your button.  Also
> change the calc's format to disallow entry into field.  Select all three
> items and set their alignment Center-To-Center.  You're in business!
>
>
>
> There are fancier ways to accomplish this - having little red
> triangles appear instead of straight text etc, but the above process
> would be the simplest and would accomplish three things:  1) Provide a
> label for the button so Users know what it's for, 2) Indicate whether
> the Comment field holds text or not, and 3) Hide the Comment field
> when it isn't needed.
>
>
>
> It sure beats the cost of plug-ins or extra layouts and I think Users
> would find it very workable.  Instead of right-clicking on a field, they
> just click a button.  I have a very simple demo if anyone is interested,
> but I hope I gave enough information that it will be simple to
> accomplish.  Just an idea. :)
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> LaRetta
>
>
> --
> Posted via http://dbforums.com


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.516 / Virus Database: 313 - Release Date: 9/1/2003

If anyone uses the solution I presented, keep in mind there appears to
be an FM bug.  Do not use 'Specify Button' to select Go To Field
[Comment] but instead use a regular script step.



When using FM 6.0v4 with WinXP or Win2000, using Specify Button Go To
Field[] doesn't work because of the disallow entry to field.  It DOES
work using regular script however.  :(  Very strange indeed.



LaRetta


--
Posted via http://dbforums.com

Here is a method I use for quasi-context sensitive Help, and Help file in
general.
A button alongside each layout field to have a comment for.

2 fields: one global number field to hold the help iteration ,
_HelpIteration (each button against a  field is an iteration), and one
_HelpCode calc field to concatenate the layout name and the iteration
one relationship to a dedicated Help file, based on HelpCode::HelpCode

_HelpCode =
Case(
_HelpIteration > 0,  Status(CurrentFileName) & " ** " &
Status(CurrentLayoutName)  & " ** "  & _HelpIteration,
Status(CurrentFileName) & " ** " & Status(CurrentLayoutName)
)

2 basic scripts:

1). Main Help Script
refresh window
If["Count(rel HELP::_RN = 0"]
Set Field ["rel HELP:: HelpCode", "_HelpCode"]
EndIf
Go to Related Record [Show, "rel HELP"]
Perform Scrip [Sub-scrpts, External: "Help RF']

this creates a new record (note) in the help file if none exists for the
iteration, and goes to the record, and layout (external script step)

2). script(s) for each button
set HelpIteration (1, 2, 3...)
perform script Main HelpScript

same scripts can be used on different layouts as the key is layout name
and iteration. The Help notes themselves can all be easily reviewed from
within the Help (notes) file

Chris Brown
Neurosurgery
University of Adelaide





David Carlyon wrote:

> Someone in our business set up an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of
> orders going through our pipeline. Several people need to use it at
> once, the file grows larger and larger - predictably minor disasters
> have occured, and the situation is not too sustainable.
>
> So we're evaluating FileMaker as a possible solution - we're trying
> out the demo version, and it seems pretty nifty for what we want to
> do. But there's one feature that Excel has that I haven't been able to
> find in FileMaker. In Excel, users can enter a date (or whatever data)
> in a field, and then if necessary, right-click to add a comment, if
> there's additional information. Then that field has a red triangle
> flag notifying the viewer that there's a comment there, and when they
> move the mouse over it, the comment pops up.
>
> I've thought of one work-around - the user can just enter in the date,
> along with the comment as as one string of text, and then remember to
> colorize the text to make it stand out. Then the viewer can tell
> there's a comment there, and click on the field to see all the text
> (albeit with longer words split up due to the line wrapping). I
> suppose that could work, but it would be really nice if there is a
> more elegant solution. I've looked for plugins, but haven't come
> across anything that looks like it would allow for this (at least not
> without some involved programming).
>
> Any ideas would be appreciated. Suggestions about alternative
> databases to look into would be appreciated too. We're also looking at
> Access, but that seems to have its limitations for our application as
> well.
>
> David

Thank you all for your help. I skimmed the messages from home, and was
happily surprised to see such good comments. I was actually excited
about getting to work to try them, and I came in a little early (I
work graveyard hours).

Right now, I've got a priliminary setup going with a combination of
methods. I took the advice of at least a couple of you about not
combining data in a single field. And then I took LaRetta's stacking
method - though instead of labelling a big box as Comment or No
Comment, I made a tiny box, just big enough for a red asterick. Then
for the actual comment field, I followed Howard's suggestion of the 1
pixel tall comment box so that I can make it arbitrarily wide without
taking any space in the layout and it can expand as big as necessary.

Of course it took me all night and a bunch of cusswords to actually
figure it out, and wrap my brain around some things, and a few "oh,
duh!" moments.

The one remaining nifty feature would be to have the comments
automatically pop up with a mouseover detect over the asterick. A
plugin would be necessary for this, I'm guessing, and a couple of the
plugins you guys pointed me to will do just that, if I can just figure
out how run those things. I think I'll check with the boss and the
people who'll actually be using the db to see if that feature would be
worth the time it'll take to figure out. Although I'm sure some of you
can help me figure it out if I need help.

This is my first foray into making a database - prior experience being
limited to maintaining another database they've been using since
before I was here for other purposes. (SQL-based, apparently
proprietary thing specifically made for our line of business.)

Thanks a million to all of you!

David

It appears that the 'odd' behaviour of Go To Field using Show Button
(when Allow Entry is removed) is, in fact, normal behaviour and not a
bug at all!?!



It's explained here:



]http://www.maclane.com/cgi-
bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=000482[/url]



I thought Show Button responded the same as Scripts.  Show Button is not
what it seems. :)



Sorry for the mis-information.  I was just concerned that I didn't steer
anyone into a process with potential problems and jumped the gun.



LaRetta


--
Posted via http://dbforums.com

A note about the 24usoftware tooltip plug-in:

The tool tips are displayed based on your cursor position relative to a
map you create by passing pixel coordinates to the plug-in using the
external function call in a set field script step.  The tool tips are
not directly linked to layout objects.



So if you create a layout and set the tool tips, then move objects
around on the layout, the tool tips will trigger at the pixel
coordinates where the layout object USED to be.  (Unless of course you
update the set field statements that set the pixel coordinates)



All in all, its a pretty cool plug-in.


--
Mariano Peterson


Posted via http://dbforums.com

Hello David:

In cases where the comment is short and does fit into a "ShowMessage" box
AND the comment is not related to a particular record but serves as a
general mini-help instead, I always make each field name a button calling
the ShowMessage. Then I add a small square button [?] somewhere in the
header, clicking on it will tell the user in another ShowMessage that he
needs to click on any field name for help.
In that way you don't lose any screen space except the tiny [?] and don't
clutter the layout unnecessarily.

-- 


Met vriendelijke groet / Mit freundlichen Gr��en / With kind regards
Christoph Bouthillier
post (-a-t-) no-no-spam tekstotaal dot com
Please remove "no-no-spam" when e-mailing me directly - Thanks
------
"David Carlyon" <malamute@davidcarlyon.com> schreef in bericht
news:aaaba7d.0309110310.369db749@posting.google.com...
> Someone in our business set up an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of
> orders going through our pipeline. Several people need to use it at
> once, the file grows larger and larger - predictably minor disasters
> have occured, and the situation is not too sustainable.
>
> So we're evaluating FileMaker as a possible solution - we're trying
> out the demo version, and it seems pretty nifty for what we want to
> do. But there's one feature that Excel has that I haven't been able to
> find in FileMaker. In Excel, users can enter a date (or whatever data)
> in a field, and then if necessary, right-click to add a comment, if
> there's additional information. Then that field has a red triangle
> flag notifying the viewer that there's a comment there, and when they
> move the mouse over it, the comment pops up.
>
> I've thought of one work-around - the user can just enter in the date,
> along with the comment as as one string of text, and then remember to
> colorize the text to make it stand out. Then the viewer can tell
> there's a comment there, and click on the field to see all the text
> (albeit with longer words split up due to the line wrapping). I
> suppose that could work, but it would be really nice if there is a
> more elegant solution. I've looked for plugins, but haven't come
> across anything that looks like it would allow for this (at least not
> without some involved programming).
>
> Any ideas would be appreciated. Suggestions about alternative
> databases to look into would be appreciated too. We're also looking at
> Access, but that seems to have its limitations for our application as
> well.
>
> David