I'm trying to set up a database where the client information is stored
in a file Clients with table Clients, and the navigation is in its own
file named 'Clients Layouts' with table 'Clients Layout'. When I create
a record in one of those tables, I want Filemaker to automatically
create a record in the other table linked by RECORD NUMBER. Is it
possible to set this up automatically?

Thanks,
Kevin

On 28 Apr 2005 14:02:00 -0700, audleman@quasika.net wrote:
>  I'm trying to set up a database where the client information is stored
>  in a file Clients with table Clients, and the navigation is in its own
>  file named 'Clients Layouts' with table 'Clients Layout'. When I create
>  a record in one of those tables, I want Filemaker to automatically
>  create a record in the other table linked by RECORD NUMBER. Is it
>  possible to set this up automatically?

I'm afraid, the answer is no.

Although you may define the relationship to create a related record, the
related record will created on field entry only.

If your 'new record' is script based, it's easy to let the script do the
creation. If it's just a cmd-n, you can't do it with FMP7 alone.

Solutions are e.g.
- background scripts
- 3rd party extensions

People always asked for data entry triggered scripts as long as I
remember. The current field validation is closer - but it's still not
available as people expect it.

Instead people got Asian language support and other things which FMP
considered as more important.

Sorry,
Martin

On 2005-04-28 14:02:00 -0700, "audleman@quasika.net" 
<audleman@quasika.net> said:

> I'm trying to set up a database where the client information is stored
> in a file Clients with table Clients, and the navigation is in its own
> file named 'Clients Layouts' with table 'Clients Layout'. When I create
> a record in one of those tables, I want Filemaker to automatically
> create a record in the other table linked by RECORD NUMBER. Is it
> possible to set this up automatically?

Yes, but more on this later.

First, you should determine if this is what you really want. If you 
simply want to add navigation in another file, you don't even need a 
data table in the navigation file. To show records from the data file 
in the navigation file: 1) set up a file reference to the Clients file, 
2) add a TO to that Clients table in that file, and 3) make a layout 
based on that TO to show records from the external file.

Assuming you still want to go through this ...

If you want to automatically create a child record -- or in this case, 
a sibling record -- when the parent is created, then you should script 
the record(s) creation. Also, you should set the "Available menu 
commands" to "Editing only" so that your users can't just create a 
record from the Menu or keyboard shortcut.

Alternatively, you can use a plug-in like Troi Activator to trigger a 
script automatically based on the creation of the parent record. This 
should (NB, it should; haven't tested) allow the script to be triggered 
even if the parent record is created with the "New Record" menu item; 
so long as your trigger field is set to auto-enter something.

-- 

David Graham
FileMaker 7 Certified Developer
619-322-9698
davidgraham@mac.com