filter records using value from drop down list

Lets assume I want to add a drop down box or text box on my layout that determines which recordset by year I want to display. I have year a field that has extracted the year from the date. The existing record set is based on one main table and displays as a form list and I do not have any portals on the form as to show the records I want it did not seem necessary.

If you were going to implement the drop down list to choose a selection year how would you go about it?

you need a self relationship in this case, based on the global year = year fields. but a portal is still required.
to get rid of a portal, you need to filter (search) records upon year field change.
this can only be done with a plug-in to trigger an action after the year has been modified.
www.softs4humans.com
take the EventScript plug-in and use that to seach records when you change the year selection field

I am trying to figure this out but getting no where. I have a table called Commissions. I have a layout built around this table which displays records in list form. I have a script which filters and sorts this list layout. There are no portals on this layout because I see no reason that I need one.

One of the fields in the commission table is cYearWritten which is extracted from date written. At the moment my script filters records based on cYearWritten = 2007, where =2007 has to be input and changed by me in the script if I want to show records for a different year or 2007 onwards.

It seems to me that there should be a simple way of adding a field to the layout (drop down list seems logical though at this stage I will settle for simple edit box) that I can reference in the script that will allow me to re-filter the records on my layout when I enter a different year.

When I add a global field my script does not recognise the field.

?? something is wrong, it should.
the portal is one of the ways to have an automatic filter without using a script.
if you'd prefer keep the find script, then you need to

find mode
set field cYearWritten = global year
execute

if this does not work, then there is a silly error you read 20 times without seeing it; everybody does that once tired.
also do not forget that calc fields are not searcheable if not stored, so is it a calc field or an auto-entered field based on a calc. made after the real date field?
and last, post me the file if you'd like me to have a look

Have sent file on Pagetruck. Easier for me to see what you do by example. I am sure this will be simple after that. Thanks.

the file structure is OK, but there is no script to filter according to the Working_year.
am I supposed to to it, or would you like it to work without any script (ie with the plug-in to do it)?

if there is a plug in then use that.

There is no specific script for using Working_year as I was trying to incorporate this into the Sort by Written Year script. Where this script has a literal criterium of =2007 or similar parameter I was trying to insert a field ref instead of =2007. Seemed very logical to me but Filemaker doesn't think so.

do you want me to modify the sort script to include the search or use the plug-in (must be installed on all client machines)?

Just wondering if there is any further development here since downloading the file?

no, I had no time and you haven't answered the last question (id 21026190)...

I did but it didnt go through for some reason. No problem. The answer is, ideally, I would like it set up using the plug in. I have it on my machine.

ok, great, I'll deal with that later on, I have to go now. be patient, a bit too busy by now.

file modified to filter upon year popup change
http://www.ee-stuff.com/Expert/Upload/getFile.php?fid=6924

On clicking on pop up date get message ' "Working_year" is defined to allow only specific values. Allow this value?'

Revert Field  No  Yes

...follow on, whatever option I click it does not sort.

in fact, wherever I click, menus, layout options, etc. the message comes up all the time.

your plug-in does not work.
I did not include any test to check if it is running.
I could do a startup script to check if present and running maybe?

put this in a startup script

if (LeftWords ( S4HU_VersionEventScript ; 2 ) ` "S4HU_EventScript"
show custom dialog= "plugin not installed!"

In plug-ins it shows S4HU_EventScript 1.1 Donationware (UB). I take it that this is not capatable now?

that looks correct. is it enabled in the prefs? just in case ...
because what you describe is exactly what it does when the plug-in is missing or off.
are you on pc or mac?

BTW some signs got corrupted, you should read up there
if (LeftWords ( S4HU_VersionEventScript ; 2 ) [not equal] "S4HU_EventScript" ...
and I am off for today, I am not in the US but in Europe, getting late here...

using Mac. Enabled in Prefs. I have checked folders and it is EventScript is there.

ah???
there would be a difference?
what I wrote up there is taken from a fm8 app I wrote for a company which was full osX. and is still used by me under windows...
are you sure you've been using my example strait out of the zip?
I'll implement the plug-in check myself to make sure...
and send you the file again

http://www.ee-stuff.com/Expert/Upload/getFile.php?fid=6928

this is your file with your startup script modified to check plug-in presence.
will issue a msg if not found, whatever version you use, and report the version if found.

message comes up confirming that S4HU_EventScript 1.1 Donationware (UB) is present and that year filtering will work. On clicking pop up box still get message

 ' "Working_year" is defined to allow only specific values. Allow this value?'

Revert Field  No  Yes

This is definitely your most up to date file, so no confusion there. Silly question but I assume it works your end when you test it?

of course... so obvisouly something different on mac for v9. do you still have a v8 to test? just to make sure this is the pb.

I use FM v8.5, I have not upgraded yet. If this is likely to be the problem I can upgrade.

no, I don't think so. there is probably a tiny syntax problem with this version which I don't have, I went strait from 8 to 9.
I am just wondering whether it is worth to report this to Gaston Forgues (plug-in author) or not...
Also, would you have a compatibility problem with another plug-in (happened to me)? Can you try while disabling other plug-ins if any?
I am gonna try another method also, using the calc field instead of the validation. they both work normally, but just in case that would make a difference in your case. I'll post that later on today

2nd way if any better
http://www.ee-stuff.com/Expert/Upload/getFile.php?fid=6934
Also works on my machine under v8 and 9.
Can you get it tested by some other person, /osX as well?

You are going to hate me on this. When I click pop up, date selected displays with a question mark after the year, i.e. 2007?

Does not sort either.

I upgraded my machine to Panther a few months back, but stayed with FM v8.5. Is it possible that there is some compatibility issue here?

Ok understand. Thanks for your patience with this.

but what have you done? you not gonna give up now do you?

this old thing... I have a mac now, running fm8 and osX 10.4.11. any interest to counter check things?
eventscript 1.1 works fine on it.

I sensed that this wasn't going anywhere. For some reason it did not work on my system but I will go back again revisit this. The database, though simple, is very important to me and my work and if I can improve basic (I would even say rudimentary) functionality like this then all the better. Still amazed that what is such a minor simple routine in MS Access is a major developmental procedure in Filemaker. It is stupid things like this that have stopped me buying upgrades of Filemaker.

Anyway, that whinge aside, I will check the eventscript again and come back to you.