maryj152
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Using FilemakerPro, How do you polulate a field in table B with values from a field in table C.
I have two tables related by ID#. I want to add a field in Table B and populate it with values from a field in Table C based on the ID#. I don't know if Calculate is better or Look-up. I don't expect the existing values in the field in Table B to change but more records will be added.
ASKER
so what I would do is
unsorted, from bldg to cat, = IF (bldg::ID# = cat::ID#; cat::oclc = bldg::code;)
unsorted, from bldg to cat, = IF (bldg::ID# = cat::ID#; cat::oclc = bldg::code;)
If the relationship is based on ID, then all you should need in the calculation is the name of the field in Table C that you want to auto-enter into the local field. I think the IF statement is superfluous; if the relationship is based on ID then if the relationship is valid the field should auto-fill, and if it's not it won't.
One additional tip: avoid using characters like # and other punctuation in field names. It can cause problems in calculations.
One additional tip: avoid using characters like # and other punctuation in field names. It can cause problems in calculations.
ASKER
How do I fill in about 150,000 records in the Table C after adding the new field?
Thanks for the tip but that was not the field name, just used it to make question shorter.
Thanks for the tip but that was not the field name, just used it to make question shorter.
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ASKER
Thank you. Directions were very clear.
The Auto-Enter calculation option is more flexible because you can not only specify a single field that you want to auto-enter a value from (which is what Lookup does) but you can also specify conditions, use If statements, include other field values, etc., anything you can do in the calculation dialog. So, for example, you might put in something like this:
If( not isempty( ItemID ) and not isempty( Quantity ) ; Quantity * Price )
This calc will only perform the auto-enter when both ItemID and Quantity have values.
In addition, Auto-Enter Calculation option also includes the ability to have the value be updated automatically if something changes via the "Do not replace existing value of field (if any)" checkbox.
This checkbox is ticked by default, meaning that once the field has a value, the Auto-Enter calc will no longer be applied. If you uncheck it as above, the value in the field will be updated anytime one of the referenced fields in the calculation changes. This is extremely useful for when you need to have an indexable Number or Text field based on a calculation but the calculation itself is not indexable. Using the Auto-Enter option with the checkbox unchecked means that the field will be updated like a calculation field but will be indexed so it will produce quick results or can be used in a relationship.