FILEMAKER: Multiple Table Occurrences (example file)

From Dwayne Wright - Certified FileMaker 9 Developer
WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright

CHAPTER 02: Entities, Tables & Files

Sometimes illustrating the difference between tables and table occurrences can be challenging. FileMaker provides a graphical interface for defining relationships between tables. When a table appears in this relationship graph area ( in the define database dialog box ), it is referred to as a table occurrence.

It is not uncommon to need to have than one possible relationship between two tables. When you try to add a table twice to the relationship graph, it will ask you for a unique name for that table occurrence.

In this example, we have two tables guys and girls. The idea is that this is a very lame matchmaking database for guys. Through the layout, you can add a new record for a guy and specify an age range and hair color for possible matches. There are 3 scrollable portals on the layout to show the age range matches, the hair color matches and the combination matches.



If you open the define relationship tab, you will see the guy table with only one table occurrence. The girls table has 3 table occurrences and each is named after the relationship going to it from the guys table. You can open up the relationship box for each relationship. The hair color relationship uses the easy to understand equal to comparison. The age range relationship uses a two layer relationship using greater than equal to and less than equal to comparison operators. The age range relationship uses a three layer relationship using greater than equal to and less than equal to comparison operators for the age and then uses the hair color equal to comparison.

An example file can be downloaded at ...
http://www.dwaynewright.com/blogfiles09/matchmaker_to.zip
=
More info about the author and FileMaker in general, contact me at info@dwaynewright.com.

© 2009 - Dwayne Wright - dwaynewright.com

The material on this document is offered AS IS. There is NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, expressed or implied, nor does any other contributor to this document. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. Consequential and incidental damages are expressly excluded. FileMaker Pro is the registered trademark of FileMaker Inc.