Dynamic Portals in Filemaker Pro®

This tutorial teaches how to make dynamic portal lists that update as a user types into a field.

NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE FILEMAKER V10 ADVANCED TO MAKE THIS WORK. If you don't have it, get it, it's worth the upgrade.

Here is the function mentioned:

Function name: IndexWord(Text;Header)

Copy from here V

Let(
[
tCount = Length(Text);
newHeader = If(Header ≠ "" ; Header & ¶ );
NewText = Left(Text;tCount - 1)
];
Case(
Text = "" and Header = ""; "";
tCount = 0; Header;
IndexWord(newText ; NewHeader & Text)
)
)

To here ^

[anthonyzornig]

Took three fails and nearly 4 hours but works now perfectly. Thanks a lot for the fancy performance. Cheers !

[FmTutorials]

Yes, you can use an identical layout but with a cartesian relationship (the relationship symbol that is an "x"). Then you would switch layouts with script triggers back and forth.

[FmTutorials]

Hello, this was by design. The way this was achieved was by using a cartesian relationship [any record matches, meaning all will show]. This is achieved by using the "X" type relationship instead of ">" or others. The default search would show zero records when the search field is empty.

[FmTutorials]

Make a text field with a calculated value that has the three fields, i.e. the calculation for the main field will be: field1 & " " & field2 & " " & field3, make sure you uncheck the option to not update if field has contents. That way it will update any time you edit the three fields.

Then, put that field under the three fields you want to be able to search and enable it only during find mode. Disable the three fields during search mode.

[FmTutorials]

You could include another field in the calculation such as "additional_names", or use repeating fields.

[hudi]

But great video, thanks for posting. I just used it and I think the client is going to think its slick.

[gdewey]

works way faster than other techniques I've used before in large databases. Only problem I see vs other is that this way only search for beginning of the term. Is there a way terms can match any word in between the term? tks

[FmTutorials]

Hello, you can create a custom function to index each word separately. This would be a modification of the function given above.

[ozorg]

@purple375 lol! i was thinking MY macbook is going crazy .... but it's in the video ;-)

[MarcosCabreraPhoto]

Hello!

I need a tiny help, it's about creating a script in FileMaker Pro 6 to find a related record in another file, ie I want to do a search of a customer invoice from a file called "FICHA CLIENTE" for a list of years in other traditionally files that are called "FACTURAS 2011, FACTURAS 2010, FACTURAS 2009…"

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP

[FmTutorials]

You would have to create a layout for addition of data. This layout shown would be for searching.

[hudi]

Another way to see all records when user has not searched would be to make your search field calculation look like this:
IndexWord ( Location ; "" ) & ¶ & "All"
Set your g_search field to "All" using an 'on layout enter' script and you will be able to see all the records without typing anything.

[shaib]

@SuperPubman
Hi ! Did you get an answer to your question about showing all portal records when the global searchterm is empty ? TIA for your help

[malimatician]

Nice tutorial.
One question please how do you search three fields at a time that is Firstname, Lastname, othername fields.
How to search all at once. Thanks

[seasickdarwin]

One problem i have encountered, is that once you deleted the terms field; there is essentially no way to add additional data that can be queried. What I mean to say, is that once the Portal box is implemented, you cannot enter any more data within the terms field. If there is a work around please let me know.

[paulg]

Re: searching multiple fields.  I tried creating the multiple fields and made a calculation field, unchecked the option to not update. It was not clear what you meant when you said "Then, put that field under the three fields you want to be able to search and enable it only during find mode."  When I did a search it would still find the words from the original "term" field but not the added fields. Suggestions?

[maikelooijens]

Thanks for the tutorial, it's very useful.
Just a quick question, is it true that it can only search in 1 record a time? or am I doing something wrong??

[MrSteveb]

Hello, How can I add a container field.  I would like to do a how to where I start typing and when I see the one I want, I can click the container field next to it to get me detail.  Is this possible?

[globe]

Can you make a search on a portal without having functions?
I only have FileMaker Pro