Here's a trick for global replaces on value lists. The concept is to replace with the values currently in that field for records PLUS what you want to add. It's lengthy but explains things in detail:
Be sure to backup before trying anything new in case you make a mistake. Fields based on value lists can be tricky to do global replaces on. The following idea was posted on the ebase listserv by Dave Shaw, and I've modified it, fleshed it out a bit and confirmed that it works so you can use it in your database. Let's say you need to add one value from a value list to a found set of records (each of which may have a different set of values checked for that field). For example, you may want to add a new affiliation to a found set, but the found set contains records with a variety of affiliations already marked. You can do a global replace on that field (for the found set you're working with) in which you replace the field contents with both the contents of the field itself (thus preserving what's already in that field) plus whatever value you want to add. So assume you have two records, one of which has an affiliation with Sierra Club and another which has affiliations with EDF and NRDC (two other conservation groups). If you wanted both records to have a new affiliation with NWF (yet another conservation group) without losing the other affiliations, you could do a global replace to add just the new value without changing what's already in the field. In the above example, you could add NWF to whatever is already in the affiliations list for those two records (or for any number of records). In order to do this, you will need to place your cursor in the field you want to do the replace on (you should first edit the value list if the value you want checked isn't in the list). You can either click in a blank part of the field or click the value you want to add. Then, select the Filemaker Replace command (either from the Filemaker menu or from the Scripts menu) and select "replace with a calculated result." Then, in the Specify Calculation dialog box, scroll down the list of fields in the upper left box, find the field name you are doing the replacement in and double click that field name. (In the above example it would be the Bio:Affiliations field in the Profile file, and you'd need to select the Profile file first and then look for the Bio:Affiliations field.) At this point, the field name should be the first item in the calculation box. Next, click the "&" button in the list of operators to the right of the field name list (spaces will appear to either side of the & symbol). Then, click the quote mark button in that same list of operators (a set of quotes will appear with your cursor in the middle), click the paragraph operator button to insert a paragraph break and type the value you want to add exactly as it appears in the value list. Both the paragraph operator and the value text should be between the quote marks. The calculation for our example above should look like this: PROFILE::BIO:AFFILIATIONS & "#NWF" (where # above represents the paragraph break operator which I can't use in the body of this email) Finally, select "OK" and "Replace" in the calculation and replace dialog boxes. Check your records to make sure it worked. Hope this is useful. Carl [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > I'm working with ebase.102 to update the Action Preference value list based > on a separate excel file with these "action preferences" checked. Here's > what we did: > 1. Created the appropriate values in the action preference value list to > correspond with our import file > 2. Imported the preferences into User Field 1-10 (e.g. Write Letters = > User Field 2) > > Now we'd like to find all records with an "X" in User Field 2 and update > their action preferences to note this updated value. We're having a problem > because updating a value list using Filemaker's Replace All command will > duplicate the other values in this list for each record, not just the one > value. Therefore, if Mary has "Write Letters" and "Volunteer" checked when > I use her record to update the others, everyone will then have ONLY "Write > Letters" and "Volunteer" checked, removing other previously checked > options. > > I understand that this is because Value Lists are one field, and the FM > replace feature updates an entire field; however, I'm hoping someone else > has found a way around this problem. I see that ebase has an "Import VOL: > Action Preference" field, how can I use this? Any advice? > > Thanks! > > Tompkins Spann > Technology Field Manager, NARAL > 202-973-3065 office > 202-421-8678 cell > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.naral.org > > ------------------ > Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to > http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and enter the email >address you used to subscribe to the ebase support list:: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org > --------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Carl Paulsen New Hampshire Rivers Council 54 Portsmouth Street Concord, NH 03301 603-228-6472 603-228-0423 Fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------ Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and enter the email address you used to subscribe to the ebase support list:: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------
