Living in a Global world
In Filemaker, you can create fields that are called "global", and what they do is store the exact same piece of data in each record in the file. That seems contrary to the purpose of a database, which is to store different information in each record, doesn't it?
But there are some times when each record needs to hold the same information, and a really good example of that (at fair time) is the Fair Weigh Date field. All animals are weighed at the fair on the same day, so that field (used in the calculation for Rate of Gain) would be the same in each record.
To define a global field, you'd go to File>>Define Database and highlight the field. Then, when you click the Options button, you'd next choose the Storage tab at the top of the input box, and check the "Global storage" option as shown below. Then, when you need to change the date next year, you only change it once and it's changed for all records. Even nicer if you FORGET to change the date before you enter all the livestock... you can change it at any point, and all the calculations are re-done immediately!
This is only one example of using a global field, but it illustrates a perfect use. Do you have other ideas about where you could use this?
Comments
THANK YOU!!! I have always used a "lookup" where I enter the information, then, as I make entries, that info is inserted. However, I when I forgot to change that before making entries this year, I had to re-enter those I'd already done.
I'll also, use this in sign-in sheets for various workshops. We always want the date, title, or something in the heading, and if I forget to change the one that will be printed first, the heading is also wrong.
Posted by: Sheri Postma | August 24, 2007 11:22 AM