Mimicking Bento Smart Collections in Filemaker Pro 12

     If your "collection" is a set of records, then you can click on a button in FileMaker and that button can perform a script that finds those records. You can also set up a value list in a field so that you can select a name from the value list and a script can perform a find to pull up the records with that name. There are also ways to get similar results using protals and a relationship between two tables.

     

          and Bento's simple list fields

     Not being a Bento user, I don't know exactly what those are or how you use them, but there are any number of ways to produce and interact with a list in FileMaker--including producing such a list inside a single field though that is far from the only option.

     Before I can post a simple example, I need a clear understanding of what you are trying to accomplish and how you have decided to design your layout. There is more than one way to get the result that you want and I do not choose to list all of them in hopes that I guessed correctly about one of them.

     Say you have a field named "Fruit" in your table and you want to be able to click that field or a button next to it to find all records with the same text in that field as that of the record where you clicked it.

     Set Variable [$Fruit: Value: YourTable::Fruit ]
     Enter FInd Mode [] ---> clear the pause check box
     Set Field [YourTable::Fruit ; $Fruit ]
     Perform Find[]

     But this is far from the only possible way to do this. There are also ways that use a portal where you click a button inside the row of a portal and those methods will differ from this.

     Since you don't share what error message you saw. I am unable to help you resolve that error.

     

          I don't want scripts or buttons to change things (one trial wanted me to enter new data) or generate reports, just organize and navigate through the data.

     That's a bit contradictory. In FileMaker, what you describe in your last post is a basic summary report that a modified version of the script that I posted earlier can produce. The simplest approach is often to perform a find for a group of records and use a summary field to display the total for that found set of records.

     And performing a find does not modifiy data. The set field step shown above enters search criteria into a field while in find mode. This will find records. It will not modify any data in your file. A modified version of this script could use a global field set up with a value list of these types to find all records of the selected type. And a script trigger on that field can perform the script so that all the user does is select a value in the drop down.

     Here's thread of scripted find examples that you may find useful: Scripted Find Examples

     Here's a thread on summary reports. It goes way beyond what you describe here, but does show you how to set up a summary field to report totals basd on your found set of records--a found set that can be produced by your scripted find: Creating Filemaker Pro summary reports--Tutorial

     And FileMaker is a relational database system. Much is accomplished by defining relationships linking different occurrences of your tables via match fields and operators you select in Manage | Database | Relationships. It could prove very useful to have a second table where you have one record for each "type" that links to your current table by those "type" match fields. This opens up may ways to work with related sets of records--including getting a summary total. A portal to your current table, for example, can be placed on a layout for this new table and it could list all records with a matching value in the type field and a calculation that uses the Sum function can compute the total of the records shown in the portal--that's just one of several options for getting this type of thing to work in FileMaker.

     And with a bit of web searching and maybe a visit to Amazon.com, you can find a number of books and tutorials--even free videos on YoutTube that teach about FileMaker and Relational Database Design. No one resource is the best option for everyone, it depends on the experience and skills that the individual brings to the learning process.

     Another Bento user here, considering switching over to Filemaker. Richard, did you ever find a satisfactory answer to your query about Smart Collections? They are very important to my business and everything I find about these Filemaker scripts looks difficult and cumbersome and is making me reconsider Filemaker. Would you mind sharing what your learned?

     Thank you,

     Laura

     Dick, thank you so much for your reply. This is so very helpful and makes sense. I was afraid I was going to have to ditch my Filemaker plans, but I think you've saved me

     I appreciate you time,

     Laura