One more approach to the question of saving multi-level queries that
seems to get forgotten: Filemaker can save multi-level find requests,
and v.1.02 and 1.03 have a built-in routine for doing this. (This is
akin to the "canned query" that Barry mentioned in his email quoted
below.)
>From the Home Screen, click on the layouts menu (that box above the
rolodex) and select the Custom Finds Screen. Check out the instructions
available there and follow carefully. This "feature" allows you to
create the criteria for multi-level finds and save them for future use.
It saves the criteria, not the found set, so any modifications to your
dataset will be properly reflected each time you run the custom find.
So for instance, if a member who previously didn't want to be solicited
now wants to be, you can just change the Solicit contact flag and they
will now appear any time you run a query for a solicitation.
I use these finds to identify my newsletter mailing list, my prospect
solicitations list, several email contact lists which aren't adequately
handled by the email contact list field, etc. It's as good a "typing
up" the step-by-step procedure but you don't have to manually create the
find - a time saving device which is, in my opinion, one of the strong
suits of ebase.
I would still suggest typing up the step-by-step procedure before saving
the find request so that if your needs change in the future, you can
verify that the find request will continue to serve your needs (or that
you need to re-save a new find request).
Carl
Barry Newton wrote:
>
> The advice below is a pretty good technical answer to the question. Beyond
> that, however, is the more annoying human question of how to make sure
> those queries are run the same way every time. There are basically two
> approaches, which may be used separately or in combination: The simple way
> is to *type up* a detailed step by step procedure for each database run you
> make, put these all in a book, and make sure that everyone who might
> conceivably touch the computer is trained to do everything by the book.
>
> The second approach, a more classical data processing procedure, is to
> create a canned query for each job, and run these queries by name. It can
> be helpful if the canned queries are also documented in a book.
>
> Barry
>
> At 01:54 PM 04/20/2001, you wrote:
> >Cathy,
> >
> >In answer to #2, all you need to do to "flag" this member is to use the
> >Contact Flag check boxes on the Data Entry screen (at least that's what I
> >do). Put a "N" for no in the "solicit", "calls", and "renewal" boxes and
> >put a "Y" in your newsletter, alerts or other boxes to indicate the
> >information you want to send to this person.
> >
> >When you do your search for renewal letters, solicitations, etc, just make
> >sure you add another find to your search/query and click the Omit button
> >for the find and enter "N" in the solicitation, calls, or renewals box
> >(which ever is appropriate for the particular search). This will remove
> >this individual from your found set (make sure to do the omit as your last
> >find)
> >
> >When you run your search for who you are sending newsletters to, add
> >another find for "Y" in the newsletter box, etc. and you can make sure this
> >person is getting the newsletter, etc.
> >
> >Others may have some better suggestions, but this should work for what you
> >are trying to do. Hope this helps.
> >
> >Glenn Marangelo
> >
> >
> >Wilderness Watch
> >P.O. Box 9175
> >Missoula, MT 59807
> >406-542-2048
> >fax: 406-542-7714
> >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >www.wildernesswatch.org
> >
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> Barry L. Newton, Ashton Computing & Management Services
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Carl Paulsen
New Hampshire Rivers Council
54 Portsmouth Street
Concord, NH 03301
603-228-6472
603-228-0423 Fax
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