FileMaker Thoughts – Set FileMaker Field By Name

Set FileMaker Field By Name

From Dwayne Wright PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM
Certified FileMaker Developer

WEB: www.dwaynewright.com
EMAIL: info@dwaynewright.com
TWITTER: dwaynewright 
YOUTUBE: FileMakerThoughts

The Set Field script step has been a fan favorite of every FileMaker developer and this particular developer is no exception. Both the Set Field and Set Field By Name script steps have the same two basic settings, what field do you want to set a value into and what is that value. The new FileMaker 10 release, Set Field By Name step allows the savvy developer to use their calculation skills to determine which field to update. This allows for more flexibility in a well crafted script and sometimes it is all about the flexibility.

What if you don’t know exactly what field you want to set in a script because the conditions of the record itself varies? If a record has this combination of values, you need to set this field. Otherwise, this other field needs to be set to something else. This type of conditional decision making happens all the time as a database solution evolves in complexity. Having the ability to use a calculation to make the decision which field to update is the new and shiny feature of the Set Field By Name script step.

SO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM
You have created a wonderful script that is performing admirably for all your users. One day, you listen to a podcast or read an article that enlightened you to a naming convention for fields, tables and scripts that simply knocks your socks off. In the heat of development battle, you make some changes to the way your fields are named.

Now your cleverly crafted script with loads of Set Field By Name steps is likely broken to the core. It is not that it cannot be fixed but it can be an unexpected problem if you didn’t … um … well … expect it.

More…Dwayne Wright PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM – FileMaker Thoughts – Set FileMaker Field By Name.

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