User manual

8-4 FileMaker Pro User’s Guide
When the related file contains one matching record for each record
in the master file, place related fields directly on the layout and not
in a portal. Also place related fields directly on the layout when you
want to work with only the first matching record that’s accessed (in
sorted or unsorted order).
Keep these points in mind:
1 For information about creating portals, placing related fields on
layouts and in portals, and changing portals and related fields, see
“Deciding where to place related fields” on page 6-18.
1 You can also define relationships for use with value lists, to access
and display particular related values. (See “About displaying only a
subset of field values in a value list” on page 7-5.)
1 You can summarize data that’s in a portal. (See “Summarizing data
in portals” on page 8-12.)
When to create relationships between files
Whenever you want to use data from another file—either in a
relational database or for a lookup—you must first define and name
a relationship from the master file to the related file.
A relationship is an expression that includes the name of the match
field in the master file, the related filename, and the name of the
match field in the related file.
After you define a relationship, you can choose its name from the
relationship list as you work in the master file. The relationship list
is in all dialog boxes where you can select field names, such as the
dialog box for exporting FileMaker Pro data. (You can also use the
relationship list to define relationships.)
Once a connection is established between two files, you have access
to data that’s in the related file in any of the following ways:
1 Place one or more related fields directly on a layout of the master
file to display data from one related record for each record in the
master file (a one-to-one correspondence). For example, use a related
field to display the most recent check-out date for a piece of
equipment. (Related data displayed in the master file changes as the
data in the related file changes.)
1 Place a portal on a layout of the master file, then place one or more
related fields in the portal to display data from more than one related
record for each record in the master file (a one-to-many
correspondence). For example, use a portal in an Invoice file to
display all the products ordered by the same client. (Related data
displayed in the master file changes as the data in the related file
changes.)
Client ID
Name
Client ID
Name
Phone
City
Relationship
Match fields
Master file Related file
Relationship names in the
Define Relationship dialog box
Relationship list with
Products relationship
selected
Field names associated with
the selected relationship