Custom FileMaker Pro Script: Dynamic data collection

# 1. Start with the Orders table
Go to Layout [ “Orders” (Orders) ]
Show All Records

# 2. Create a variable to store total sales by customer
Set Variable [ $CustomerSales ; Value: 0 ]

# 3. Loop through each customer and calculate total sales
Go to Record/Request/Page [ First ]
Loop
# Aggregate sales data
Set Variable [ $CustomerID ; Value: Orders::CustomerID ]
Set Variable [ $TotalSales ; Value: Sum ( Orders::SalesAmount ) ]

# Go to Customer Summary table
Go to Layout [ “Customer Summary” (Customer Summary) ]
Enter Find Mode []
Set Field [ Customer Summary::CustomerID ; $CustomerID ]
Perform Find []

# Check if record exists
If [ Get ( FoundCount ) = 0 ]
# Create new record if it doesn’t exist
New Record/Request
Set Field [ Customer Summary::CustomerID ; $CustomerID ]
End If

# Update or set total sales
Set Field [ Customer Summary::TotalSales ; $TotalSales ]

# Return to Orders table
Go to Layout [ “Orders” (Orders) ]
Go to Record/Request/Page [ Next ; Exit after last ]
End Loop

# 4. Refresh all related records
Go to Layout [ “Customer Summary” (Customer Summary) ]
Refresh Window [ Flush cached join results ]

Explanation

1. Initialize Variables: Start by initializing variables to hold the total sales data.
2. Loop Through Records: Use a loop to process each customer record, calculating the total sales for each one.
3. Update Summary Table: Switch to the Customer Summary table, find or create the record for each customer, and update the total sales.
4. Refresh Data: Ensure that the Customer Summary table reflects the latest data by refreshing the window.

Tips for Uniqueness

• Customization: Prepare fields, tables, and logic based on your specific configuration and needs.
• Error Handling: Add error handling and logging to make the script robust.
• Optimization: Consider optimizing the script for performance, especially if you are dealing with large amounts of data.

This example shows how you can use the scripting capabilities of FileMaker Pro to save and update complex data. By tailoring this script to your specific needs and settings, you can create unique solutions and the ability to manage data and report in FileMaker Pro.