Pivoting data
While FileMaker's own Layout Mode provides excellent tools for formatting data for display and output, it isn't always the most convenient for certain types of output. A prime example is a pivot table. Or, the output of data which is normally columnar formatted into a horizontal format.
When attempting to do this with native FileMaker functionality, it quickly becomes a bit of a hassle, typically including more relationships than should be otherwise necessary.
There are solutions which can make use of repeating horizontal fields, but these typically have a hard limit and the width of the data does not dictate the largest column width. If you work creatively with HTML/CSS and the other available features within FileMaker, you can realize a more flexible solution for horizontal data display and output!
Comments
Only so useful...
Neat technique. Used similar things myself. This is useful for displaying text. What about when you need to do a larger pivot - basically a cross tab report where you may need to total both horizontally and vertically? The cross tab format in FM has always been a bit of a pain to accomplish and ends up being at least partially hard-coded. Would you do that in a web viewer and then try to do the calculations in the viewer?
Still no native pivot
What is amazing is that the old LotusSuite (their database called Approach) easily generated native pivot tables (crosstabs) back in 1998.
Great sql lesson
Maybe the best one I've seen on FileMaker SQL! I would love to see how you made the custom function! I understand how to find and use some custom functions, but I would like to see a video authored by you.
jc
Great sql lesson
Maybe the best one I've seen on FileMaker SQL! I would love to see how you made the custom function! I understand how to find and use some custom functions, but I would like to see a video authored by you.
jc
Oh my….
Been searching for so long for a good SQL explanation. And the custom function with relative references, genius. Thank you