Brian Dunning's FileMaker Custom Functions

ShowValueCascade ( fields ; altText )

Given a text string of fields, it will return the first non-empty value, if all are empty, will return an alternate value

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ShowValueCascade   ShowValueCascade
IT Solutions Consulting, Inc.
http://www.itsolutions-inc.com/Filemaker

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  Sample input:
ShowValueCascade ( "Student::FirstName; Student::MiddleName; Student::NickName"; "The Student With No Name" )
  Sample output:
Lefty

  Function definition: (Copy & paste into FileMaker's Edit Custom Function window)

PURPOSE: to show the first available value from a list of fields.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: it is assumed you are pointing to fields (or parameters) and the list of fields are separated by semicolons and the whole string is encapsulated in quotes


ShowValueCascade ( "firstChoice; { secondChoice; thirdChoice; fourthChoice...}"; altText)

given the field values:
Student::FirstName = (empty)
Student::MiddleName = "Joe"
Student::NickName = "Sticky"

ShowValueCascade ( "Student::FirstName; Student::MiddleName; Student::NickName"; "The Student With No Name" ) will return "Joe" since it's first on the list

given the field values:
Student::FirstName = (empty)
Student::MiddleName = (empty)
Student::NickName = (empty)

ShowValueCascade ( "Student::FirstName; Student::MiddleName; Student::NickName"; "The Student With No Name" ) will return "The Student With No Name" all the referenced fields are empty

 

Comments

belg4mit   belg4mit
Mar 17, 2023
https://www.briandunning.com/cf/2174 offers a non-recursive option that does not use indirection, although it perhaps a bit more verbose

||( ||( ||(Student::FirstName; Student::MiddleName); Student::NickName"); "The Student With No Name")
 

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