Very Computer

Hello Everybody!

Here is my problem - I have a solution with 5 files - all linked
together by an autonumber serial number generated by the main file.
Now I want to import reports we get from another agency which come in
a flat text file.  I know I can just use a script to import the
relevant fields into each file, but the question is - how do I get
them to all relate?  If I run a script to import the fields into the
main file - at that point the serial numbers are assigned, how will I
get them moved over into the other files as I import the rest of the
fields?  Should I create a separate relationship based on some
calculation that creates a (hopefully) unique key that I can then go
back and do a looping copy replace?  That sounds pretty cumbersome.
Anyone have any good ideas?  Thanks.

David

I suggest you never use Auto-Enter-Serial field as primary key!
But now, what to do?
1-Add a new numeric field to your solution which will be the primary key.
2-Use Substitute in oder to populate this field with the value of the
Auto-Enter-Serial field
3-Change the relationship from AES to this new field.

What to do with extra files from agencies?
1-Leave all the way they do but change the start number of their AES
   field.
   For example: <Agency A> : AES starts from   10.000
                <Agency B> : AES starts from   20.000
                <Agency Z> : AES starts from   xx.xxx
   the start number depends by how many main records they creates in
   the business time you are referring to.
2-When importing from Agency files put their mainfile's AES into your
   new primary key field.
3-That's all!

Hoping this is what you was looking for...

/Steve