The FileMaker Family Of Value List Functions – FileMaker Today

By Keefer Rogers On Oct 11, 2014

ValueListNames

ValueListNames( fileName )

FMP Version: All Current Versions Of FileMaker

Returns A Text Result

The ValueListNames function gives you the name of each defined value list in a particular file. Each value list name is separated by a carriage return. The order in which the value lists names appear is by their sorted order in the Manage Value List dialog box. This function has 1 defined parameter, which are what database do you want to get the list of value list names for? In many cases, this parameter will use the Get(FileName) function so that it will always point to the file you are in.

For example: ValueListNames ( “Client.FP5”) in one of my databases returns…

State

Type

ValueListItems

ValueListItems( fileName ; valueList )

All Current Versions Of FileMaker

Returns A Text Result

The ValueListItems function returns a list of the values you defined for a particular value-list. The value list items will be return delimited, that is to say there will be a carriage return between each item. This function has two defined parameters, which are: what database, and what value-list do you want to get the information for?

ValueListItems ( “Client.FP7”, “Type”) in one of my databases would return…

Client

Prospect

ValueListIDs

ValueListIDs ( fileName )

Most Current Versions Of FileMaker

Returns A Text Result

When a value list is created in a file, under the hood, it is given a unique and sequential value list id tag. When a value list is deleted, that value list id tag is removed and will not be repeated.

The ValueListIDs function will return those internally generated id tags in the order they appear in the Manage Value List dialog box. The value list ids will be return delimited, that is to say there will be a carriage return between each id.

Again, the order in which the value lists ids appear is by their sorted order in the Manage Value List dialog box. So if you have 12 value lists, create one and move it to the top … that value list id will have a 13 and it will appear in the list above the others.

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