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FM_Name_ID ( )

Function stats

Average user rating

5.0000

Support

FileMaker 8.0 +

Date posted

25 November 2008

Last updated

21 April 2011

Version

2.10 + View history

Recursive function

Author Info
Fabrice

54 functions

Average Rating 4.3

Function overview

Prototype

FM_Name_ID ( _Name_ID; _TLFSV; _fileName; _layoutName )

Parameters

_Name_ID a database element name or ID

_TLFSV the element type (

_fileName for current file, just send an empty (

_layoutName only if _TLFSV is

Description

Tags: value list table occurrence script layout ID hard-coding field Design debug

Hard-coding a field name or a layout name... makes it difficult to rename it without breaking a solution.
Simply use FileMaker internal IDs instead.
To get the ID of a FileMaker item, pass its name to the function, then use the function the other way around in your calculations (pass the ID to it, and get the name).
Full documentation here : http://www.1-more-thing.com/FileMaker-Avoid-Hard-coding.html

Examples

Sample input

FM_Name_ID ( "MyLayout" ; "L" ; "" ; "" )
FM_Name_ID ( 112 ; "L" ; "" ; "" )

Sample output

112
"MyLayout"

Function code

/* FM_Name_ID ( _Name_ID ; _TLFSV ; _fileName ; _layoutName )

Fabrice Nordmann

http://www.1-more-thing.com

Avoids hard-coding in FileMaker by using IDs instead of names

Full documentation here : http://www.1-more-thing.com/FileMaker-Avoid-Hard-coding.html

v.1.7, Dec 2010
Accepts table parameters such as FM_Name_ID ( table::field ; "T" ; "" ; "" )
v.1.6, Mar 2009
Accepts field parameters such as FM_Name_ID ( 1065234::24 ; "F" ; "" ; "" )
v.1.5.2, Feb 2009
Removes the repetition number if a fieldname with a repetition number is passed ( field[n]). Does not handle field names with [ anymore.
v.1.5.1, Dec 2008
Documentation update (thanks to Kevin Frank's comment)
v.1.5, Oct 2008
Documentation error fix
Returns an empty result if item not found
v.1.4, Aug 2008
Bug fix (major) : could return erroneous result if an item ID was found in another ID.
v.1.3, July 2008
A field ID can be obtained by passing its full name (with table occurrence) in _Name_ID and leaving _layoutName empty
e.g. FM_Name_ID ( "myTable::myField" ; "F" ; "" ; "" )
v.1.2, June 2008
Doesn't require PositionValue
v.1, May 2008
Requires: PositionValue ( _text ; _searchValue ; _start ; _occurrence )

if _Name_ID is an ID, returns the name
if _Name_ID is a name, returns the ID

_Name_ID is the name or the ID of a Table occurrence, a layout, or a field, a script or a value list
_TLFSV can be set to "Table", "Layout", "Field", "Script", or "ValueList". Or only the first character (T,L,F,S,V)
_fileName is optional (empty means current file)
_layoutName is valid only if _TLFSV contains "Field". Empty means current layout (or the field table occurrence, read the note below). The layout should be tied to the table occurrence of the field.

Note: for fields (_TLFSV = "F"), if you use the full field name (table::fieldname) AND an empty _layoutName parameter, the function will assume you are referring not to current layout but to the table occurrence found in the _TLFSV.

Note: since FileMaker 10 and the GetFieldName function, this function is almost useless with a F (field) parameter. It remains valid for other items.

*/

Let ([

    // _fileName is optional
    _fileName = Case ( IsEmpty ( _fileName ) ; Get ( FileName ) ; _fileName ) ;
    _layoutName = Case ( IsEmpty ( _layoutName ) ; Case ( PatternCount ( _Name_ID ; "::" ) ; GetValue ( Substitute ( _Name_ID ; "::" ; ¶ ) ; 1 ) ; Get ( LayoutName )) ; _layoutName ) ;
    _layoutName = Case ( Int ( _layoutName ) = _layoutName and Length ( _layoutName ) = 7 ; FM_Name_ID ( _layoutName ; "T" ; _fileName ; "" ) ; _layoutName ) ;
    _p = _Name_ID ;

    _t = Left ( _TLFSV ; 1 ) ;     // allow _TLFSV to be only the first character (T,L,F,S,V)
    _t = Case ( _t = "T" ; "Table" ; _t = "L" ; "Layout" ; _t = "F" ; "Field" ; _t = "S" ; "Script" ; _t = "V" ; "ValueList" ) ;
    _p = Case ( _t = "Field" and PatternCount ( _p ; "[" ) ; Left ( _p ; Position ( _p ; "[" ; 10000 ; -1 ) -1 ) ; _p ) ; // remove the repetition number
    _p = Case ( _t = "Field" and PatternCount ( _p ; "::" ) ; Replace ( _p ; 1 ; Position ( _p ; "::" ; 1 ; 1 ) + 1 ; "" ) ; _p ) ; // for fields, do not take TO
    _p = Case ( _t = "Table" and PatternCount ( _p ; "::" ) ; Replace ( _p ; Position ( _p ; "::" ; 1 ; 1 ) ; 99999 ; "" ) ; _p ) ; // for TO, do not take field name
    _endOfString = "( \"" & _fileName & "\"" & Case ( _t = "field" ; "; \"" & _layoutName & "\"" ) & ")" ;
    _names = Evaluate ( _t & "Names" & _endOfString ) ;
    _ids = Evaluate ( _t & "IDs" & _endOfString )
];

Case ( _p = GetAsNumber ( _p ) ;

    // ID -> Name
    Case ( not IsEmpty ( FilterValues ( _p ; _ids )) ;
        GetValue ( _names ; Let ([ _text = _ids ; _item = _p ; _adj = ¶ & _text & ¶ ] ; PatternCount ( Left ( _adj ; Position ( _adj ; ¶ & _item & ¶ ; 1 ; 1 ) + 1 ) ; ¶ )))
    ) ;

// Name -> ID
    Case ( not IsEmpty ( FilterValues ( _p ; _names )) ;
        GetValue ( _ids ; Let ([ _text = _names ; _item = _p ; _adj = ¶ & _text & ¶ ] ; PatternCount ( Left ( _adj ; Position ( _adj ; ¶ & _item & ¶ ; 1 ; 1 ) + 1 ) ; ¶ )))
    )

)
)

// ===================================
/*

    This function is published on FileMaker Custom Functions
    to check for updates and provide feedback and bug reports
    please visit http://www.fmfunctions.com/fid/82

    Prototype: FM_Name_ID( _Name_ID; _TLFSV; _fileName; _layoutName )
    Function Author: Fabrice (http://www.fmfunctions.com/mid/37)
    Last updated: 21 April 2011
    Version: 2.10

*/
// ===================================

/* FM_Name_ID ( _Name_ID ; _TLFSV ; _fileName ; _layoutName )__LITBR____LITBR__Fabrice Nordmann__LITBR____LITBR__http://www.1-more-thing.com__LITBR____LITBR____LITBR__Avoids hard-coding in FileMaker by using IDs instead of names__LITBR____LITBR__Full documentation here : http://www.1-more-thing.com/FileMaker-Avoid-Hard-coding.html__LITBR____LITBR__v.1.7, Dec 2010__LITBR__ Accepts table parameters such as FM_Name_ID ( table::field ; "T" ; "" ; "" )__LITBR__v.1.6, Mar 2009__LITBR__ Accepts field parameters such as FM_Name_ID ( 1065234::24 ; "F" ; "" ; "" )__LITBR__v.1.5.2, Feb 2009__LITBR__ Removes the repetition number if a fieldname with a repetition number is passed ( field[n]). Does not handle field names with [ anymore.__LITBR__v.1.5.1, Dec 2008__LITBR__ Documentation update (thanks to Kevin Frank's comment)__LITBR__v.1.5, Oct 2008__LITBR__ Documentation error fix__LITBR__ Returns an empty result if item not found__LITBR__v.1.4, Aug 2008__LITBR__ Bug fix (major) : could return erroneous result if an item ID was found in another ID.__LITBR__v.1.3, July 2008__LITBR__ A field ID can be obtained by passing its full name (with table occurrence) in _Name_ID and leaving _layoutName empty__LITBR__ e.g. FM_Name_ID ( "myTable::myField" ; "F" ; "" ; "" )__LITBR__v.1.2, June 2008__LITBR__ Doesn't require PositionValue__LITBR__v.1, May 2008__LITBR__ Requires: PositionValue ( _text ; _searchValue ; _start ; _occurrence )__LITBR____LITBR__if _Name_ID is an ID, returns the name__LITBR__if _Name_ID is a name, returns the ID__LITBR____LITBR___Name_ID is the name or the ID of a Table occurrence, a layout, or a field, a script or a value list__LITBR___TLFSV can be set to "Table", "Layout", "Field", "Script", or "ValueList". Or only the first character (T,L,F,S,V)__LITBR___fileName is optional (empty means current file)__LITBR___layoutName is valid only if _TLFSV contains "Field". Empty means current layout (or the field table occurrence, read the note below). The layout should be tied to the table occurrence of the field.__LITBR____LITBR__Note: for fields (_TLFSV = "F"), if you use the full field name (table::fieldname) AND an empty _layoutName parameter, the function will assume you are referring not to current layout but to the table occurrence found in the _TLFSV.__LITBR____LITBR__Note: since FileMaker 10 and the GetFieldName function, this function is almost useless with a F (field) parameter. It remains valid for other items.__LITBR____LITBR__*/__LITBR____LITBR____LITBR____LITBR__Let ([ __LITBR____LITBR__ // _fileName is optional__LITBR__ _fileName = Case ( IsEmpty ( _fileName ) ; Get ( FileName ) ; _fileName ) ;__LITBR__ _layoutName = Case ( IsEmpty ( _layoutName ) ; Case ( PatternCount ( _Name_ID ; "::" ) ; GetValue ( Substitute ( _Name_ID ; "::" ; ¶ ) ; 1 ) ; Get ( LayoutName )) ; _layoutName ) ;__LITBR__ _layoutName = Case ( Int ( _layoutName ) = _layoutName and Length ( _layoutName ) = 7 ; FM_Name_ID ( _layoutName ; "T" ; _fileName ; "" ) ; _layoutName ) ;__LITBR__ _p = _Name_ID ;__LITBR____LITBR__ _t = Left ( _TLFSV ; 1 ) ; // allow _TLFSV to be only the first character (T,L,F,S,V)__LITBR__ _t = Case ( _t = "T" ; "Table" ; _t = "L" ; "Layout" ; _t = "F" ; "Field" ; _t = "S" ; "Script" ; _t = "V" ; "ValueList" ) ;__LITBR__ _p = Case ( _t = "Field" and PatternCount ( _p ; "[" ) ; Left ( _p ; Position ( _p ; "[" ; 10000 ; -1 ) -1 ) ; _p ) ; // remove the repetition number__LITBR__ _p = Case ( _t = "Field" and PatternCount ( _p ; "::" ) ; Replace ( _p ; 1 ; Position ( _p ; "::" ; 1 ; 1 ) + 1 ; "" ) ; _p ) ; // for fields, do not take TO__LITBR__ _p = Case ( _t = "Table" and PatternCount ( _p ; "::" ) ; Replace ( _p ; Position ( _p ; "::" ; 1 ; 1 ) ; 99999 ; "" ) ; _p ) ; // for TO, do not take field name__LITBR__ _endOfString = "( \"" & _fileName & "\"" & Case ( _t = "field" ; "; \"" & _layoutName & "\"" ) & ")" ;__LITBR__ _names = Evaluate ( _t & "Names" & _endOfString ) ;__LITBR__ _ids = Evaluate ( _t & "IDs" & _endOfString )__LITBR__];__LITBR____LITBR__Case ( _p = GetAsNumber ( _p ) ;__LITBR____LITBR__ // ID -> Name__LITBR__ Case ( not IsEmpty ( FilterValues ( _p ; _ids )) ;__LITBR__ GetValue ( _names ; Let ([ _text = _ids ; _item = _p ; _adj = ¶ & _text & ¶ ] ; PatternCount ( Left ( _adj ; Position ( _adj ; ¶ & _item & ¶ ; 1 ; 1 ) + 1 ) ; ¶ )))__LITBR__ ) ; __LITBR____LITBR__// Name -> ID__LITBR__ Case ( not IsEmpty ( FilterValues ( _p ; _names )) ;__LITBR__ GetValue ( _ids ; Let ([ _text = _names ; _item = _p ; _adj = ¶ & _text & ¶ ] ; PatternCount ( Left ( _adj ; Position ( _adj ; ¶ & _item & ¶ ; 1 ; 1 ) + 1 ) ; ¶ )))__LITBR__ )__LITBR____LITBR__)__LITBR__)__LITBR____LITBR__// ===================================__LITBR__/*__LITBR____LITBR__ This function is published on FileMaker Custom Functions__LITBR__ to check for updates and provide feedback and bug reports__LITBR__ please visit http://www.fmfunctions.com/fid/82__LITBR____LITBR__ Prototype: FM_Name_ID( _Name_ID; _TLFSV; _fileName; _layoutName )__LITBR__ Function Author: Fabrice (http://www.fmfunctions.com/mid/37)__LITBR__ Last updated: 21 April 2011__LITBR__ Version: 2.10__LITBR____LITBR__*/__LITBR__// ===================================

Comments

Kevin Frank
05 December 2008

Hi Fabrice, that is an amazing CF!

One minor error -- the reference to "_Table_Layout_Field_Script_ValueList" needs to be changed to "_TLFSV"

Regards,
Kevin

Bug report

Fabrice
05 December 2008

Hi Kevin !
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I use it all the time, and it simply changed my life.
Indeed, I had changed the name of the parameter to make it shorter. It's fixed now.

Thanks !
Fabrice

General comment

Fabrice
20 December 2008

Thanks to Kevin's comment, I updated the function documentation (was a feature, not a bug, but was undocumented)

Note: for fields (_TLFSV = "F"), if you use the full field name (table::fieldname) AND an empty _layoutName parameter, the function will assume you are referring not to current layout but to the table occurrence found in the _TLFSV.

General comment

Fabrice
07 February 2009

Just to mention a FileMaker Advisor article with more details about this function (subscribers only) :
http://my.advisor.com/doc/19569

General comment

Genx
27 February 2009

Yo Fabrice, wipe the Fm Functions injected info from the bottom of your code - it end's up appearing twice if you don't :)

General comment

kaostika
16 June 2009

I get the use of it now. I used hard coded field names in a script and my coworker change the TO names and a field name. Now I am screwed. So this will help.

General comment

esod
08 September 2009

When I use this function, or any variation of it (See Brian Dunning's website, IDFromName and NameFromID, or,even, FileMaker Pro 10 Bible pg 493 "Design Functions") FMSv9 crashes. Error code 802 (Unable to open file), and FMS stops serving files all together. FMS computer reboot is required for repair. It's very strange. Does anyone care to comment? Thanks
(Edited by Eric Sod on 08/09/09 )

General comment

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