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

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)

/*
NAME:	ShowValueCascade ( fields ; altText )
CREATORNAME:	Chad Sager, IT Solutions Consulting, Inc.
CREATOREMAIL:	chad.sager@itsolutions-inc.com
DATE CREATED:	 2010-02-18
DATE LASTMODIFIED:	 2010-02-18

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





*/



Let (
[
@length = Length ( fields );
@position = Case ( Position ( fields; ";"; 1; 1 ) > 0; Position ( fields; ";"; 1; 1 ); @length + 1 );
@firstValue = Left ( fields; @position - 1 );
@newFields = FullTrim ( Right ( fields; @length - ( @position + 1 ) ) )
];

Case (
not IsEmpty ( Evaluate ( @firstValue ) ); Evaluate ( @firstValue );
IsEmpty ( fields ); altText ;
ShowValueCascade ( @newFields ; altText )
)

)

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 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")

Note: these functions are not guaranteed or supported by BrianDunning.com. Please contact the individual developer with any questions or problems.

ShowValueCascade ( fields ; altText )

Comments

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