LastUsedRepNumber ( Field )

Filemaker's Last function provides the actual value contained within the last used repetition of a repeating field, but doesn't give us what that repetition number actually is.

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Ralph Learmont - Show more from this author

Sample input:

LastUsedRepNumber ( Names )

Sample output:

Sample output = 5

when repeating field 'Names' contains the following values:

|| || Sam || || || Greg || ||

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

Let ( [

LastValue = Last ( Field ) ;
FN = GetFieldName ( LastValue ) ;
HasReps = Right ( FN ; 1) = "]" ] ;


Case ( 

not IsEmpty ( LastValue ) and HasReps ; Abs ( RightWords ( FN ; 1 )) ;       //For a non-empty repeating field
not IsEmpty ( LastValue ) ; 1 ;                                                                   //For a non-empty regular field
0 ))                                                                                                          //For an empty field of any type




/*------------------------------


Syntax:  LastUsedRepNumber (Field)


by Ralph Learmont,  May 13th 2021.  
Modified Nov11th 2022 to fix an "empty field" issue, 
and to fix a repetition1 issue.

Unlike the "Last" function, this function gives you the 
actual NUMBER of the last repetition which isn't empty (as 
opposed to the actual value contained in that last repetiton)

Compared with my earlier custom functions, this method 
doesn't use a more complex looping iteration technique and 
is therefore probably a lot more efficient.

By first extracting the fieldname and along with its repetition, 
this function then exposes that repetition number.

Note:  Use in an unstored calc situation because a 
refresh will be needed to observe any changes...


-----------

Credit must go to Alexander Zueiv.

Inspiration for this idea came from Alexander Zueiv in
(FMPexperts Digest, Vol 159, Issue 21) who reminded me
about the ability of getfieldname to do this.*/

Filemaker's Last function provides the actual value contained within the last used repetition of a repeating field, but doesn't give us what that repetition number actually is. There are other custom functions which solve this problem (including my own, but most use an iterative approach to look through all receptions until a value is found.

The feature of this custom function is that no iterative approach is used. Credit must go to Alexander Zueiv.... Inspiration for this idea came from Alexander Zueiv in (FMPexperts Digest, Vol 159, Issue 21) who reminded me about the ability of GetFieldname to do this.

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

LastUsedRepNumber ( Field )

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