From: Bob_Hearn@qm.claris.com (Robert Hearn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: Spreadsheet Frames In ClarisWorks DBs
Date: 22 Jan 93 18:54:53 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.apps
Organization: Spartacus Software

In article <1993Jan21.134958.5602@VFL.Paramax.COM>, jjs@vfl.paramax.com
(James Solderitsch) wrote:
> 
> I am trying to create a simple invoicing set-up for a psychologist
> friend of mine.  She is currently using an old version of Microsoft
> Works and creating separate spreadsheet files for each patient to
> contain treatment data, and then creating a separate billing letter
> file (also for each patient) that she cuts and pastes the relevant
> treatment data into to create her billing invoices.
> 
> I prefer ClarisWorks and am trying to set up a semi-automated system
> where there is a ClarisWorks database file containing a record for
> each patient and a separate treatment DB file that contains financial
> data for each patient, one record per treatment.  The "link" between
> the two files is a patient ID.  What I thought I would do was collect
> the relevant records for each patient (last billing date to the current
> date) and then cut and paste the found records into a spreadsheet frame
> that I install into a layout for the patient file.  Suitably formatted
> and totalled, the resulting form would make an ideal invoice.
> 
> My problem is that if the spreadsheet frame is put into the layout,
> data can be cut and pasted into the frame only when I am actually
> in layout mode, not when I am physically looking at the records themselves
> (called browse mode in CW).  This means I can only assemble data for
> one patient at a time -- what I want is to generate a report of invoice
> records, one for each patient, that I can then print as a group.
> 
> Has anyone attempted anything like this in ClarisWorks?  I have
> Filemaker Pro 2.0 which I may turn to, but the use of spreadsheet
> frames within a database layout appears at first glance to do what I
> want, except I can't put different data values into each spreadsheet
> frame on a per record basis.  Am I asking too much of CW?  Also, what
> is the latest CW version? -- I have 1.0v2.
> 
> Thanks for any information.  I will post a summary if interest in this
> topic develops.
> 
> -- 
> Jim Solderitsch
> 
> jjs@vfl.paramax.com
> 
> 215 648 2831


Yes, I'm afraid that you are asking too much of ClarisWorks.  You want 
spreadsheet frames in the layout to work like repeating fields in 
FIleMaker.  While this would be really cool, it's beyond the scope of
an entry-level integrated app.  (Read: they wouldn't let me do it. 
Shipping
was more important.)  The only reason you can put a spreadsheet frame in
a DB layout is that it's a drawing tool, and all drawing tools are
available
in layout mode.  Only actual DB fields can contain different data on a
record-
by-record basis.  You can simulate a repeating field by making five or ten
fields and stacking them vertically, but you will have to paste data into
them individually, not as a whole.

FIleMaker Pro sounds ideal for this application.  You can even use lookup
fields to automate building the invoice.

The latest version of ClarisWorks is 1.0v3.  There were some minor bug
fixes from 1.0v2.


Bob Hearn
ClarisWorks coauthor
Spartacus Software

Opinions expressed here are those of my empolyer, since that's me.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps