Here is the ffil97v1.txt 'Readme' text file included with the FFil download:
FFil97 Version 1.0 Readme
Steve Nyberg - Dec 5,1998
email: stevenyberg@earthlink.net
or email: stevenyberg@yahoo.com
web page: http://home.earthlink.net/~stevenyberg/access/index.htm
**** Use Edit-WordWrap for best results in Notepad ****
Overview of FFil Version 1.0:
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FFil is a utility for filtering forms in Access 97. It allows you to create, save, and
reload simple filters for any form in your database from one menu.
Features:
---------
Filtering Menu:
Picklist of forms available for filtering.
Picklist of all saved filters for the selected form.
Picklists of all fields on the selected form.
Picklists of common expressions for filter criteria.
Optional picklists of real values for the selected fields.
Apply and Count buttons for running the filter.
Form or Datasheet View options for viewing the form.
Save, SaveAs, New, Delete and Rename buttons for managing filters.
Reset buttons to clear out the current criteria.
Setup Menu:
Custom "user-friendly" description for each form (better than 'frmLaDeeDaa').
Picklist of all forms - administrator can determine which are available on the filtering
form.
"Get" button to automatically get the form's recordsource information.
View choices for how the form can be viewed by the user (such as Form or Datasheet)
Checkbox to allow value picklists to be populated with real data.
Demo of FFil:
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The zipped or self-extracting file contains the database with all the components of FFil
Version 1.0, plus a sample table and form. It also includes this text file.
Open the database, and then open the "zff1_frmMenu" form. In the top picklist,
select the sample form. Then select any saved filter from the second picklist. The filter
criteria will appear below. Then click on the "Funnel-shaped" button to apply
the filter, or click on the COUNT button to get a record count. Also, you can select
either the "Form" or the "Datasheet" view from the View picklist.
Close the sample form and try a different filter, or create your own.
Setting Up:
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To use FFil 1.0 in your own database, follow these steps:
First, import the following 4 objects into your database (File-GetExternalData-Import):
2 Forms -- zff1_frmMenu, zff1_frmSetup
2 Tables -- zff1_tblFormFilters, zff1_tblFormInfo
(NOTE: for the tables, import just the structure preferrably with the relationships. The
data in both tables is not needed, and the table relationship is optional and not
critical.)
Second, populate the Setup Form (zff1_frmSetup) with information on the forms in your
database.
Each row of this form represents a form you have made available for filtering. Enter a
user-friendly description of the form, select the actual form name from the picklist,
click the "Get" button to fill in the form's recordsource, select how the form
can be viewed by the user, and finally click the checkbox if you want to populate the
value picklists for the user.
FFil is now ready to use. Open the form 'zff1_frmMenu' to begin filtering!
Limitations:
------------
FFil can filter by up to 4 different fields at a time.
It uses "AND" logic only, not "OR" logic, unless you use the "In
List" expression for a field.
Field and value picklists are dynamic and cannot be hardcoded with values or SQL text.
Value picklists can be slow to view if the set of data is large (>5000). If you don't
want the value picklists to be populated for a given form, uncheck its "Allow
Picklists" box on the Setup form.
Using Parameters:
--------------------
You can include limited types of "Parameters" in your saved filters. See the
sample filters for the syntax. For example, a date field could have a value box set to
Date(). This will always filter to today. Another example is a text field with the
expression Like and the value:
[Enter starting characters] & '*'
When you apply the filter, it will prompt the user for the starting characters. (Note you
must use single quotes here).
Overall, any parameter will work only with the Apply button - it causes an error with the
Count button.
Future Enhancements:
--------------------
Future releases of FFil may add sorting, OR logic, and filter security (so other users
can't delete or alter your filters!). E-mail me if you have any suggestions for
enhancements.
Credit / Licensing:
-------------------
FFil 1.0 can be used free of charge, with no limitations. I will provide limited support
via email at the addresses listed at the top of this file.
Thanks for trying FFil!