Figure 1: Edit Relationship dialog -- First, you define the relationship to sort based on the contents of the Name field in the Person table. Here, you opened the Sort Records dialog from the Edit Relationship dialog, which is just behind it.

Figure 2: Sort by name -- The portal rows display in ascending order by name, as specified in the Edit Relationship dialog.

Figure 3: Portal Setup dialog -- Next, you define the portal to sort based on the contents of the Age field in the Person table. Notice you've opened the Sort Records dialog from the Portal Setup dialog, which is just behind it.

Figure 4: Sort by age -- The portal rows display in ascending order by age, as you specified in the Portal Setup dialog.

Edit Relationship Sort Records dialog vs. Portal Setup Sort Records dialog

As in previous versions, FileMaker Pro 7 lets you specify a sort order in the Edit Relationship dialog (figures 1 and 2). What's unique to FileMaker Pro 7 is the ability to specify a sort order in the Portal Setup dialog (figures 3 and 4). Of course, in cases where you've specified a sort order in both a portal and the relationship on which the portal is based, the question of precedence arises.

Fortunately, the answer to this is refreshingly straightforward: The sort you've specified in the Portal Setup dialog prevails. This is nice because it lets you specify general sort criteria globally at the relationship level and handle less common exceptions on a case-by-case basis at the portal level without creating a bunch of otherwise useless utility relationships. Pretty cool!

This tip comes from "More FileMaker Pro 7 Features in Opposition" in FILEMAKER ADVISOR magazine. In the article, Jonathan discusses situations in which features in FileMaker Pro 7 can overrule each other. These tips can save you the time and trouble of running into these scenarios yourself, and learning about these nuances can improve your FileMaker Pro 7 development efforts. Magazine subscribers can read the article at http://Advisor.com/doc/14644.