Checking for Dupes Across Multiple Fields
It's easy to find out if there's another record in the database where the same field has a duplicate value. But what if you need a broader check, such as other records where several fields have the same entries as the record you're working in? We show you how to do it.

Archiving Database Records
Do you have a large database that grows so fast that it needs periodic trimming or archiving? We show you how to archive just one database within a multi-database application, along with any subforms it might contain. This customizable routine simplifies archiving, whether you need to archive weekly, monthly or annually.

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• Update Records From Startup Menu — Need to periodically update a group of records without having to go into the database? Here's our solution.

• Control Unwanted Pop-Ups on Tabs — Under certain conditions, a pop-up can keep popping up when not wanted and for apparently no reason. We explain the problem and offer a few workarounds.

• Flip Table View Subform to Form View — Got a Table View subform that you occasionally need to switch into Form View. Here's one way to do it.

• Remote Access and Port Forwarding — What you need to know in order to access your Sesame applications across the Internet

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• One Click — Multiple Reports — Run two, three or more reports back-to-back with one click of a button, and have them appear on separate tabs in your browser.

• Slow Down, Buddy! — Computers are fast. Sometimes too fast. Here's how to make your Sesame program pause a bit to let other impacted programs catch up.

• Keep Child Records Bolted to Their Parents — If you include the unique parent key value in your naturally-linked subforms, that advantage breaks down if the parent key value somehow gets changed. Here’s a little program that automatically keeps your subform keys in sync with your parent keys.

Bound Popup Forms
Do just about anything from anywhere. With this powerful technique you can popup any form for any database in the app, add a new record or whatever, then put the popup away and be right back in the original form. Speed, ease and efficiency. Say hello to Detached Forms.

Use 'Static Draw' to Chart, Draw and Display Images
Did you know that Sesame can dynamically display seven different graphical charts to show relationships in your data, as well as draw shapes and display custom-scaled images anywhere you might need them? You'll get an eyeful in this comprehensive introduction to Sesame's charting/drawing capabilities.

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• Pushbutton Retrieve For Dates — Auto-filling Retrieve Spec date fields with variable dates isn't so easy. We show you the trick.  Sample application included in this month's download file.

• Backup Your Sesame Files to a Thumb Drive — Looking for a simple way to backup your application to a removable storage device? Here's what it takes.

• Get Rid of Recent Applications List — Tired of seeing that growing list of rarely-used apps every time you start Sesame? You can lose that list for good.

• Spaces and Punctuation in Names of Things — How certain "legal" keyboard characters can get you into trouble.

• Where'd I Put that Programming Statement? — Quickly find any word, phrase or reference in one shot no matter where it might be hiding in your code.

• Stop Form Jumping When Moving to Tabs — When you tab out of the last field to a tab page, the whole form jumps. Fortunately, it's correctable.

• Easy Application Unlock Shortcut — Give key personnel a way to instantly unlock a locked application without sacrificing any security.

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• Quick-Search a Favorite App — Got a database in another app that you'd like to make instantly available regardless of what else you're working on? Try this shortcut.

• Self-Reference Application Objects for Convenience and Portability — You're probably aware of the advantages of @Filename over hard-coded filepaths in programming. Sesame offers other such tools to simplify your programming.

• Danger! Dollar Signs in Element Names — Unexpected things can happen in WordMerge if a layout element name contains the "$" character.

Add a Dropdown Updater to Your App
Sesame Combo Boxes (aka "dropdowns") simplify and standardize data entry by reducing typing. The keys to maximizing their utility are the options lists you attach to them. But when it takes a trip to Designer followed by a Reconcile to update one, it can be more bother than it's worth. What if you could update any dropdown right from the runtime data entry form, with such updates instantly available to all users? Now you can. Sample application included in this month's download file.

Retrofit Subrecords with Parent IDs
Got some naturally linked databases that you'd like to relationally link as well? Find out why this can be a good idea and how to simplify what it takes to get it done. We even provide a program that does it for you.

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• Formatting Special 'Number' Fields — First, a quick primer on the three most often misunderstood and misused field types — Keyword, Boolean and Number — followed by a technique to fill a field with tightly-structured alphanumeric value.

• Formatting Floating Point Decimal Point Numbers — Remember in Q&A how you could format a number field with a simple N and it would maintain numbers entered with however many decimal places you needed? Those days are gone, but here's the next best thing.

• Make Text Field Act Like a Boolean Field — Unless you know what you're doing, Boolean fields can be a pain to live with. In many cases, a far simpler text field designed to work like a Boolean simplifies things and provides more flexibility. Sample application included in this month's download file.

• Toggle Between Forms and Subforms — A subform in table view can make it easy to spot essential information, but fields you can't see without horizontally scrolling can make it hard to live with. How about a subform you can toggle between table view and form view?

• Use Sesame Slate to Find Programming Errors — Of all the programming helpers Sesame provides, this one can prove time and again to be the most essential.

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• 'Genericize' Your Calendar Popups — Got a dozen date fields to fill using Sesame's @Calendar popup? You don't need a dozen programs — just this one.

• Save All Forms with a Click — So your parent form contains subforms, and those subforms contain subforms. Here's how to save them all in one fell swoop using a simple generic program invoked with a single click.

• Send a Personalized Email with @ASynchshell — Launch your email program with the recipient's name and email address from your database record already filled in.

• Convert Uppercase Text to Uppercase — We're talking about a way that really makes it stick.

• Suppress Repeating Values in First Report Column — The easy way to keep those sorted values in the first column from unnecessarily repeating.

• Partial Record Copying — Another technique we like and think you will, too.

Archiving Subdatabase Records
Got an application that grows subform records by the hundreds or thousands each month? Check out this nifty pushbutton technique that migrates the older subrecords to a separate archive application. This keeps the active app trim and efficient while still allowing easy access to the old subrecords as needed.

Sesame Startup Options — Using the Sesame.ini file
Would you like to change the default size of your F6 field editor, make Sesame's scrollbars wider, change Sesame's startup window size and location on screen, or customize Sesame's look and feel to accommodate different users' monitors or preferences? You can! And it isn't as hard as you might think.

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• Replicate Numeric ID and Add Alpha Suffix — How to have Sesame automatically add the next alphabetic suffix (A, B, C, etc.) to a sequential job or ID number.

• Export Your Data with a Click — Got a recurring export? Automate it!

• Work Around Initial Value Issue — If your initial value is a telephone area code, you can make the cursor land in the fourth character position by default, ready for you to type the rest of the number.

• Add Space in the Middle of a Form — A little-known technique that lets you create some vertical space anywhere in the form without having to select and drag all the lower fields down.

• Merge 'Last' Entries from Multiple Lineitems — Make sure your merge letter uses just the most recent entries in a lineitems field array.

• Word Loses Link to Sesame Merge Data File — If you've ever had a WordMerge doc forget where its merge data file is, help is here with this inventive way to  hardcode the link right into the doc.

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• Quick, Compact Extended Notes View — If you're cramped for space on your form and need to keep multi-line notes fields to a minimum size, here's way to give users easy access to all the notes without having to fumble around in the smallish fields.