Copy to Google Docs function - including entries from linked libraries

[Vicki Wheeler]

Hello

I have a large library for my business and I use the 'Copy to Google Docs' function to create various forms, invoices and other documentation. This all works very well if I only use fields from the main library however I've read it is possible to also extract fields from linked libraries but I've never managed to make this work. Below is the instructions from the help file. If someone has made this work please could you give me an example of what to put.

Currently to insert a field from my main library I simply put the field name inside {{}}. Here are the instructions I found which I cannot get to do anything.

http://help.mementodatabase.com/?ht_kb=copying-to-google-docs

Specifically this part:

Syntax for Linked fields

If a Library includes Link to entry fields, you can get more information out of them. Ensure that you are using the corect name for this field type. Here are the rules:

Use a Table in Google Docs if you want to create a list of linked entries:

In Google Docs, go to the Insert menu and choose Table. Adjust the number of rows and columns, then put linked fields to the cells.

Use colon between a Library name and a Field name if you want to refer to the linked Library:

{{Library_name:Link_to_entry_Field_name}}

Use dot if you want to refer to another Field for a linked entry:

{{Link_to_entry_Field_name.Another_field}}

Looks easy and I guess it will be when I make it work! Hope someone can help. Thanks Vicki 

[Beth Dixon]

If you would provide screenshots of your fields and libraries to the forum people could better assist you.  I noticed Bill Crews asked for this information in one of your previous emails. 

- Beth

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[Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent]

Sorry for example in my main library "Bookings" I have a Link to Entry field called "Venue" in that library is a field called "Payment Type" I'd like to include this field on my document produced from the "Bookings" library.

Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent
07966 360887
www.vickiwheeler.co.uk

[Bill Crews]

I thought your problem was not on local fields, like "Payment Type", but on fields, like "X" in a linked library "A". If I understand the Help correctly, that would be {{A.X}}, no? If I understand correctly, what is the name of your remote Library and the name of the field in that library whose value you want?

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[Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent]

That's how I read it but it doesn't do anything. I'm wondering what the table it suggests does? Is it essential, what exactly goes in each box, where does the table go?

One of the entries I'm trying to insert is "Payment Type" which is in the "Venues" library connected via a link to entry field called "Venue" so as you say you'd expect {{Venue:Payment Type}} to do it, but it doesn't. 

Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent
07966 360887
www.vickiwheeler.co.uk

[Elizabeth Dixon]

Can you provide us with step by step instructions on how you are doing this?  From the very beginning please.

Beth

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[Bill Crews]

My understanding from reading the Help is that you need . and not :

So, {{Venues.Payment Type}}

No?

[Elizabeth Dixon]

Ok, I  have tried it every which way from Sunday.   Including the addition of a table per the instructions and it simply does not connect the link to entry field item.

Vicki, I  don't think it works anymore and I will reach out to the developer to confirm.

The only way I was able to get it to work was as follows:  (I used my libraries that I created for you for Avon.)

Two libraries:

Avon Contacts

Avon Orders

In Avon Contacts I created a Link to Entry field to the Avon Orders library and called it Orders.

In Avon Contacts I created a JavaScript field and called it Payment Type and I entered the following script.  

field("Orders")[0].field("Payment Type");

What is happening here is that the script is instructing Memento to go to the link to entry field named Orders, and then go to the Avon Orders library and find the field called Payment Type,  and then bring that data back into the JavaScript field.

Then I saved the library edit changes...and... 

Selected an entry

Clicked on 3 dots top RHS

Chose Copy to Google Docs

Click + to create template

Opened template and edited as follows:

{{Phone Contacts}}

{{Text}}

{{Orders}}

{{Payment Type}}

Closed template

Click on main bar of template to make it create doc.

See attached for results.

Beth

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[Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent]

Thank you for trying. I too have a template with every combination of words and . : I could think of.

My workaround is Lookup fields, question is which fields slow down loading the least Lookup or JavaScript? I have quite a few Lookups, names, addresses, etc.

Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent
07966 360887
www.vickiwheeler.co.uk

[Elizabeth Dixon]

Personally,  I use JavaScript.  I don't know much about Lookup fields.  Also, as Bill said previously perhaps you need to restructure your libraries a bit so that you don't need so many Lookup fields.

I have reached out to the developer for help.  It can take awhile to receive a response.  I will keep you posted. 

Beth

[Bill Crews]

Yes, so in a JavaScript field, it would be...

field("Venues")[0].field("Payment Type");

...where "Venues" is the Link to Entry field in Billing and "Payment Type" is the field in Venues.

In Mementoscrpt (or Calculation field script), it would be...

{{Venues.Payment Type}}

And in a Lookup field, it would be configured in field edit.

[Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent]

Which of these options is least slowing down you think? Currently have the fields as Lookups.

Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent
07966 360887
www.vickiwheeler.co.uk

[Beth Dixon]

How many lookup fields do you have?

- Beth

[Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent]

About 25 mainly name and address fields and details specific to venue or artist. 

Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent
07966 360887
www.vickiwheeler.co.uk

[Bill Crews]

My guess is that there's not much difference in speed between them, but the 2 scripts do invoke a script language, and the rest of the functionality should be identical, so I'd stick with the Lookup field type, myself.

[Elizabeth Dixon]

Could you create two templates?  Just throwing out ideas here.  One for invoicing?  One for Booking confirmation?  Instead of trying to pull 25 pieces of data into one document.

Beth

Beth

[Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent]

I have about 8 different templates for different things. I'll just have to leave it as it is for the moment and start on my next query I guess!

Thanks again,

Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent
07966 360887
www.vickiwheeler.co.uk

[Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent]

Hi

Did you ever hear back from the developer about this?

Thanks,

Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent
07966 360887
www.vickiwheeler.co.uk

[Josué Charles]

In the case of linked library, the agregation doesn't work for me. In the documentation, we must do for sum :  {{Library:linked_field.another_field@sum}}. Can you help me?

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[Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent]

Hi, we think this function is broken. I'm currently for the developer to get back to me on this.

Vicki Wheeler - Music Agent
07966 360887
www.vickiwheeler.co.uk