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Reference 635
Title Better ways to find where records are used
Category General
Description Problem Description:
Currently, there are many inconsistent ways to find where records are used:
  1. View > Record Links... command.
    However, this only lists the host records where the chosen record is used and not the specific field(s).
    So the user must search further and can only do so in one host record at a time.
  2. Media Property Box > Links tab and Media Window > Links tab.
    This only works for Media records but does not identify specific field(s) nor Named List membership.
  3. Tools > Work with Data > Places... dialogue Where Used... button added in FH V4.
    This button only works for Place records but does list everywhere the Place is used, except Named Lists.
  4. Fact Witness dialogue Go To > Local Event for Principal/Witness feature added in FH V6.
    This option only works for Fact Witnesses.
  5. View > Citations to Source Record... command added in FH V7.
    This only lists Citations linked to a Source record so does not list other links to Source records.
  6. =IsInList(...) function.
    Identifies whether a record is a member of a Named List.
  7. Where Used Record Links plugin.
    This lists all the fields where the chosen record(s) are used (except Named Lists) but is a bit more awkward to access and needs to be updated whenever new features are added to FH.
There are many ways fields can link to records:
Note fields to Note records, Source records to Repositories and to Source Templates, any record to Research Notes, Rich Text links to any records, Named List members, etc...
FH has no native command that lists all those specific fields where any chosen type of record is used.
No Data Reference shortcut allows Expressions or Plugins to find where a record is used (except INDI.~SHAR).

User Interface Proposal:
FH should provide a way of easily listing all the specific field(s) where a chosen record is used.
The list should include comprehensive details similar to those in the Result Set produced by some existing commands.

Suggestions (they don't all have to be implemented):
  1. Add a Where Used... button to each Property Box main toolbar &/or to each Records Window tab, so a single click produces a Result Set listing.
  2. Add a right-click Where Used... option to any record in a list such as each Records Window tab.
  3. Alter the View > Record Links... command to produce a comprehensive Result Set listing, not just records.
Where possible, multiple record selection might be a useful bonus.

Data Reference Proposal:
Similar to the INDI.~SHAR shortcut for Fact Witnesses, provide shortcuts for all other usage links:
e.g.
  • SOUR.~SOUR for all Source links.
  • SOUR.~CITE for just Citation links.
  • OBJE.~OBJE for all Media links.
  • NOTE.~NOTE for shared Note links.
  • _RNOT.~_RNOT for shared Research Note links.
  • INDI.~INDI for all Individual links including Rich Text links.
  • INDI.~ASSO for just Associated Person links.
  • INDI.~_LIST for Named List membership.

Plugin API Proposal:
Provide a WhereUsed(...) method or function to return a table structure of details.

Web Link https://www.fhug.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22561
Votes 22
Rating 4.6
Added Saturday 2nd March 2024
Last Vote Tuesday 27th August 2024

 

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