How to shorten the display of a text field?

Question

I have a comments field that is long enough to really mess up the table view, so I want it to only display the first 20 words unless you click into it. How can I do that?

I tried to do use this formula to shorten the view of my "appt. comments" text field in my table.&nbsp;
Left([Appt. Comments],20)
However, I received this message "Formula errorA formula may not contain a reference to itself directly or indirectly through another formula."
Any idea on how to do this?------------------------------Meagan McOlin------------------------------

markshnier__you · Answer

Try this.&nbsp; The left 20 character should be a Clickable Hyperlink to view the record with "hover text" to see the whole text field.var text Words = Left([Appt. Comments],20);var text URL = URLRoot() &amp; "db/" &amp; dbid() &amp; "?a=dr&amp;rid=" &amp; [Record ID#];var text Hyperlink = "&lt;a href=" &amp; $URL &amp; "&gt;" &amp; $Words &amp; "&lt;/a&gt;";// then define the hover text// Note!!, the hover text must be enclosed in a single ' character as the first space will stop the text.// no html allowed in the hover text// Use 
 for line feedvar text HoverWords = "'" &amp; [Appt. Comments]&amp; "'";// this below will always be the same"&lt;div&gt;" &amp; "&lt;span title=" &amp; $HoverWords &amp; "&gt;" &amp; $Hyperlink &amp; "&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;" &amp; "&lt;div&gt;"------------------------------Mark Shnier (YQC)Quick Base Solution ProviderYour Quick Base Coachhttp://QuickBaseCoach.commark.shnier@gmail.com------------------------------

markshnier__you · Answer

You would need to have a separate abbreviated field to use on reports. if you want to get fancier there is syntax to have a 'more' link appear to allow drilling into the record to see the full record. There is also syntax possible to allow hover text to see the full note

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Mark Shnier (YQC)
Quick Base Solution Provider
Your Quick Base Coach
http://QuickBaseCoach.com
mark.shnier@gmail.com
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meaganmcolin · Answer

Hi Mark,

What I need is to shorten the comment display on the table view. So that it doesn't make the record/row it is on so long. I want the record height to be uniform and the comments section is preventing that right now.

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Meagan McOlin
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michaeltamoush · Answer

Mark, what is the hover syntax? Or is that something complicated enough we need to take it offline and consult?------------------------------Mike Tamoush------------------------------

meaganmcolin · Answer

Hover syntax is deeper knowledge than I have. :) But I would love to learn.------------------------------Meagan McOlin------------------------------

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How to shorten the display of a text field?

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