Others please feel free to chime in, but you'll probably achieve this best using a portal with a Go to Related Record script. I apologize ahead of time is it sounds like I've oversimplified this or appear to suggest steps that are obvious to you ... I don't know your familiarity with the Filemaker.
In this process you create a relationship so that you view all the records associated with your applicant names in a scrollable list. This is done simply enough.
1. Create a global text field called "g_applicant_names" in the same table as the one with the applicant records you want to be directed to. Make it a text-formatted field and select the Options tab, then choose "Storage" and choose "Use global storage (one value for all records)". Place it on a new blank layout that points to the table with the applicant names that you're drawing from. Then attach the value list you've already created to that field. You'll be prompted to select the proper table when you create the layout.
2. Go to your Define/Database from the File Menu and go to the Relationships tab. Find the table occurrence that has the records (you'll need it soon). Create another occurrence of this table by clicking the green plus sign at the bottom left of the table.
3. Here's where you'll need to know your own data. From the ORIGINAL table scroll down by clicking the little down arrow in the bottom middle of the box until you've found the new text global record you created (g_applicant_name). Now go to the new table occurrence you created and scroll down until you've found the original applicant name field, which is probably the name field that your value list is based on (don't worry, the other table won't jump back to the top when you leave it). Drag the name field from the ORIGINAL table over the applicant name field in the new table occurrence box. When you're done a line will be drawn between the two (and it will have a little box with an equal sign in the middle). When you've done that you've completed the relationship.
4. Next go back to your blank layout and create a portal -- just below your global field is probably a great place -- by clicking the portal tool, which is in your status area toolbox above the button tool and below the circle. When you're done drawing it the Portal Setup dialog box will show. Find the name of the new table occurrence you created and select it. Choose your options from the dialog box. Your list is probably long, so be sure to click the "Show vertical scroll bar" checkbox. When you click OK, the next dialog box will ask you what fields you want in the portal. Choose the ones you want, but make sure that the fields can adequately describe what's in that record (a title or a date).
5. Click "Done" and you now have your portal set up. Go to browse mode and have a look. Sadly you'll see that there is nothing in it. That's because the relationship wants to match the values in the global field with the values in match field in the table. And, of course, you haven't set a value yet. Sooooo, go up to your global field and click in it. Your drop-down list should appear. Select a name and all the records that match that name should appear in the portal.
6. OK, you're almost there. Now you need to create a script that will take you to the detail page for that applicant's record. Here's how: Go to Scriptmaker in the menu bar and click "New". Name your script "Go to Related Applicant Name". From the script options at the far left of the dialog box, double-click "Go to Related Record" to make it a script step. You have a few choices here. First, under "Go to Related Record From" choose the new table occurrence/relationship you created. Next, under "Show record using layout" choose the detail page you have for those applicant records (you may need to set one up if one doesn't already exist). Finally, under "result options" choose "Show only related records", so that only those records appear. If you want to limit those records to just the single associated record, choose "Match current record only". Close Scriptmaker.
7. Now all that's left to do is attach that script to the appropriate field in the portal. Click to select the portal field that you want to attach the script to so that the four handles appear on the corners, then go to the Format menu and select "Button setup". Click the "Perform Script" option on the left and click "Specify". Now just find the script named "Go to Related Applicant Name", select it and click OK, then OK again to close the Button setup dialog box and then go to back into Browse Mode. whn you click the scripted field in the portal you should go to the related record's detail page.
I don't think I've left anything out, but let me know if it doesn't work for you and we'll look closer at what's amiss. I hope this helps.
CG
