Developer’s Guide

Creating a database solution 2-9
To create an About layout:
1. Create a blank layout in the primary file of your database solution
and include the word “About” in the layout name. (In FileMaker Pro,
choose View menu > Layout Mode, choose Layouts menu > New
Layout/Report, type About <your solution> in the Layout Name
box, select Blank Layout and then click Finish to create the layout.)
Note For runtime database solutions, you must include the word
“About” in the layout name. You must also include certain specific
information in the layout. See “Your responsibilities as a developer”
on page 2-15 for details.
2. Include your logo, any other graphics, and your company
information.
3. Notify users if the solution files are protected with passwords or if
database design access has been removed.
See “Your responsibilities as a developer” on page 2-15 for the exact
legal wording.
4. Create a button that lets your users return to the main layout of the
primary file. (To create the button, use the button tool or a button
image with a script attached to it.)
See “Creating dynamic buttons” on page 2-6 and “Using buttons
with scripts” in the FileMaker Pro 5 User’s Guide or see
FileMaker Pro Help for information.
5. Choose Scripts menu > ScriptMaker and create a script that goes to
the About layout. Include the word “About” in the script’s name.
About <solution name>
6. Use the Developer Tool to create a menu command that displays
the About layout.
The Developer Tool uses the script’s name for the name of the menu
command. See “Adding a custom script to an About menu
command” on page 4-11.
You can also display the About layout by:
1 Creating a script that displays the layout each time the user opens
a solution file. (See “Creating scripts to automate tasks” in the
FileMaker Pro 5 User’s Guide or see FileMaker Pro Help for
information.)
1 Setting the document preferences for the primary file to always
display the About layout when the runtime application is started.
(Choose Edit menu > Preferences > Document, select Switch to layout,
and choose the About layout from the pop-up menu.)
Creating a custom Help layout or file
Create a Help layout or file that provides instructions for how to use
your custom solution and enter data. Then, create a script in the
primary file of your solution to display the Help system, and use the
Developer Tool to make the script available as a command in the
Help menu. (See “Adding a custom Help script command to the Help
menu” on page 4-12 for information.)
FileMaker Developer provides three examples of integrated Help
systems that you can study and get ideas from. Open the following
example files on the FileMaker Developer 5.5 CD:
\Developer Extras\FileMaker, Inc\Examples\Kiosk Solution\Menu.fp5
\Developer Extras\FileMaker, Inc\Examples\Runtime Solution\
Cat_help.usr
\Developer Extras\FileMaker, Inc\Examples\Relational\Main Menu.fp5
Each solution provides a button for users to close the Help window
and return to the main layout.