User manual

Table Of Contents
Chapter 2 | Using databases 44
Previewing data on a layout
When you switch to Preview mode, you see the layout as it appears on the printed page. You can’t
enter or edit information in fields in Preview mode.
In Preview mode, you see:
1 how many records fit on a printed page
1 how the pagination settings you choose affect page breaks
1 subsummary parts with calculated summary fields
1 variable information supplied by FileMaker Pro, like page numbers, the current date, and so on
1 the page margins you define
1 how fields set with sliding options close up blank space
1 records arranged in columns if the Layout Setup is defined to print in columns
1 the tab panel in the front if the page contains tab controls
To preview data on a layout, you follow the same preliminary steps that you perform when you
print, including specifying a printer and printing options and verifying that the found set contains
the records you want to preview (see steps 1 through 4 in the next section,
“Printing records”).
Then, switch to Preview mode.
Printing records
You can print information from your database, or you can print a blank record in order to print a
blank “form.”
To print records:
1. If you have more than one printer, specify which one you want to use.
2. Confirm printing options by choosing File menu > Print Setup (Windows) or File menu > Page
Setup (Mac
OS), then click OK.
If you’re in Preview mode, you can also click Print Setup (Windows) or Page Setup (Mac OS)
in the status toolbar.
For information about printer options, refer to your printer and system documentation.
3. Switch to the layout you want to use.
4. Make sure the found set is the way you want it by:
1 using Find mode and commands on the Records menu to change the found set
1 sorting the records
5. Switch to Preview mode to see exactly how your paper copy will look.
Some items, like sliding objects, records arranged in columns, and variable information like
page numbers, appear correctly only in Preview mode. If a record contains tab controls, only
the tab panel that is in the front is printed.
6. Choose File menu > Print.