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Chapter 3 | Creating databases 88
5. Choose options for the value list, if desired.
If you selected Drop-down list for the Control Style, you can select Include arrow to show
and hide list if you want to format the field as a
combo box. An arrow control appears in the
edit box. Users click the arrow or press Esc to show or hide the drop-down list.
To allow users to enter values other than those defined by the value list, select Allow editing
of value list or Allow entry of other values.
To set up fields to suggest possible matches as the user types data in the field, select Auto-
complete using existing values or Auto-complete using value list.
6. To display data from a different field, click the icon next to Display data from.
In the Specify Field dialog box, select the field to display data from. To include the field name
as text on the layout, select Create label. Click OK.
7. Save the layout.
For more information on creating value lists and setting control style options, see Help.
Deciding where to place related fields
You can place related fields directly on layouts or in portals.
1 Directly on layouts: Place related fields directly on a layout to display data from the first related
record, even when there are more than one related records that matches the criteria of the
relationship. (The first related record that’s displayed is determined by whether the relationship
specifies a sort order. For more information, see “Creating relationships” on page 109.)
1 In portals: Place related fields within a portal on a layout to display data from all related records
that match the criteria of the relationship. For examples of when to place related fields in portals,
see Help.
Note Before placing related fields on a layout, you should understand the concepts presented in
chapter 4, “Working with related tables and files.”
About merge fields
Use merge fields to combine field data and text in documents like form letters, labels, envelopes,
or contracts. You create merge fields in text blocks, which allows you to use static text and field
data together.
Merge fields shrink or expand to fit the amount of text in the field for each record. For example:
1 When the merge field <<First Name>> is between the text Dear and a colon, (as in Dear
<<First Name>>:), FileMaker Pro displays Dear Charles: in Browse mode or Preview mode if
the First Name field contains
Charles.
1 When a merge field is on a line by itself (such as an empty Address Line 2 field in a mailing
label), FileMaker
Pro removes the blank line from the text block.
FileMaker Pro uses merge fields to create Labels and Envelope layouts.
Note You can also use a merge variable to display data. For more information, see Help.