Help

Creating and managing layouts and reports
F
ILEMAKER PRO HELP 247
• To enter many individual text blocks at once, double-click the Text tool to lock it. The
Text tool remains active until you click another tool. (You can also set a preference to always
lock a tool when you select it. For more information, see
Setting layout preferences.)
• To create a form letter, create a Blank layout, and then use the Text tool to create a large
text block for the letter. Type the text of your letter, and insert merge fields for fields like
name and address. For more information, see
Creating a layout and Placing merge fields
on a layout.
• To see nonprinting boundaries to help you align text with other objects, Choose View
menu
> Show > Text Boundaries. For more information, see Showing text or field
boundaries.
Related topics
Specifying paragraph attributes and tab settings
Inserting the date, page number, or other variable onto a layout
You can display or print fixed information (such as the date as it was when entered) or variable
information (such as today’s date) when you print or preview records. For example, display the
current time in a report footer each time you print the report.
You can also display the date, time, or user name as it is when you place it on the layout. This
information stays the same whenever you display, print, or preview records. (You can also insert the
current date, time, or user name into a field in Browse mode.)
To insert the date, page number, or other variable onto a layout:
1. In Layout mode, click the Selection tool in the status toolbar, and click where you
want the information to appear.
If you want the information inserted into an existing text object, double-click where you want to
place the insertion point.
2. Choose Insert menu, then choose one of the following commands:
Choose To insert In Layout mode, you see
Current Date A fixed date (taken from your
computer's calendar). This date is static
and doesn't change.
The current date
Current Time A fixed time (taken from your
computer's clock). This time is static
and doesn't change.
The current time
Current User Name A fixed user name (taken from the User
Name specified in Preferences). This
name is static and doesn't change.
The user's name
Date Symbol A variable date. This date changes to
show the current date taken from your
computer's calendar.
{{CurrentDate}}
Time Symbol A variable time. This time changes to
show the current time taken from your
computer's clock.
{{CurrentTime}}