Help

Editing objects, layout parts, and the layout background
F
ILEMAKER PRO HELP 359
Layout mode, and a contrasting format for field data in Browse mode. Here is how FileMaker Pro
resolves text formatting conflicts:
• When you format a field in Layout mode, the formatting affects only the appearance of that
particular occurrence of the field object.
• When you format field data in Browse mode, this formatting is stored with the data, and you
see it in any layout that displays that field. Field data that is formatted in Browse mode takes
precedence over data formatting in Layout mode. For example, if you format field text as
Bold in Browse mode, then switch to Layout mode and format the same field as Plain Text,
the text will continue to display as bold.
Tip To maintain flexibility in formatting the same data on different layouts, use Layout mode to apply
the primary font and paragraph settings to field objects on layouts. Use Browse mode to apply bold
or italic emphasis to particular words in fields. Do not format the entire contents of a field in Browse
mode; instead, reformat its field object in Layout mode.
Notes
• You can use the formatting bar (click Formatting in the layout bar), the rulers (choose
View menu > Rulers), or the shortcut menu for quick access to many text attributes. For
more information, see
Specifying paragraph attributes and tab settings and Using shortcut
menus.
• To eliminate formatting applied in Browse mode, reformat the text in Browse mode or export
and re-import the data.
• When you paste text into fields:
• unformatted text automatically acquires the default formatting of the existing field text.
• text that has the same format as existing field text keeps its formatting.
• text that has a different format to existing text keeps its formatting. To change pasted
text format to the existing text format, choose Edit menu
> Undo Formatting
immediately after pasting the text.
• In Browse mode, you can format particular characters in number, date, time, and timestamp
fields. For example, you could format only the year of a date to be bold, such as 5/5/1965.
However, you can only see and print the special formatting when the field object is
formatted with the As entered option in Layout mode. If you specify any other field
formatting options, the special formatting is only visible in Browse mode when the field is
active. (Text fields do not have this limitation.) For more information on formatting fields, see
Formatting and setting up field objects in Layout mode.
Making text bold, italic, highlighted, or setting other styles
You can format text in three areas:
• format text in a field in Browse mode
• format field objects in Layout mode
• format static text on a layout (such as a field label) in Layout mode
To specify several text attributes at once:
1. Select the text or field that you want to change.