Quick Start

Lesson 8
Automating tasks with buttons and scripts
FileMaker Pro lets you automate many database tasks with buttons
and scripts. These powerful features can save you a lot of time by
performing a series of actions with a single click.
In this lesson you will:
1 make and use a button to perform a task
1 create and run a simple script to perform a multi-step task
1 use a button to perform a script
Note You can install a fresh copy of the tutorial files at any time. For
Windows-based systems, see the Custom setup instructions in
“Installing FileMaker Pro” on page 7. For Mac OS systems, see
“Custom installation” on page 22.
Perform a task using a button
Look at a sample button
A button is an object on a layout that you can click to perform many
FileMaker Pro commands. You can use a button to switch layouts in
your database.
1. Open the Tutorial folder in the FileMaker Pro folder.
2. Open the Sample Files folder.
You should be here: FileMaker Pro\Tutorial\Sample Files.
3. Open Sample08.fp5.
4. Locate the button labeled Go to List of Members at the top of
Layout #1.
5. Click the button. You should now be viewing the List of Members
layout (as indicated by the layout pop-up menu).
Create the button
1. Open the Tutorial folder in the FileMaker Pro folder.
2. Open the Working Files folder.
You should be here: FileMaker Pro\Tutorial\Working Files.
3. Open MyFile08.fp5.
4. Choose Layout #1 from the layout pop-up menu if it is not already
selected.
5. Select View menu > Layout Mode to switch to layout mode.
6. Click the button tool .
7. Draw the button at the top of the layout.
8. In the Specify Button dialog box, select the Go to Layout command
from the list.
9. In the Options area, select the List of Members layout.
Button