User manual

Chapter 7
Customizing layouts
After creating a layout, you can change its appearance or the way the
layout works. This chapter explains how to:
1 customize how fields or other objects on a layout look
1 change how users interact with fields on a layout, for example, by
adding scroll bars or changing the order fields are tabbed through
1 define a list of values that can be used for data entry in one or more
fields on a layout
1 add text or graphics to a layout, like titles or a logo
1 use tools available in FileMaker Pro to help you position and work
with objects on a layout
1 change the way data on a layout prints
For information on creating a layout, placing or removing fields on a
layout, controlling how data is formatted in a field, or adding layout parts,
see the previous chapter, “Creating and managing layouts and reports.”
Customizing fields on a layout
You have a variety of options for controlling how fields look and
how users interact with fields. In most cases, if you specify these
options with no fields selected or if you’ve just placed a field and it’s
still selected, you set behavior for fields you place on the layout later.
If you select one or more fields before you set options, you format
the selected fields.
For information about selecting fields and other objects, see
“Selecting objects” on page 6-12.
Tip Choose the Field Borders or Field Format command by right-
clicking (Windows) or Control-clicking (Mac OS) a field or fields.
Adding borders, fill, and baselines to fields
To enhance the appearance and usability of your layout, you can add
or customize:
1 borders around fields
1 the background color and pattern, or fill, of fields
1 the dotted guidelines, or text baselines, that appear in a field at the
base of the text to help you align it with other objects
1. If you’re not already in Layout mode, choose View menu > Layout
Mode.
2. Select one or more fields.
Or, to specify attributes for fields you add later, start with no fields
selected.
3. Choose Format menu > Field Borders.
4. In the Field Borders dialog box, select the formats you want to use.
You see examples of the options you choose in the Sample area.
Choose which
portion of the field to
assign attributes to
Choose a color,
pattern, and line width
Choose Borders,
Baselines, or Fill
You see a representation
of the choices you make