User manual

7-6 FileMaker Pro User’s Guide
In the above example, you would perform the following basic steps:
1. Define a value list for Product Name with the Use values from field
and Only related values options.
2. Define a relationship to the same database file (a self-join) and
specify Category as the match field. (See “Defining relationships for
relational databases and lookups” on page 8-10.)
3. Specify that the value list use values from the related field Product
Name.
When you enter a value for Category, FileMaker Pro retrieves the
related records where Category matches the value you entered, and
displays the corresponding Product Name values in the value list.
Note Both the field with the value list values and the match field for
the relationship must reside in the same file, for example, Category
and Product Name from the example above.
Formatting fields to use a pop-up list, pop-up menu,
checkboxes, or radio buttons to display a value list
Once you have defined a value list, you assign it to the field on each
layout where you want to use it.
To assign a value list to a field and determine how it’s displayed:
1. In Layout mode, select the field.
2. Choose Format menu > Field Format.
3. In the Style area of the Field Format dialog box, select the second
radio button, then choose how you want FileMaker Pro to display the
value list.
To Do this
Select a format for the
value list
Choose the format you want from the list to the left of
using value list:
1 Choose Pop-up list to display value list items in a list.
Users can use the arrow keys or “type ahead” to select
a value.
1 Choose Pop-up menu to display value list items as a
pop-up menu. Users must select items by using the
mouse.
1 Choose Check boxes to display value list items next
to a series of checkboxes.
1 Choose Radio buttons to display value list items next
to a series of radio buttons.
To allow the user to
enter values other than
those defined by the
value list
Select Include “Other…” item to allow entry of other
values. (This option is not available for Pop-up list
because users can always type any value into the list.)
To allow the user to
edit the values defined
by the value list
Select Include “Edit…” item to allow editing of value list.
This option is not available for fields formatted as
checkboxes, radio buttons, or for value lists based on
another field’s values.
Name of field
selected on a
layout
Choose how to
display the value list
Select or define
a value list
Assigning a value list to a field