User manual

7-12 FileMaker Pro User’s Guide
Formatting text
You can specify how text (both in and outside of fields) appears on
your layout. You control:
1 the character attributes of the text, including font, font size, style,
and color
1 the paragraph alignment, margins, and line spacing
1 tab settings
If you specify text formatting with no text or fields selected, you set
default text formats for fields and text that you add later. Similarly,
if you’ve just created a field or typed text and it’s still selected, and
you specify text formatting, you set default text formats. If you
change these default text formats later, FileMaker Pro does not
retroactively change previously applied formats.
Important You can format characters in text fields in Browse mode
(for example, italicize or underline a word for emphasis). Unlike text
formatting specified in Layout mode, this formatting is stored with
the data, and you see it in any layout that displays that field. Text that
is formatted in Browse mode takes precedence over text formatted in
Layout mode. For example, if you format text as bold in Browse
mode, then switch to Layout mode and format the same field as
italic, the text will continue to display as bold. To eliminate
formatting applied in Browse mode, reformat the text in Browse
mode or export and re-import the data (see “Exporting data from
FileMaker Pro” on page 12-6).
Tip You can use the Text Formatting toolbar (choose View menu >
Toolbars > Text Formatting), the text ruler (choose View menu > Text
Ruler), or context menus for quick access to many text attributes. See
“Using toolbars” on page 1-5 and “Using context menus” on
page 1-5. The text ruler is documented in the FileMaker Pro
onscreen Help. Choose Help menu > Contents and Index, click the
Index tab, and type text, formatting.
Making text bold, italic, or setting other styles
There are several ways to format text. Select the text you want to
format, then:
1 Choose text formatting (like a Font or Style) from a submenu on the
Format menu.
1 Choose text formatting options from the Text Formatting toolbar.
1 Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) and choose text
formatting commands from the context menu.
1 Choose Format menu > Text to select several text formatting
options at once.
To specify several text attributes at once:
1. Select the text you want to change.
For complete information about selecting text, see “Selecting text”
on page 2-13.
2. In the Text Format dialog box, select the attributes you want to
use.
In the Sample area, FileMaker Pro displays text formatted with the
attributes you select.
To Do this
Format text in a field in
Browse mode
In Browse mode, select text and choose Format
menu > Text. This formatting is stored with the data,
and you see it in any layout.
Specify text formatting
for fields in Layout
mode
In Layout mode, select one or more fields, then choose
Format menu > Text. Or press Alt (Windows) or
Option (Mac OS) while double-clicking a field.
Format text on a layout In Layout mode, select text and choose Format menu >
Text.