User manual

Customizing layouts 7-15
Or, to specify attributes for objects you add later, start with no
objects selected.
2. Choose colors, patterns, line or border widths, and object effects
from the palettes in the status area.
If an object is selected, the sample boxes next to the palettes show
the attributes for that object. If nothing is selected, the sample boxes
show the default attributes.
Keep these points in mind:
1 To make an object transparent, choose the transparent pattern
from the pattern palette. An object with a transparent pattern is
“hollow.” Other objects are visible beneath it, and it can only be
selected by clicking its border.
1 For fields, palette settings replace Field Border dialog box settings.
See “Adding borders, fill, and baselines to fields” on page 7-1.
1 To apply a color or pattern to a layout part, see “Adding or
changing layout parts” on page 6-26.
About object effects
Use commands from the object effects palette to give your layouts a
3-dimensional appearance. You can assign object effects to objects
you draw (except lines), fields, and portals.
Keep these points in mind:
1 Object effects look best when you specify a transparent pen pattern
(in other words, an invisible border) and a pen width of at least 2
points. Also, try changing the background color of the enclosing part
to a color similar in shade to the object’s fill color. (See “Adding or
changing layout parts” on page 6-26.)
To change Use the
The width of a line, or the width of a border
around a shape, text object, field, or portal
Line width palette
The color or pattern of a line, or the color or
pattern of a border around a shape, text
object, field, or portal
Pen color and pen pattern palettes
The color or pattern of an object, including
the backgrounds of text objects, fields, and
portals
Fill color and fill pattern palettes
The effect with which FileMaker Pro draws
an object (except lines)
Object effects palette, then choose
Embossed, Engraved, or
Drop Shadow (see the next section,
“About object effects”)
Fill sample
Fill color
palette
Fill pattern
palette
Pen color
palette
Pen pattern
palette
Current line
width
Line width
palette
Object
effects
palette
Pen sample
Choose To
Embossed Make the selected object appear to be raised above the
background
Engraved Make the selected object appear to be depressed into the
background
Drop Shadow Make the selected object appear to cast a shadow below and to
the right.
Apply effects to layout objects
Embossed Engraved Drop shadow