User manual

Creating and managing layouts and reports 6-5
Envelope
Use an Envelope layout to print the fields you select, arranged to print
on a standard “Number 10” business envelope.
Blank layout
Use a Blank layout as the starting point for a layout that you create
entirely from scratch, for example, a complex data entry screen. You
add the fields you want on the layout in Layout mode.
Keep these points in mind:
1 FileMaker Pro layouts are divided into layout parts, which are
areas on the layout that control how to display and print data, text,
and graphics. FileMaker Pro includes the body, header, and footer
parts as needed on a layout depending on the choices you make in the
New Layout/Report assistant. Columnar reports with grouped and
totaled data also have either subsummary or grand summary parts or
both. You have complete control over adding, removing, or
modifying layout parts after you complete the assistant. See “About
layout parts” on page 6-25.
1 If your layout doesn’t turn out the way you expect it to, you can go
through the assistant again. Remember to delete the layout that you
no longer need (see “Working with, duplicating, deleting,
or renaming layouts” on page 6-8).
1 In the New Layout/Report assistant, you can apply FileMaker Pro
layout themes to enhance the appearance of a layout or report and to
give all your layouts a consistent look. A theme affects
characteristics of the layout, including the background color, field
borders and fill, and text attributes in and outside of fields. A theme
does not control the placement or behavior of fields or objects. You
can apply themes only in the assistant.
1 If you include a field on the layout from another database (a related
field), you should understand the concepts in chapter 8, “Working
with related files.” Also, see “Deciding where to place related fields”
on page 6-18.
1 When you create a Table view and switch to Layout mode, you see
a Standard form layout. Table view is not a layout type, it’s an
arrangement of data, like View as Form or View as List (on the View
menu in Browse mode). You can choose to view any layout in Table
view by choosing View menu > View as Table.
1 If you’re designing a layout to be viewed on the Web using the
FileMaker Pro Web Companion, see “Setting up browser views” on
page 14-10.
Considerations when you create a Columnar list/
report layout
1 If you are creating a report with grouped data, you should think
about how you want the report to look so you can more easily
proceed through the assistant. The assistant asks you to specify the
field or fields that you want to group the data by. If you are including
subtotals or grand totals, you should also think about what fields you
want to summarize and define those summary fields before you
begin the assistant. See “About defining database fields” on
page 5-3. (If necessary, you can also define the summary fields
within the assistant.)