User manual

52 FileMaker Pro User’s Guide
It’s easiest to start with a Blank layout or a layout with no objects in
the body part.
3. Choose Layouts menu > Layout Setup.
4. In the Layout Setup dialog box, click the Printing tab, select Print in
<value> columns, select options for the columns, then click OK.
5. On the layout, you see vertical lines indicating columns.
6. Place or arrange fields and other layout objects so they are
contained within the sample column on the left.
Use merge fields or fields or objects with sliding enabled to fit more
data into the width of a column. With either of these two features,
fields can extend into the gray area of the second column, and blank
space in fields is eliminated when you view or print data.
To change the width of columns:
The initial width of each column is calculated based on the paper
size, orientation, and any margins you have set. To change the width
of columns, do one of the following:
If you change the number of columns, FileMaker Pro adjusts the
width of the columns to fit within the width of the paper size you
have defined, not including fixed margins. You may need to readjust
fields to fit within the sample column.
For more information about setting up a layout to print records, see
Help.
Working with objects on a layout
An object is a discrete element—a field, text, a graphic object (such
as an oval or imported picture), a button, or a portal
(for displaying
rows of related records)—that you can select, move, resize, delete,
copy, format, and otherwise change. Place objects on a layout to
enhance its design.
For each type of object you work with, you use specific tools from
the tool panel or one of the toolbars (choose
View menu > Toolbars).
To Do this
Specify the number of
columns
For Print in <value> columns, type a number
between 1 and 99.
Arrange records to flow
across the page first (left to
right a row at a time)
Select Across first.
Use this option for reports like labels, to use the
fewest number of rows and preserve label stock.
Arrange records to flow
down the page first (top to
bottom a column at a time)
Select Down first.
Use this option for reports like directories, where
you read from top to bottom, column by column.
Manually resize column
widths by dragging
Sample column
To Do this
Interactively adjust the
width of the columns
Drag the right column boundary (the vertical dashed
line at the right edge of the sample column). If you
widen the column, you see a medium-gray area that
indicates a “gutter” area that won’t print.
Precisely measure and
adjust the width of the
columns
Choose View menu > Object Size. Position the pointer
over the right column boundary and hold down the
mouse button (be careful not to drag the column
width). The column width is the second-to-last field
in the Size palette.