Datasheet

Part I ✦ The Fundamentals

Figure 1-3: A standard

database layout.

On the other hand, you can customize a database layout by doing any of the

following:

✦ Changing the placement of fields (to create a columnar report, for example).

✦ Eliminating fields from the layout that you don’t want to display (while still

being able to use them in other layouts where they will display).

✦ Creating separate tabs that contain subsets of your layout’s fields.

✦ Removing some or all the field labels or moving the labels to different posi-

tions. (Field labels aren’t attached to fields.)

✦ Embellishing the layout by adding text and graphics and by modifying the

font, style, color, pattern, or border for fields.

✦ Eliminating layout parts (which we explain later in this chapter) that aren’t

needed, or adding parts that display summary statistics or present informa-

tion that repeats on every page.

Figure 1-4 shows a custom layout for the database previously shown in Figure 1-3.

The data entry screen is more attractive because of the rearrangement of the fields,

changes in font sizes and styles, and addition of color and graphics. To make it even

easier to create attractive custom layouts, FileMaker Pro offers layout themes. When

creating a new layout, you can optionally select a theme from the ones supplied by

the program, automatically setting the background colors and field borders.

Themes apply only while creating the layout. You cannot assign a theme to an

already existing layout.

Every layout that you create for a database is separate from every other layout, but

it draws from the same set of fields. When you design a new layout, you select only

the fields that you need. In a customer database, for example, you can use one lay-

out to display invoice information, such as the customer’s name, address, items,

or services purchased, and a total. A second layout might contain only name and

address information that’s formatted as a mailing label. You can create a third lay-

out to print or display a client phone book or monthly client purchase totals. Figure

1-5 shows two different layouts for the same database.

Note

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