Filemaker Pro Lesson

Adding Shapes and Color

Filemaker Pro allows you to add several types of objects to your layouts to enhance their appearance on the screen and when printed. First, you can add text objects to the layout, as you have done with field labels. Second, you can insert graphic objects from other programs into the layout. Third, you can draw simple objects on the layout using Filemaker Pro's drawing tools.

1. Using the Registration database you created, select View -> Layout Mode.

2. Click on the Rectangle tool to select it. [Note: Double click on any tool to lock it so the tool will remain active, allowing you to use it repeatedly without reverting back to the Selection tool.] Position the cursor just above and to the left of the "Registration Fee" field label. Drag to just below and to the right of the "Current Total" field. Release the mouse button.

3. Now click on your color selector just above the paint bucket and choose a color by clicking on it. Notice that your entire rectangle changed to the solid color you have chosen and obscured the fields beneath it. To make the fields visible again choose Arrange -> Send to the Back.

4. You can also change from a solid color to a colored pattern. Click on the pattern selector that looks like a series of diagonal lines and choose a pattern by clicking on it. Notice that the rectangle is no longer a solid color.

5. You may also wish to make the rectangle stand out by increasing the width and color of its outline. Click on the color selector just above the marking pen and choose an appropriate contrasting color. Now select a slightly wider line width from the line selector.

6. To make the data entry fields stand out better, hold the Shift key down and click on each of the data fields within the rectangle. Now click on the color selector just above the paint bucket and choose an appropriate color such as white.

7. Since these fields represent monetary amounts, we should also align them to the right. Choose Format -> Align Text -> Right.

8. They should also display as currency. Choose Format -> Number. Click the "Format as Decimal" radio button and check the "Fixed Number of Decimal Digits" checkbox. Now check the "Use Notation" checkbox and select "Currency" (the default setting). The "Currency Symbol" field is already set to the $ symbol by default.

9. Check the "Use Thousands Separator" checkbox then Click OK.

10. If you wish to color the entire screen, click on the "Body" tab, then select a color from the color palette above the paint bucket. You can also apply a pattern if you wish. Each layout part (header, subsummary part, body, grand summary part, and footer) can be colored individually. Remember, however, that colors will show up in the printing process as gray on a black and white printer and use quite a bit of toner. I usually limit my color applications to data entry screens for this reason.

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Last updated: 12/28/2004