Filemaker Pro Lesson

Designing Layouts

FileMaker Pro automatically creates a standard layout when you enter Browse mode after defining the fields in a database. Sometimes the standard layout will be adequate for your needs but many times you may need to modify the standard layout or create new layouts to make the database easier to use.

You modify a layout by selecting View -> Layout Mode.

1. Using the "Registrations" database you created, select View -> Layout Mode. Notice that you now see the outline of each field and the field names.

2. We will begin by resizing the "Last Name" and "First Name" fields and moving the "First Name" field over to the right of the "Last Name" field. Click once on the "Last Name" field. Small black handles appear on the corners of the field to indicate that the field is selected. Drag the bottom-right handle of the "First Name" field to the left,but don't release the mouse button yet.

3. As you drag to the left, the field will get shorter in length. However, it may be difficult to maintain the height of the field. In order to maintain the field's height, press the SHIFT key down and hold it while dragging to the left. Holding down the SHIFT key while resizing an object contrains the resize to a vertical or horizontal direction.

4. Resize the field so it is approximately half of its original length, then release the mouse button first and the SHIFT key second.

5. Click on a blank area of the layout to deselect the "First Name" field. It is a good idea to deselect an object after manipulating it. You may accidentally resize or move an object because you forgot to deselect it.

6. Click on the "First Name" field to select it. Resize the "First Name" field to approximately half of its original length.

7. Now click on the center of the "First Name" field and, holding the mouse button down, drag it over and to the right of the "Last Name" field. When the dotted line within the "Last Name" field disappears, release the mouse button. The two fields are now vertically aligned.

8. Resize the "City", "State", and "Zip" fields and drag the "State" field to the right of the "City" field and the "Zip" field to the right of the "State" field.

9. Click on the "State" field label and press Delete. Click on the "Zip" field label and press Delete.

10. Click the "City" field label then type City/State/Zip.

11. Next you will move the "Address" and "City/State/Zip" fields and their respective labels up one line, since there is now a blank space where the "First Name" field and label were. Since both fields and their labels need to move the same distance and direction, moving them all together will be more efficient than moving them individually. In order to move them at the same time, you must select all of the fields and labels that you want to move. An easy way to select several objects that are next to each other on a layout at once is to drag a selection marquee around the objects you want to select. In this case you will draw a selection marquee that completely surrounds the "Address" and "City/State/Zip" fields and their respective labels. Position the cursor above and to the left of the "Address" and "City/State/Zip" field labels. You must completely surround an object within the selection marquee to select the object.

12. Drag down and to the right to just below and to the right of the "City/State/Zip" fields. Release the mouse button.

13. Position the cursor on the center of the "Address" field. Holding the SHIFT key down, drag the selected fields up to fill the gap left by the "First Name" field. Release the mouse button when the fields are in the correct position on the layout, then release the SHIFT key.

You may have noticed when moving or resizing objects on the layout, that the movements or resizing "snapped" to small increments on the screen. By default, FileMaker Pro uses an invisible grid in Layout mode to make it easier to place objects. However, the gird increments are usually too large to make fine adjustments to an object's size or position. Therefore, it would be best to turn off the invisible grid.

14. Choose Arrange -> Objects Grids. Since the Object Grids command was checked in the menu, choosing the command unchecks it and turns it off.

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Last updated: 12/28/2004