Tutorial
Table Of Contents
- Contents
- Lesson 1 FileMaker Pro basics
- Lesson 2 Browsing information
- Lesson 3 Finding and sorting records
- Use quick find to search a database
- Find records based on criteria in a single field
- Find records based on criteria in specific separate fields
- Find records that match multiple criteria in the same field
- Find records that match a range of criteria in the same field
- Narrow your search
- Save a find request to use later
- Find records using a Saved Find
- Sort your found set
- Add a new record in List View
- For more information
- Lesson 4 Creating a database and entering records
- Lesson 5 Customizing what you see
- Lesson 6 Creating lists, mailing labels, and form letters
- Lesson 7 Simplifying data entry
- Lesson 8 Automating tasks with buttons and scripts
- Lesson 9 Creating and running reports
- Lesson 10 Charting data
- Lesson 11 Making databases relational
- Lesson 12 Sharing and exchanging data
- Lesson 13 Protecting data in FileMaker Pro
- Lesson 14 Backing up your databases
Lesson 5
Customizing what you see
You can enhance the way your data looks by adding graphics and other effects.
In this lesson, you will:
1 learn how layouts determine what you see
1 add, resize, and move fields
1 add a tab panel and change its color
1 display values in a number field as currency
1 change text size, style, and color
1 add graphics
1 see where to find other ways you can customize a layout
About layouts and tables
Each layout is based on a single table, and shows records from that table. If your file contains only one table, all
layouts in your file will be based on that table. If your file contains more than one table, you must choose which
table your layout will use at the time you create the layout, although you can change this later if necessary.
The table you choose as the basis for your layout is important because it determines which fields and records
are available for use on that layout. Fields and records that are not stored in the current table can still be used,
but must be accessed through relationships. You’ll learn more about relationships in
lesson 11, “Making
databases relational.”
About customizing layouts
You design layouts in Layout mode. You can include any combination of fields, text, and graphics on a
layout. You can change the font and color of fields and text and you can change the way data appears in
Number or Date fields. For example, you can set a Number field to include currency notation or you can set
a Date field to include the day of the week with the month, day, and year.
You use the Inspector for most formatting tasks in Layout mode. Changes you make in Layout mode affect
only the way data appears. The data itself remains as it was entered in the file.
Resize, move, and add a field
Select and resize a field
1. Open Sample Copy.fp7 in the Tutorial folder.
Tip Because you opened Sample Copy.fp7 in lesson 3, you can choose File menu > Open Recent, then
select it from the list of recent files to open it in subsequent lessons.
2. Choose Data Entry from the Layout pop-up menu in the layout bar.