Tab and Slide Control Panels

I've just completed a database but have a few outstanding issues... 1) If I leave a layout with a tab control and then come back to it from another layout why does the first layout not remember what tab it was on? It ends up on a different tab, how can this be fixed? 2) With a portal in a tab and each time I create a record in that portal the tab control will jump to another one of its tabs, why is this behavior? How do I stop this from happening? Best Regards, Visual Logic

Is there a way to increase the tab size without increasing the text size? I am designing an interface that will be running on a touch-screen and I need bigger tabs.

I followed the article on Filemaker Advisor to make fields for each tab and then you can script Go To navigation. I made the fields tiny and untoggled "allow editing in both Find and Browse mode". On the main menu, a button goes to the Data Entry layout and tab 1. When that button is pushed… the cursor is blinking and if I don’t tab out, I can type in the field. What did I miss? I would like to prevent this field from being populated by mistake. Your advice is very appreciated.

I would like the tab title to become bold or change color if a test is true (such as a field on the tab's layout contains data). Any idea how to do this? I want the tab to stand out to the user if the layout relating to the tab has values other than empty... Thanks :

Ok, I have a tab control with 4 tabs, 2 tabs have portals on them. I would like the tab control to slide when printed. Is there a trick to this? I have tried going into set sliding/printing of the tab control, and the portals, but whhen I print, the portal slides, but not the tab control. Any ideas?

Hi I have been reading tons on this site and others as well... and can't seem to find "the answer". So I am going to post my question (and it may appear a no-brainer to some)... but I would truly appreciate some clear direction. Tabs-- I have multi tables and would like to create 1 layout for data entry for a person. I have tab 1 for personal info (off the people table) and tab 2 is for Job info (off the job table) and tab 3 is for Appt (off the contract table)... Job and contracts are related to people table. So do I do tabs? or fake tabs? Your recommendations will be greatly appreciated!

A new collection (expanding in future) of tricks & examples for FM8's tab control has been published at 24U Software's web site. Demonstrated techniquest include: Dynamically calculated tab names Go to Tab by script (with dynymically calculated target tab number) Get ( ActiveTabNumber ) Unlimited nesting of tab controls to save even more space Please enjoy the free example(s) and feel free to e-mail me with any questions or suggestions. HOnza ScriptedTabControl.zip NestedTabs.zip

I have a double tab layout. One large tabbed control with each tab containing another tabbed control. This works great. However when I place a field (a global, but I don't think that's pertinent) using a drop-down list on a tab of the main tab control and select a value and the zoom level does not show the entire sub-tab control, the layout 'jumps' so that the top of the sub-tab control moves to the top of the window. Zooming out so that the entire tab control is visible prevents this from happening. Anyone else seen this? Server 8 on 2003 server, developing on Adv 8 on XP SP2

I know the new tabs in FMP8 are not for layout navigation, but I tried anyway! They look great across the top of a layout, especially with embossing, etc., and with the "body" reduced to a strip where you could insert secondary navigation buttons under the main tabs. So my idea was to overlay transparent scripted navigation buttons over the tabs. It works, but only on the second click! I don't seem to be able to bring forward the overlaid button above the tab to put it at the top of the stack. The first click is still on the tab then the second on my navigation button. Can anyone see a way round this?

This is the shortcut to my controlling tabs technique. http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?fid/24/tid/173566/pid/192164/post/192164/#192164

OK I just want to have it confirmed somewhere that the new tab controls CANNOT in fact be used for navigation to go from one layout to another where the layouts are based on different tables (at least not without transparent button overlays or other creative ways of approaching this.) Thanks,

I'm trying to implement tab-based user screens to avoid having multiple windows open for users to worry with. But I'm having a problem navigating from a portal row (via GTTR) to another tab(screen). The data “environment” isn't being passed. Everything works when I open the screen in a separate window, but not if I try the same funtions on a separate tab. The attached file gives a simplified example. Any help or guidance will be greatly appreciated. WinTest4.fp7.ZIP

Hi all, I have several tabs (1 grouping) on a layout. All contain portals. I have a button on each tab body (outside the portal) that triggers a script that goes to the layout based on the related TO. Once there it performs some steps and when it's finished performing those steps the script says Go To Layout[original layout]. This is where my question comes in... Why does the Go To Layout [ ] step show a tab other than the one I was viewing sometimes but not all the time? I haven't noticed a logical pattern. What am I missing? Thanks in advance!

In planning my first FMP application, I’ve come upon a need to be able to sequence through records of a related table from a tab on the application’s main layout. Attached is an example of what I’m trying to accomplish. I’ve tried several things but just haven’t found the right combination. I guess the simplest way to ask my question is: On the Alternate Access Method tab, how do I gain focus on the Item table so that the Next Item button will work? I only have a couple of weeks of hands on experience with FMP 8, so I’m using most of the features for the first time and I know I missing somthing simple here. Can anyone suggest what might work? Tha…

For those that could be interested, I had fun in the past weekend while improving my tiny demo that proposes a scripted usage of the tabs under FM8 v1. I took a different approach to solve the problem where the tab headers are totally disabled and the whole navigation is done by custom buttons and custom scripts. This solution is very strong and can be prettier than the built-in FileMaker tabs. Here's the link http://www.softs4humans.com/index_en.html Please note that FileMaker 8 (Pro or Pro Advanced) is require for the new "tab controls". P.S. No plug-in are required for this technique!

I have multiple tables and it would make life easier to be able to use basically one window - I thought tab control would be the answer to my prayers. Am I right that new records cannot be added to any table but the "main" table whesn using tab control unless portals are used? My question is can you assigned a particular tab to a certain table? Or does is take some heavy duty scripting? I am not new to FM, but my scripting skills are on the level of intermediate and calculation skills are still novice. Your thoughts are welcome. Jessica

I have a layout with 6 tabs created with the layout mode 'Tab Control Setup'. I made sure not to select a default tab, but each script step that changes layouts/tables in the background, returns to the tab showing in layout mode. I figured out that a nested 'Go to Field' with a hidden field on each tab will get me to the tab of my choice. My question is... how do I figure out which tab the user is on to begin with? I want to be able to return them to the same tab, after the background scripts have run.

I'm working with a expense report layout, that is using tabs to show a weeks worth of days for "mileage tracking purpose" 2 fields (StartMileage & EndMileage)..... I want to auto enter last EndMileage field (contents) into the next StartMileage field. the problem is 1 week is one record ( so I can't lookup from record to record)& mileage is not recorded for every day. Also to switch from one day to the next dosent require a button or new record, because each week is all 1 record, then the following week is a new record. Which if every day was a new record, then a New Record Button with a script would be the answer, but it's not that easy. Hope someone can figu…

Ok let me ask this one to try to solve my problem. Can you put a button on a Tab,(I mean right on top of the tab), attach a script to that button and have it run the script when you click on the tab? I have tried but it only switches to that tab layout, but dosen't run the script. Any suggestions?

I have created a database with 7 different tables: A main table that handles all the data input and 6 related tables that allow me to see different views of the data in 6 different layouts. I would like to create one tabbed layout with seven different tabs, where each tab calls up a different table . . . but the layout that contains the tabs only references one table. How do I get each tab to show a reference to a different table? Right now, I have 6 layouts, each with it's own different portal, but I'd like to be able to have one layout with six (actually 7) tabs that do basically the same thing.

I have a layout that runs a tab control setup for the 7 days of the week. Each day has a notes field. My problem is I dont know how to write a "find" script that will search across all 7 note fields. Anyone know how I can do this?

Hello, I am a new FMP user, and this is my first time trying to make Tabs. It was able to create a Tab icon in Layout, but have not been able to add fields to it. When I try to insert fields, they just sit there ON TOP of the tab, instead of creating a new panel. What am I doing wrong? Thanks! Alisun

Using the new FM8 tabbed interface, there appears to be a problem using the go to portal row script step. Scenario: A multi tab layout with a different portal on each tab. If a Go To Portal Row(by calculation) script step is executed when the current tab is anything other than the first tab, the command always puts you in the portal on the first tab. Anyone else seen this? Echo

I have been attempting to place several portals showing 2 different tables in on tab layout. It seems like this isn't possible. Has anyone else had problems with this same issue and if so is there a solution.

I am trying to be a "good FMP programmer" and use the tabs as opposed to my own navigation...OK. I want to be able to find records within a tab and then on the same tab show the found list with a portal with a vertical scroll. Problem: Portals cannot be used unless the data is "related" somehow. Solution? Create a relationship based on a random number that is placed in every found record utilizing and then . Whala the found set is shown in this same tab with a scrollable portal. Problem: anything over 2,000 records shows a noticeable slowdown because of the replace command. Does anyone have a better solution to show a found set in a tab? Thanks in advance.

Hi all, Is there a way that you can save a tab when switching layouts? Let me explain. I can script going to a specific tab using go to field. But if the user goes to another layout using the drop down menu and then goes back to the tab layout, the tab changes. I know I can script this, but unless I hide the status area and force layout changes to be made by script, I don't know how to accomplish this. any Ideas? Thanks in Advance

In an earlier topic, I commented on my experiment with improving the visual appearance of a Tab control. My goal at the time was to mimic the visual appearance of the FM sample databases. While that's certainly possible, for the time being, I've decided I don't want to give up the flexibility of the standard Tab control (e.g., variable number of tabs, automatic tab sizing, easy reordering of tabs). Since many of my databases are modeled after the FM samples, I found myself faced with clashing tabs, i.e., new FM 8 tabs in the middle of a Form View with old-style graphic tabs near the top ( modeled after the sample databases). My latest experiment is replacing th…

I try FM8 and… hummmm Goto Layout A Goto Tab A or B, or C … or C It is possible scripting that?

Ok so it is great to have a start at this interface but it's just a frustrating teaser to me so far. We need to be able to size the tabs independently of the names and not even have to give the tab a name. Make the tabs buttons (or not) so we can assign scripts, be able to use fields/scripts/parameters to name the tabs. Set permissions for tabs like we can with layouts, fields, scripts, etc. Over lay container fields with graphics for buttons on the tabs and assign scripts and disable the built in tab navigation. Easily identify the tab(s) and fields on the tabs from within ScriptMaker. GoToLayout(layoutName,tab), Get(tabName),etc. We also need to be ab…

Is there a way to password a tab?

OK, so I have read most of the posts regarding the new tab control panel in FileMaker 8 and I agree that it is currently lacking some of the finer things in development life. Most of those things have work arounds which, though solve the issue, are not the way most developers want to solve any issue. I seem to have stumbled upon something that hasn't been mentioned yet, at least not that I have seen.... I have a single layout with a tab control panel that has two tabs. On tab one is a single field I will call, "Text1". On tab two is the same field in a portal. In essence, I am giving my users the ability to view single related records(Tab 1) or all relat…

How can the Tabs feature not be scriptable? How can I not use a calculation to name my tabs? Will there ever be a stock Get(TotalPageCount) function? Don't get me wrong, Filemaker 8 Advanced is great - but some of the simpler things seem to have been overlooked. A questionable Tab trick of using a Go To Field works, but at what cost? Oh well...

Is there a way to create multiple rows in the tab pannel?

I'm pleased the FileMaker Pro 8 demo allows me to play with the new Tab Control. I'm less pleased with the simplistic visual appearance of the tab panels -- style-less/bland tabs, tab width controlled by label width, no space between tabs, permanent black shadows, ... I've been experimenting with overlaying the FM 8 tabs with graphic elements copied from an existing FM 7 layout. It appears I'll be able to mimic the visual appearance of my current FM 7 layouts as follows: 1. Create a Tab control with several tabs. 2. For each Tab panel, overlay all tabs with graphic tabs of my own design. 3. Carefully size the FM 8 tabs to correspond to the overlaid …

I've been playing with Tab Controls and have my best kludge to beautify (IMHO) Tab Controls. Basically, the Tab Control's fill and stroke is turned off and the text set to 1px and background color. Container fields as buttons with scripts & script variables are used to track which tab is active & to change tabs. There are some other issues, see the demo. Please comment and/or modify the sample, I'm sure there's room for improvement. SamsTabControlDemo.fp7.zip

I'm using ver 8 Pro Advanced and love the Tab Layout until I hit on a problem. The table context is set to the table that I used on the first tab. I got two more tabs to work since they were key related to the first but my fourth tab is not related at all so I get an "unrelated table" error when moving into browse mode. What am I missing since I can't find any related info in the help files? The table context seems to be related to the complete tab layout rather than on an individual tab basis. K.