So many widows in 7, how can I manage.

[Oldsneekers]

I originally posted this under FM7 gen. disc. but think this is the better forum.

I am using 10.2.8 and FM 7 upgrade from 5 and updating a 24 file solution. With FM5 one layout = one window and hiding made window management easy. With FM7 there can be multiple windows. Instead of using hours to find the best way to keep windows from multiplying like rabbits in springtime when going from one layout to the next, I decided to come to the forum.

Originally the navigation used "make new window" for the desired layout but after some use of the solution I had 2, 3 and more windows for the same layout. Then I discovered that I should make all my windows new at the first opeing of a file, format to a "no access" layout, and hide them. When navigating the layouts and using the solution, I hide the current window and select the desired (previously hidden) window and format it for the appropriate size and layout. (If the the selected window name is not equal to the desired window name, my script will make a new window to cover the condition of inadvertent previous window closing by user.) Some windows are selected without hiding the previous so as to look like pop up windows.

Is all this about right or are there other tricks of the trade? Considering the number of files and layouts per file (new entry, edit, view, list, find...) the number or hidden windows with the above approach can be large and is that OK?

As I am writing this now, I guess I can still use the close window when navigating to another layout or file, and instead of using make new window, first use select and if name not equal to desired, then create the new window. I haven't tried this yet but it should keep the number of hidden windows to a minimum, i think.

Another issue is the white out when going from window to window, not significant with FP5, and no change whether freeze/refresh scripts are there or not. Any suggestions to fix this?

Help is always appreciated by the grateful.

"It's never so bad that it couldn't get worse"

FileMaker Version: 7

Platform: Mac OS X Jaguar

[Vaughan]

IMHO, no need to create multiple windows then hide them. Open one window at startup then switch layouts like you did in FMP 6.

I only open a new window if the interface requires it: things like pseudo custom dialog boxes for instance.