Automatically sizing text to fit

[bac mac]

I may have asked this before then misplaced it all:

How does one set up a field so that when text is entered, it automatically adjusts down, if necessary, to fit in the field box. For example, the description for a catalog item, optimally in a 12 pt. font, might be automatically stepped down to fit a longer description.

Thank you

[andygaunt]

You cannot do this automatically.

You can manually adjust the text in the field for that record, or you could script a button to reduce the point size by [x] amount.

A good shortcut for adjusting font sizes as an FYI are;

CTRL (CMD on Mac) & A to select all the text in a selected field

SHIFT & CTRL (CMD on Mac) & , (comma) to decrease by one point

SHIFT & CTRL (CMD on Mac) & . (period) to increase by one point

Question. Why adjust the point size on a record by record basis?

[bac mac]

When making entries on a form that will be printed, sometimes the amount of text will not fit into the box and we need to maintain the exact overall architecture of the form. For this, it would be nice if the text could optionally autofit. I have seen this on a form I used but couldn't remember if it was a Filemaker, Acrobat, or Word form.

I didn't know the size changing shortcuts- that will help!

Thanks,

Bruce

[QuinTech]

This may be more effort than it's worth, but:

Try using fixed-width fonts on all your fields. Set up some calculations:

Calc1 = If ( Length ( Field ) = 3 , Field , "" )

Calc2 = If ( Length ( Field ) = 4 , Field , "" )

Add each calc field to the layout, and set the font size so that exactly three characters fit in the field for Calc1, exactly 4 characters fit in the field for Calc2, ... Make sure they're all transparent, then stack one on top of another. If you set them all to not allow users to enter the field, you could put Field on top of them all, set it to not print, and you've got your form.

HTH.

Jerry