I have built a really nice central navigation system with script parameters and horizontal portal rows. The one big problem that I have is the graphics and text flash when scrolling through records. I tried filling all the fields with a color but the portal refresh is still a problem. This looks highly unprofessional. I know a lot of other people are going to this type of model so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions.

(Each tab is one portal row, with a graphic tab, text field and a script parameter)

Thanks.

Is the portal itself transparent? I find that the fields can be transparent, but the portal must have a fill.

Even if the portal has a fill, when you scroll from record to record, the information inside the portal disappears for a second while it refreshes.

Should I upload my file?

Did you upgrade to FM7v3 ?

yes!

Yes, please upload your file.

I am attaching my solution but I have been looking at other navigation examples and it seems that I should have used repeating fields instead of portal rows to accomplish this. Then there wouldn't be portal refreshing when you scroll through records. I am attaching the file anyway. Let me know if I can work with what I have.

you will need two files: interface and data

Log into the data file as a guest.

http://web.suffieldacademy.org/ils/portal/file.zip

Hi,

I don't have FM7 here for the test on your file, but at first I understood the refresh problem was happening when scrowling down records in the portals, why you seem to be using Portals to hold the header labels.

If the refresh happens, it might be that the portals display based on calculated fields.

Otherwise, check that the label fields in the portals are locked and also check what otions you defined in the Layout Set Up for field selections.

Finally, if it still flashes, try to substitute the background of this "header" with a white rectangle to see if it improves.

The only problem I would think about using Portals (or Related data fields) for this purpose is that they'd disappear in Find Mode.

i figured out the problem--the portal was not the problem because I had the same flashing when I used a related field (global calculated repeating). You cannot have the fields and script parameters right on the body of the layout. You need to create a color block and put the fields on top of that. Then the flashing goes away. I wish i had figured that out sooner!

**In response to your comment about the related data fields disappearing in find mode, the tabs do not disappear if it is a global calculated repeating field---they will disappear if the field is not a global.

The Tab graphic doesn't disappear, but what's inside (label) does in the file you linked.