Read Only Field

[Sanjai]

Hi Everyone,

I have a field where data would fill up dynamically. The data is mostly numbers like 1, 3, 3, 4. This might go to 100. This field needs to be shown to the user but the user should not be able to edit any information on this field. I have an option to keep field length big enough to show 100 numbers but then GUI does not look in good shape. The second option which I tried was to use a vertical scroll bar and uncheck the option to allow entry for a user. But if the field is read only then even the scroll bar is not visible and hence entire data could not be seen.

Please suggest what could be the best solution.

Thanks for your help,

--Sanjai

[Steve T.]

Howdy, S! I'm not sure what other folks have done, but I suppose if you had field with BIG CONTENT (like an entire e-mail message or something that would fill up your screen), you could just show the first 10 lines or so (w/not allowing user to edit) and put a little button next to it they can use to flip to another layout to view the whole thing if it won't fit in the first 10 lines. The 2nd layout could resemble the 1st but just have a bigger field, or it could just show the BIG CONTENT field alone; you could put a button to return to the original layout, of course, too.

--ST

[LiveOak]

How about setting a calculated field equal to the field and displaying the calculated field:

cDisplayField (calculation, text) = Field

The display field can be set to allow entry and use of the scroll bar, but since it is a calculated field, you really can't change the contents.

-bd

[Sanjai]

Thanks. Both the options above could be helpful for me. I think creating a calculation field would take little longer since I will have to stop the services of FileMaker Server in order to change the field definition. I may not be able to use this calculation field for any other purpose. Hence, I would try using the first solution to keep another layout.

According to me the read only feature should not disable the drop down. If you find some solution in future for the same, please let me know.

Thanks again for your help.

Sanjai

[aholtzapfel]

Here is a soultion:

Create a global field (text), send it to the back of the layout to hide it. define the field you want to display as a button. Create a script for the button that says

Set field global = fieldyouwant to display

goto field global

if all the information in the small field cannot be displayed and the user would like to see the rest of it just click on it. By doing so the info is copied into the global field (will only be stored for that user and any changes to the global field will not be saved) going to the field will bring it to the front of the layout and allow it to be viewed. clicking out of the field will return it to the back of the layout, hiding it. The global field can be made large enough to display all possible values or you can use a scroll bar to allow the viewing of it.