Custom Layout on-the-fly?

[mKirk]

I'm a FM7 newbie, so be kind as I come up to speed on what looks to be a great product. I want to present a user with a list of 30 possible fields (i.e. First Name, Last Name, Address) and allow them to "select" fields via a Yes/No radio button which is associated with each field. So in this example, lets say the user selects 12 of the 30 fields. Then the user hits a button (let's call it "Build") and new layout is created using only the 12 fields selected. Finally, I need to be able to publish this to the web. I'm sure this can be done...can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks.

[BobWeaver]

Hi mKirk, welcome to the forums. I hope that you'll still think Filemaker is a great product after you hear the answer. The answer is: yes, sort of, but it's not as neat and easy as you might hope.

Although you can't change the fields in a layout on the fly, you can create calculated fields which will display information from other fields which the user can select. You can place these calculated fields on the layout, and then have the user select which data to display in them. A simple example for one such calculated field is:

DisplayField1 = GetField(gFieldName01)

Depending on the value placed in global field gFieldName01, DisplayField1 will display the appropriate field. So, if you want to have 12 fields on a layout which the user can pick, you would need to have 12 of these. That would allow you to display information, but not edit it. If you need to do that, it is possible with some autoenter field tricks, but I won't go into the gory details unless you want to hear about it.

Hope this helps.

[mKirk]

BobWeaver...

I think I get what you are saying...I'll check that out. Basically, I'm trying to create a user-customizable "form" made from certain fields from a master list. Like this (* = user selected):

First Name

* Last Name

Address 1

Address 2

* City

State

* ZIP Code

Hit "Build" creates a layout which is:

Last Name

City

ZIP Code

Perhaps you knew exactly what I mean, but I thought perhaps this was more clear...same answer applies?

Thanks.

[BobWeaver]

Yes.

[mKirk]

lol...thanks.

[BobWeaver]

It's an interesting subject which comes up from time to time, so I posted an example file here:

http://www.fmforums.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=156537&an=0&page=0#156537