I have a simple database with three fields: title, description, and date. I prefer browsing in the Table View. The title is short and only takes one line. The description can be a line or a paragraph or two. I would like to have the row height expand or contract according to how much info is there. That doesn't seem possible. It's either one line or choose a static, custom length. But in choosing the custom length to accommodate the longest description, there's a whole lot of wasted space between rows--printing becomes overwhelming. Any suggestions how to have the rows dynamically expand or contract?

Hi sduttonusa, and welcome to the Forum.

Fields do not Expand in FileMaker to accommodate the data, and the Table View is little more than a view or your data as you would see in a spread sheet.

You would be better off creating a list view from scratch.

Go into Layout Mode, New Layout, Columnar List/Report, and then follow the instructions for List.

HTH

Lee

Thank you, Lee. I was able to set up my list quite easily creating a new layout. Just a follow up (perhaps I should put this in a new topic), is there a way to automatically alternate the color of the rows for better legibility, say, between blue and black . . . taking into account that the rows will be rearranged after every sort?

Yes, there is !

When in layout mode, double click the body label and check the "alternate background fill" and choose your favourite colour.

Thanks, I saw that, but I don't want the background to alternate colors. I'd like the text from row to row to alternate colors (keeping the background white).

ok, now I have understood ...

Put this calculation into the auto-enter option of your fields (always evaluate):

Case(

Mod ( Get ( RecordNumber); 2 ) > 0 ;TextColor ( yourTextField; RGB ( 0 ; 0 ; 255 ) );

TextColorRemove ( yourTextField )

)

Note that this will work only if the field is a text field ! (not a number field nor a date field)

taking into account that the rows will be rearranged after every sort

this calc will not recalc itself, but you can force it to recalc with this script ( you can use it after your find, as a sub-script too)

Go to record [first]

Loop

Set field[yourTextField;yourTextField]

Go to record[next;exit after last]

End Loop

I don't think this is such a good idea: auto-enter alters the actual data in the field. When you switch to a form layout, one record will have blue text, another not.

I gived an answer... you didn't !

That's right - can you guess why?

I don't.

My approach to the Forum is simple: give them what they ask for, if you can.

So I did ...

BTW: when in form view i'll see once blue text and another record black text... but who cares ?

those records can be viewed one at time !

Hi comment, that is a good point that I had over looked about Auto Enter.

Maybe it would be better to create a calculation field for displaying the text in list view instead?

Lee

I thought about that too. But I have doubts about the usefulness of non-enterable fields in Table view.

give them what they ask for

Very often, "what they ASK for" and what they really NEED are two separate things. That's a part of the problem, and that's why they are asking for help. It's OK to make a suggestion that will do EXACTLY as asked - but if there's a down-side, it should be pointed out. As for who cares: I do. As a user, I'd find it utterly unacceptable.

Why not place an Edit button somewhere on it.

Lee

Hi comment and Lee

and so ?

AlternateTextColor.zip

Because buttons can only be placed in Header or Footer?

All these things can be made to work - but they're kind of clunky. And maybe I am prejudiced, but I have never seen data presented in alternating text colors. So IMHO the balance of pros/cons is just not there.

I have edited one of the records by deleting one character. Now the text field in all records is empty.

I have edited one of the records by deleting one character. Now the text field in all records is empty.

I can't replicate this problem...

I have never seen data presented in alternating text colors.

Neither I did :)

Because buttons can only be placed in Header or Footer?

Huh?

I Have used buttons in the record row for lots of things. I use Ray's "Select Record" procedure in my files, I use a button to change layouts.

All these things can be made to work - but they're kind of clunky. And maybe I am prejudiced, but I have never seen data presented in alternating text colors. So IMHO the balance of pros/cons is just not there

Neither have i, but it doesn't mean that it isn't correct to do it that way.

Lee

I Have used buttons in the record row for lots of things.

In Table view?

it doesn't mean that it isn't correct

No, and it doesn't mean it IS, either. And I believe data should be presented in ways that make it easy for the recipient to understand the underlying meaning. IMHO, that implies at least a tendency towards a conservative approach.

Edited January 27, 200620 yr by Guest

List View. Wasn't that what we were talking about?

What's the topic?

(How do you manage to reply while being listed as offline?)

comment

really my file didn't work when you changed something ?

I deleted the last character in record 4, while in Table view. Then clicked Form view.

Forgive me if I don't go any further into this - I have already explained why I don't find this subject interesting enough. (And it seems the original poster agrees...)

I have already explained why I don't find this subject interesting enough.

in fact the interesting subject is the error you found ...

but perhaps a bug or a virus has taken your copy of FM !

BTW nobody asked you to come on this topic... but you did and criticized (7th post of this topic)!

Please don't be rude. This is a public forum, and I don't think I need your permission or invitation to post to this topic. You did ask me about the unexpected behavior of your file. I was trying to be polite and explain why I didn't want to spend any more time on this.

BTW, your profile says Dev 7 and so does mine. If you are posting a file that only works in version 8, I'd expect you to point this out. You may call this "criticizing", if you like. You seem to put up a lot of defense where there is no attack. This is not about you. This is about making the issue as clear as possible - to everyone.

The original poster change to a list view after they discovered that the Table wasn't working.

Thank you, Lee. I was able to set up my list quite easily creating a new layout. Just a follow up (perhaps I should put this in a new topic), is there a way to automatically alternate the color of the rows for better legibility, say, between blue and black . . . taking into account that the rows will be rearranged after every sort?

I didn't notice a post where the discussion went back to the Table View, so I'm responding accordingly. I will admit though, I haven't looked at any of the attachments, so I might have missed something there.

As far as showing Online, I have set my preferences to show off line so as not to get [color:red]request for help via private messages.

Lee

Edited January 28, 200620 yr by Guest

I stand corrected. In that case, I agree with you that the best solution would be a merged calc field.

I don't suppose that option in preferences is open to us mere mortals?

Please don't be rude.

Never I was rude with you and sure you know that I have a great consideration of you !( I told you so many times)

This is a public forum, and I don't think I need your permission or invitation to post to this topic. You did ask me about the unexpected behavior of your file. I was trying to be polite and explain why I didn't want to spend any more time on this.

That way you was polite ?

You are always welcome, but you have to give us a better way before you can criticize (please, re-read your 7th post)

BTW, your profile says Dev 7 and so does mine. If you are posting a file that only works in version 8, I'd expect you to point this out.

The poster profile says he owns 8 and to him I was replaying.

I don't suppose that option in preferences is open to us mere mortals?

I really don't know, I thought it was.

check by going:

Forum Index » Your Control Panel » Display Settings

It is like the 11th item there [color:blue] Visible Online

Lee

Nope, don't have it.

I am glad to hear you didn't MEAN to be rude. But saying "Nobody asked you to..." is not polite, and I am quite sure this is true in any language.

Once again, forgive me for not wanting to spend any more time on this. I don't know a more polite way to say that I have better things to do. If this is not polite enough for you, perhaps you would prefer that I didn't reply at all?

OK, if the "best solution would be a merged calc field" in the list view, what do I need to do?

Something like this?

Untitled.fp7.zip

That's it. Now I'm a bit embarrassed--I'm new to FM and working with databases--could you explain to me what exactly I need to do to bring this over to my FM database. I'm assuming I need to define a field like you've done (color alternate) and copy the calculation. But what else need to be done? How does this color alternation get "activated?"

Just make sure the calculation is unstored. It is "activated" by the position of the record in the found set (i.e. Get (RecordNumber) ), which Filemaker revaluates every time the widow is refreshed.

Just for the record, I get the same results Comment got - with text disappearing (I'm using Dev7) and it threw me - missing function! Changing the actual text color is not good practice. Re-sorting, performing a new search - just about EVERYTHING one would do to the actual records - would mess up the 'alternate' display. And as the number of records grows, it would take longer and longer. Imagine having to run a removal script through 480,000 lineitems.

"BTW nobody asked you to come on this topic... but you did and criticized (7th post of this topic)"

This statement was most certainly out of line, Daniele. Comment wasn't at all rude to you in the '7th post.' Everyone has a right to respond to someone who posts. And if someone gives poor advice, we have an obligation to mention it. Just because one person responds first - doesn't give them exclusive rights. We ALL contribute here. And Comment is right ... we should all CARE that our suggestion makes sense and doesn't make a situation worse. Colored text would CERTAINLY cause many problems.

BTW, if this business were now to try to print their list of records, not only would the records be scrambled and no longer alternate (if they sorted or re-searched or deleted any); but it would also display differently on the printed copy (the blue text would be slightly lighter in color when printed B&W). They would then be spending their time looping through ALL records and reformatting them again and removing your process from their file.

LaRetta

I've created a calculation field, copied your calculation, changed the three field names from "first, last, and company" to my three names, checked "do not store", but nothing happens. The records in my list are still all black. What am I doing wrong?

I didn't see where you said that you created a "List View".

Lee

Hard to say from here. Did you put the calculation field on the list layout?

Success!!! Thank you very much for helping me set this up. It's working exactly like I had hoped it would. I really appreciate the fact that you kept up the assistance until I finally "got it."