Input Box Formatting

[teknetia]

Hi Guys,

I've been poking around in templates and google and what not trying to figure this one out but I just can't seem to get it right.

I have a text box for entering first name and last name with a light grey label so that users enter text in the right spot. However, once they enter text, you can still see the label through it! Is there a better way to do this? either a way to make the box background go white when there is text in it or a different way to label *inside* a text box that will automatically disappear when there is text and reappear when there is none (but preferably not thing that will be entered in to the DB when the record is saved if a spot was left unfilled).

Also, how do I set different colour settings for inputs so that when you are in a box it shows up in a different colour/border setup?

Cheers guys

~Chris

Edited December 26, 2007 by Guest

[Raybaudi]

Hi

try this...

light_grey_label.zip

[comment]

Why not use conditional formatting for the labels themselves?

[LaRetta]

Cool! Consider it major stolen!

Shhhhhhh ... don't tell on me!

I added a bit of explanation for those who are new to FM.

GreyLabels.zip

Edited December 26, 2007 by Guest

[LaRetta]

BTW, I didn't mean to interpret your idea for you. I do NOT want to put words in your mouth or think for you. It just came to me that this is how I'd interpret your suggestion - not that this is how YOU would have done it. :wink2:

Edited December 26, 2007 by Guest

[comment]

I have taken the liberty to improve slightly on your "stolen" file, by adding a 'highlight active field' feature.

Note also what happens when you resize the window.

GreyLabels_.fp7.zip

[comment]

this is how I'd interpret your suggestion - not that this is how YOU would have done it.

Perfectly legitimate, esp. since I didn't post a file of my own.

[LaRetta]

Now I ADORE this stuff!! There are so many possibilities! That auto resize I'm just beginning to look at. It intrigues me as well. That is very cool that, when you increase the size of the window, the white panel increases as well so the background (yellow) NEVER showes no matter how large the window!!

Oh, and thanks for adding the highlight ... I got so excited that I forgot about the request for it. B)

[teknetia]

Hi Guys,

This forum is so great! I get simple answers. I have a 500 page book to read, but sometimes I can't find the second I need fast enough! So thanks for all your help.

Now, I'm sorry to be a complete idiot, but I'm still a little confused.

I thought of using conditional formatting as well, but I couldn't see where to put the label. I can see you have set the conditional formatting to:

is between "" and ""

but where have you told it to show the label First Name (or Last Name) based on that?

I also don't quite understand how the background comes though the white? And is it also possible to re-colour the borders?

Sorry! I am a bit thick at following this. And I even have the file in front of me >is retarded<

Cheers

Chris

[LaRetta]

Hi Chris, no problem at all ... this stuff takes time.

Here's a revised demo. It explains ( I hope ) quite extensively just how to achieve these effects.

It also shows you that, with new conditional formatting, you now can have both a solid-colored field background but still have it transparent (to grab the background highlight) when you actually click into the field.

This is a vast improvement over prior techniques which limited the fill color of fields (if they were set to transparent) to be the transparent color always. The improved field control is on Step 3 so yes, you can have your background or borders any color you wish. Also notice (again) the autoresize feature which means you will NEVER have to see the yellow background again, no matter what size your window (or monitor).

GreyLabelsMOD1.zip

[comment]

Interesting that you can turn fill ON - but not OFF. It's actually incorrect behavior, since changing the color alone should not have this effect. The proper control for this is the fill pattern setting, which for some reason (??!) isn't part of conditional formatting.

[LaRetta]

Yes, it struck me as odd as well - one reason I liked it so much.

The one thing I didn't like about using background for highlight was losing the ability to color the background differently than surrounding layout. We're no longer limited and it tickles me!

[teknetia]

Thank you so so much for this! I am pretty confident that I can follow these steps.

I can see that I'm going to have to do some filemaker courses I think to get a better handle on this program!

Thanks again for all the help and support, I promise to do the same when I am good enough at the program!

[teknetia]

Thanks everyone for this help. I have my head around most of it now, still trying to get my head around the background thing, but I will work on that later!

Thanks for all the assistance.

~Chris