Overlay Object Over Poral

[MelJ]

Over the last year I've become fairly comfortable with portals but this one has me stumped.

Excuse my typing but I have the flu...so don't get too close to this post!

I've overlayed an object over a portal and placed several fields on top of that.

No matter what I try I cannot keep the user from entering into a portal row or a field inside the portal.

I've set the fields in the portal to "no entry", I've tried overlaying an object over the entire portal then placing my object and fields on top of that, I've placed a large field over the entire portal set it so that it can't be entered, locked it and got a notary to stamp it.

Still no good.

When I say I'm overlaying an object, I'm drawing a square and filling it with a color so it's not transparent, then placing fields on top of that. I'm certain I have all objects in the correct order depthwise.

Any help will be received with greatful, open arms.

Thanks,

Mel

Edited February 8, 2008 by Guest
Typo

[comment]

I've set the fields in the portal to "no entry"

Then how do they enter them?

More importantly, what's the purpose here? So the users can select a portal row (I am assuming the fields are not enterable). What's the big deal?

[MelJ]

I'm trying to create the illusion of a new window poping up on top of the portal. The user clicks on a button in the portal and it takes them to another layout seemingly identical except it has the new box and fields on it. When a user clicks inside the box without clicking on one of the fields it hilites the portal row in the background.

[comment]

I see. Well, you definitely cannot have a portal there, because a portal will override anything placed within its bounds. So how realistic this illusion must be? What if user has scrolled way down in the portal? Do you need them to see the originating portal row?

[MelJ]

The only reason to show the portal row on the "seconary" layout is to make the user believe he never left that page and a new selection window popped up. It's the most "professional" way I can come up with.

I'm taking EXCRUCIATING pains to make my solution look as "Pro" as possible but FileMaker doesn't make it easy.

[comment]

Well, one way to do this is to pop up a new selection window for real. A tab control object could perhaps be useful - but I'd have to see what you have in mind to be sure.

Filemaker layout tools are pitiful by today's standards. The best way, IMHO, is to do simple things and do them well, instead of trying to do fancy stuff and let the hem show, so to speak.

[MelJ]

I've attached 2 screen shots. Hope this helps and thanks for YOUR help.

[comment]

I believe this can be done with a tab control object.