Image-based value lists?

[fiveshorts]

Hi.

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to create a field that contains a list of images (icons), as opposed to text?

Example 1: I have a record layout that needs to show the "status" of a given record between the values "open", "pending" or "closed". I'd like to offer the user a pop-up list of green, amber or red dots, rather than the words themselves.

Example 2: Instead of choosing between value "Buy" or "Sell", I'd like the user to choose between a green [color:green]UP arrow or a red [color:red]DOWN arrow icon — and have the result be the only icon visible (as opposed to some radio button solution...

Does anyone have any wisdom for me?

Many thanks in advance.

[Fenton]

You cannot show anything but text in native FileMaker value lists. You could create and show your own little window with these items, likely in a portal. Or you could switch to a layout which had these. If it was otherwise identical to the original screen, only that area would redraw. I think that's the best you could do. But maybe others have another solution.

[Søren Dyhr]

To your second part, would I suggest something in the vicinity of this...

Requireing both the conditional formatting as well as Wingding3 font. Found at least in Mac OS 10.5

--sd

Untitled.zip

[normanicus]

Try the attached file. Not a real drop-down but simulates it. Can probably be done better.

ImgDrop.zip

[fiveshorts]

Fenton, Soren, Normanicus,

Thank you for your help :

I really like the button solution from yours Soren, but I'm worried about cross-platform font issues... I'll have to research that (I'm going to be making a two runtimes from this, one for Mac, one for PC). Otherwise it's ideal. Presumably I could add a third or fourth condition to the click/toggle...?

Normanicus, I'm going to have to drill down into this to see how you achieved this portal-based solution. It seems that with a little tweaking this might do the job, if I can make it discreet and foolproof enough.

Wouldn't it be nice if FileMaker introduced a graphic-based value list option where you could specify, say, five values and have each one be a 30 x 30 gif — drag and drop into the containers and go! With certain icons being worth a thousand words, I could really see this being popular.

Thanks for your help.

[Søren Dyhr]

Presumably I could add a third or fourth condition to the click/toggle...?

Well the field was defined boolean, but with spit and polish ... but what about the familiarity of the touch and feel, a sort of click till you die rag!

--sd