Solution: Simple Highlight Row - layout or portal - uses conditional formatting

Description: This is covered in the forums in bits and pieces, but here is a quick and simple description of highlighting a row beyond that little black bar on the right that Filemaker defaults to.

This works in any layout or portal row, and has some nice extensibility.

SEARCH KEYWORDS: highlight highlite conditional formatting current record layout row portal

Working Under:

Solution Status: Finished

Pre-requisites:

Author(s) KirkR

Date: 06/25/08

Credits: Numerous other posts with bits and pieces concisely pulled together here.

Instructions / Other Info: 1) Create a calculated field, with the calc Get (RecordID)

2) Place that field behind the row fields, somewhat larger than the fields in the row themselves. This is so the color change shows around the row data fields.

3) Create a second field (text) that will be used for a comparison against the calculated field - call it anything. (step3fieldname)

4) create a transparent button over the entire row, with the single script step Set Field (step3fieldname); Get (RecordID)

5) Set up conditional formatting of the first field - the one in the background of the row layout - to check for FirstField = step3fieldname, set background color to something bright.

Now when you click on the row, the button sets the field content of the second field created. This then matches the calculated field as tested in the conditional formatting, which compares the 2, and triggers the formatting, and the background highlights around the fields.

Extensibility - the button has a script that can be used to do numerous things.

I use it to also set the matchfield of a relationship, so that clicking on a summary list, say of names, brings up the related record detail information in a set of displayed fields. This way, someone can pick a name from the list, and see details immediately displayed.

Disclaimer:

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Conditional Formatting does not work under IWP - Instant Web Publishing. However, using the same techniques described above, you can set a radio button field, say with the text label SELECTED. This works great in both local and IWP setups. Just set the field state, and skip conditional formatting.