Is it possible to have different layouts within a couple of tabs like in Filemaker9?

In FM9, the tab panel lets you layer different related fields in separate tab panels. However, all the fields (and portals) need to be related to the parent table occurrence on which the layout is based (even if its a cartesian join).

In FM6, a tab panel interface is achieved with multiple layouts that are precisely aligned (to the pixel) so that when a user clicks the next tab, they seem to be just revealing the next tab panel, but they are actually switching layouts. The "top half" hasn't changed, but the tab has.

So, the answer is, "yes", you can achieve the interface, but at much more development time cost. If you need to change the static part of the layout, then all the layouts that drive the tab look must be changed, as well.