I work at a DOE Facility that have 100's of FMP 6 databases. We have a "menu" database that consist of a series of buttons (a button for each database) on several screens. We are in the process of converting to FMP9. I am looking for ideas of a new format of our menu database. The current one has too many buttons and can be confusing to the user. Any input or screenshots would be appreciated.

There are lots of new features in v9, including Custom Menus, that will help you make a better GUI. Custom Menus can be used to customize the Main Menu, and limit what you will allow the user to access in the Menu Bar.

Version 9 has some new tools that can help you a lot in Designing a better interface. Be sure to read and explore the Tools Take a look at the www.FileMakerMagazine.com it has some articles about interface design that may help.

New in 7

New in 8

New in 9

BTW, what is DOE

HTH

Lee

Edited November 16, 200817 yr by Guest

I've never gone in for the "menu" database (well, not since I started developing in 1993 with FMP 2.1). It's only overhead and more to keep maintained.

Users should be shown how to open the solutions directly from the server using the Open Remote command, or be given opener files (but these are a maintenance issue too).

Solutions that link to other files should be integrated through the user interface (I'm not advocating very thing in one file) but separate systems should remain separate. There is no reason why the finance system should link to the database the IT people keep their serial numbers in.

This separation minimises maintenance and dependencies. The integration of interface maximises useability.

You talking to me, or using the quick reply?

I'm talking to myself.

Which gets boring after a while because half the time I know what I'm going to say.

:giggle:

DOE could be many things, Department of Obscene Errors, Devcon Of Ecstasy (one of my diplomas), Defensive Organic Electrons and many others. But I assume in this case it might be Department of Education (which is what it usually stands for in the standard world). I am a certified member of DORD (Department of Redundancy Department), a highly specialized field requiring 15+ years of government work. The Post Office actually qualifies for 10 years for every year so one can get quite a jump-start on the degree.

Thanks for the feedback.

We were looking at custom menus today

DOE

Department Of Energy

DOE

Department Of Energy..

As in... "The Government"

Thanks for the feedback.

Our databases cover many needs. An interface (menu screen) is needed to select where you want to go. The custom menus option in FMP9 looks like the way to go.

If it within of your budget you may consider a Menu Plugin that will give you much easier development and deployment then the custom menus built in to filemaker

http://fmpug.com/resourcedirectory_plugin_list.php?find=Menus

Nested tab controls could also be useful here - it's difficult to advise with such a vague description.