Can I define a different field color as the default?

[HALBURN]

When I create a new Filemaker database it creates fields that are white on white. I want to define a my own field color as the default. Is this possible in FM11A?

[Raybaudi]

Hi

1) Create a new file

2) Do not create any field

3) Go in Layout mode

4) Chose your settings for field's color, aspect ( Embossed, Engrayed... ) and border.

Now, whenever you'll create new fields in that DB, they will have those settings.

[HALBURN]

thanks raybaudi.

Is there any way to make these design settings stick so it is the default for all future databases that I create?

[Raybaudi]

1) Create a new folder ( name it: default ) and insert there the DB with your settings

2) Place that folder into FileMaker templates folder

3) When you'll create a new DB, chose the option to create a database using Starter Solution and then the default folder.

Naturally you can even simply duplicate that DB.

[HALBURN]

awesome!

thanks.

[HALBURN]

I have a bunch of .csv files that I need to convert to FMP tables. Is there a way to assign styles to the layouts?

I am opening them in FM and letting FM auto-create the fields and layouts. Unfortunately it is using the default White on White layout which is driving me nuts.

Another annoying feature is that some of the field names are very long and FileMaker shifts them over so they are not aligned with the shorter fields. This looks terrible and it requires a bunch of monkeying around with the layout to get them into tidy rows.

Does anyone have a trick to prevent this from happening or an easy way to get them lined up nice and neat?

Thanks.

[Lee Smith]

Layout design is an after the creation of the table exercise. It would be the same if you were to create it manually. In other words, you can not control the design of the layout before the table is created.

Why is it necessary for you to create a new table for each import, why not just make them new records and import them into one table?

Lee

[HALBURN]

Layout design is an after the creation of the table exercise. It would be the same if you were to create it manually. In other words, you can not control the design of the layout before the table is created.

Yes, and since the design part comes after the creation of the table it seems logical that FileMaker should be able to look at the length of all the fields that it just created, find the one with the longest length name, and then shift the position of where is places them on the layout over enough so all of the fields are in flush alignment instead of the mess that it currently leaves you with.

I should also be able to define what the default appearance should look like. I cannot understand why this is hidden and untouchable. I spend so much time redefining the look of layouts and I should not have to.

I should be able to create my own set of themes and pick whatever I want to be the default.

These problems/limitations are nothing new. It's just too bad that in the 20+ years that FileMaker has been around they have not taken the time to implement a simple feature that I would be so easy for them to add and so useful to designers.

[HALBURN]

Why is it necessary for you to create a new table for each import, why not just make them new records and import them into one table?

I don't quite understand what you are suggesting as the alternative to what I am doing.

I have about 300 tables containing thousands of records that I need to recreate in FileMaker. They are currently .csv files with the first record of each file defining what the field should be named. I am simply opening them with FileMaker and letting it auto-generate the table and fields.

[Lee Smith]

Can you attach a sample of the text file and your file?

[HALBURN]

Can you attach a sample of the text file and your file?

Please the see attached file.

Thanks.

products_config_tier.zip