Several questions from a beginner

[sabrinahorst]

Hi all

Just started yesterday with filemaker pro 11 advanced.

I need to produce some sort of hour registration, but i have some questions which haven't been answered by searching via google or reading manuals. Hope you can help me.

1. Is it possible to install some default theme? I mean that every input-field I generate for multiple tables within one database shows default in a custom theme. And not having to adjust every edit-field by hand.

2. Is it possible to adjust the table view layout-wise? Like position on screen , colors etc.

3. I've created a checkbox (field is type number) and on layout the control style is checkbox se, values from Boolean with values "1" and data formattin as .01 Boolean (non-zero as ja and zero as nee) (see screenshot). The field I made smaller so next to the checkbox the value of 1 will not be show, but in table view it stays visible.

Is this the right way to define a checkbox? How do I get only the checkbox in table view?

4. Is it possible to get on the left side you own menu so all tables can be activated from there in stead of a dropdown in the top.

thanks all

[dansmith65]

welcome to fmforums Sabrina,

1. Yes, I have never done it, but here is a link: http://www.filemaker.com/help/html/fmpa_custom.23.7.html#1027823

there is another way to produce a (somewhat) similar result:

a) enter layout mode

select the default attributes you want for all new objects: font, font size, color, border, etc.

c) all new objects created use the defaults you just set

2. You don't have many options with table view. You can change field background color, font size, color, etc., and add a header or footer (in layout mode, select: Layout > Layout Setup > Views > Properties button next to Table view, then "include header part, or include footer part")

For more formatting options, it is common to use list view with a body just tall enough to display a horizontal row of fields.

3. You don't: you use list view as I mentioned above.

(or you use a text value list with only one value, which I don't recommend; I prefer boolean values)

4. No, that status toolbar is always on the top in FileMaker 11 (I think that's what you meant). Although, it is common to create some method of navigation other than using the "Layout:" drop-down list.

[comment]

Re #3: you could set the field's text color to white (or whatever the background color is).

you use a text value list with only one value, which I don't recommend;

Why not?

[dansmith65]

Because you are using the field value as it's label. If you ever want to change the "label" of this type of field, you have to do a "replace field contents", rather than editing the layout where you change all other fields labels.

Also, testing for a Boolean value in scripts is easier than a field with a text value (slightly).

I often use a conditionally formatted object that looks like a checkbox and performs a set field script step of: not BooleanField. This allows me to make the checkbox's "X" bolder and even more visually distinct, than the default checkbox.

I am modifying a database right now where the developer miss-spelled the value in the value list, and now it's been entered into the field in thousands of records. Also, doing a "replace field contents" would update the modification account/date/time fields.

wow! I hadn't realized I had all that reasoning behind my decision! When I first saw your question, I thought to myself: "why do I do that"? Sometimes I don't realize what my own thoughts are about something until someone asks me.

[comment]

If I understand the OP correctly, the value list contains a single (text) value "1". So the field (which should be a Number field) contains either 1 or nothing, thus enabling all the things you have mentioned, as well as some that you have left out - see:

http://fmforums.com/forum/showpost.php?post/228583/

[dansmith65]

I see where the confusion came from. We are actually in agreement, I just wasn't clear with my first post...

(or you use a text value list with only one value, which I don't recommend; I prefer boolean values)

By this, I meant I don't recommend a value list with a single value like: "Prodcutief".