The FileMaker screen


Certain features of the FileMaker screen (Figure 3.2) remain constant: the book icon at the upper left, the status area along the left side (unless you elect to hide it), the Zoom-in and Zoom-out icons, and the status pop-up at the bottom of the screen, which lets you quickly choose your mode. As you switch from one view or mode to another, however, the left-hand status area displays a different set of tools and icons (Figure 3.3). The main record area also will change from mode to mode. For example, in Layout mode, the names of fields appear instead of the data itself.

Figure 3.2. While the left-hand status area (shown in Browse) changes from mode to mode, FileMaker's main screen always displays the book icon, slider, zoom icons, and the mode status pop-up.


Figure 3.3. Tools and icons tailored to each mode appear in the left-hand status area as you switch among the modes (left to right): Browse, Find, Layout, and Preview.


Here's a quick rundown of the main elements of the FileMaker screen:

  • Layout pop-up menu: Clicking your cursor on the box reveals all the layouts for the current record. For more on using Layout mode, see Designing Layouts on page 141.

  • Book: This icon represents all the records in the current database. Clicking on the left and right pages of the book moves you forward or backward one record at a time. For more on using the book, see Viewing Records on page 41.

  • Slider: Using your cursor to click on and drag the slider allows you to quickly jump forward or backward through a database's records. For more on using the slider, see Viewing Records on page 41.

  • Current record, Total records: The current record number tells you where you are among all the database's records, which is represented by the Total records number. By clicking on the current record number, you can type in the number of a particular record you're seeking. See Viewing Records on page 41.

  • Sort status: This simply tells you whether the records you're working with have been sorted or remain unsorted. For more on sorting records, see Finding and Sorting Records on page 49.

  • Status area: Running along the left-hand side of your screen, the status area displays the icons and tools for whichever mode you're in (Figure 3.3). For more on each mode's tools and icons, see the next page.

  • Hide/Show status area: Clicking on this icon allows you to hide or show the left-hand status area. This can be handy when you want to give the record itself as much screen space as possible.

  • Zoom percentage, Zoom in, Zoom out: Clicking the Zoom-in or Zoom-out icon allows you to magnify or shrink your view of the current record. Clicking on the Zoom percentage box lets you toggle between the current magnification view and the 100 percent view. This makes it easy, for example, to jump between an extreme close-up view (400 percent) and a regular view (100 percent) in a single click instead of the multiple clicks required by the Zoom-in and Zoom-out icons.



FileMaker Pro 8 for Windows and Macintosh(c) Visual Quickstart Guide
FileMaker Pro 8 for Windows & Macintosh
ISBN: 032139674X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 184
Authors: Nolan Hester

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