The Format menu

The Format menu appears in all modes except Preview, but offers the most functions in Layout mode (Figure 3.13). The availability of the functions also varies depending on what you've selected within the current record. In general, the functions within the Format menu start at the character level and move toward the field level. See Layout Formatting and Graphics, on page 197.

Figure 3.13. The Format menu appears in all modes except Preview, but offers the most functions in Layout mode.

• Font through Text Color: The top six functions control attributes at the character level within a selected field.

• Text through Graphic: The second group of functions controls attributes at the field level, that is, what type of content the field contains: text, numbers, a date, a time, or a graphic.

• Field/Control through Button Setup, Format Painter, Set Sliding/Printing: The Field/Control drop-down menu controls the style and behavior of the field container, that is, whether it's a standard field or one that offers a pop-up list or repeats itself. Button Setup links buttons to specific scripts. Portal Setup controls the appearance of related records and associated actions such as sorting. Use the new Tab Control Setup to create and organize a series of single-screen tabs displaying multiple fields. Use the Format Painter to quickly apply attributes from one layout object to another (see page 203).