Moving from Record to Record

FileMaker offers you three ways to quickly jump from record to record within any file. And, as with most things in FileMaker, you have several options within each view.

Navigating records in forms

• Click on the book icon's pages to move forward or backwardone record at a time. Click the right page to move forward in the sequence (Figure 4.9); click the left page to move back. A blank right or left page indicates there are no more records in that direction (Figure 4.10).

  Figure 4.9. Click on the book pages to move forward or backward one record at a time.

  

  Figure 4.10. A blank page means you've reached the end of the record sequence.

  

• To quickly skip ahead or back within the records, click and drag the book's slider. Dragging it to the right will skip you ahead in the sequence (Figure 4.11); dragging it to the left moves you back.

  Figure 4.11. Jump ahead in the records by grabbing the slider and dragging it to the right. Dragging it to the left will let you move backward through the records.

  

Navigating records in lists and tables

• You can use the book pages and slider in List or Table view as well (Figures 4.12 4.13).

  Figure 4.12. Dragging the slider works in the List and Table views as well. Just grab, drag, and ...

  

  Figure 4.13. ... jump ahead in your records. Note how the black highlight in the thin bar left of the records now marks the Michelle Cannon entry.

  

• The List and Table views also allow you to skip from record to record simply by clicking anywhere within the records visible on your screen (Figure 4.14). This is especially handy when you need to change data in one field within each record. Clicking directly on that field highlights it, enabling you to begin entering your new data.

  Figure 4.14. When in List or Table view, you can click directly on any field and it will become highlighted. Once highlighted, you can change a portion or all of the data within the field.

  

Tip

• When you're working in List or Table view, a thin black bar just left of the records marks the current record (Figure 4.13).

Navigating directly by record number

• If you know the number of a particular record, you can go right to it by clicking on the current record number, typing in the desired number, and pressing (Windows) or (Mac) (Figure 4.15). Pressing automatically highlights the current record number, allowing you to work mouse-free. This method works in Form, List, or Table view.

  Figure 4.15. You can directly enter a record number by clicking the number just below the book or by pressing the key. Type in a new record number, press (Windows) or (Mac), and you're there.