The Lowdown on Layouts

Although you can create an infinite variety of layouts in FileMaker, they all boil down to a few basic types. You get a chance to try each of them as you proceed through this chapter. Here's a brief overview of each.

5.1.1. Standard Form

The "Standard form" choice creates a layout just like the one FileMaker creates automatically when you start your databasea simple detail layout (see Section 3.2).

This time, though, you get to decide which fields to include. You also have some control over the fonts and colors. FileMaker calls these design controls "themes."

5.1.2. Columnar List/Report

If you want to show lots of records on the screen or page at one time, choose "Columnar list/report" instead. You still get to pick which fields to include and what theme to use, but FileMaker sets up the new layout as a list of records with one column per field, as shown in Figure 5-1.

Figure 5-1. This "Columnar" List/Report layout shows several people at a time in a space-efficient form. FileMaker plugs in the page title, date, and column headings automatically when you create the layout. (You'll find out how to adjust all these settings on Section 5.3.2.)

 

5.1.3. Table View

When you select "Table view," FileMaker creates a layout much like "Standard form," but the layout is set to table view automatically. Actually, the pros (yourself included) know that you can choose View View as Table in Browse mode to see 5.1.4. Labels or Vertical Labels

If you ever need to print a sheet of peel-and-stick labels from your databaseto make nametags for every attendee to your conference, or address labels for all those follow-up lettersthe Labels layout type is your best friend (it's shown in Figure 5-2). FileMaker is smart enough to know how to set up a layout for any of the standard Avery label types. You just pick your type, and FileMaker does all the work. If you're not using Avery labels, you can plug in your own measurements.

---

Note: The "Vertical labels" type only applies to people with Asian language text in their database. This type rotates this kind of text to create vertical text labels.

---

Figure 5-2. When you create a Labels layout, you can easily decide how all the field data mixes together to display as you want it. In this example, the First Name and Last Name are on the first line, with a single space between them. On the third line, City, State, and Zip have been combined appropriately.

 

5.1.5. Envelope

If you'd rather print right on the envelope than stick a label on it, use the Envelope type. FileMaker creates a layout specially designed to print on a Number 10 size envelope (Figure 5-3).

Figure 5-3. You can address envelopes in a heartbeat to everyone with a layout like this one. Just find the people you want, load a stack of envelopes in your printer, and print them out.

Since every printer handles envelopes a little differently, the layout needs a little adjusting to print perfectly, though. Luckily, it's almost always a cinch to put things right. You can usually just delete the header part from the layout. On more persnickety printers, you may have to leave the header in place, and adjust its height. Getting things lined up always involves a few test prints, but once you've got it working, you never have to fuss with it again.

5.1.6. Blank Layout

The last type, called Blank layout, is both the simplest and the most flexible. You get a layout with a small header and footer, and a big body. It has nothing on it at all. If you like setting things up by hand, or your layout doesn't rightly match any of the types above, drawing a blank may be your best choice.

Use this option to create your first new layout.