The purpose of removing the check mark from Include in layout menus (refer to Step 4) is to prevent users from manually switching to the layout. When switching will be accomplished by clicking a button (as it will in this database), removing this check mark assures us that users will only reach the layout when it's in its proper, prepared state.
format layout parts p. 71
When a layout will be viewed only in List View (as this one will be), the Body height directly determines the spacing between records. Any blank space above or below the fields translates into gaps between the records.
create the View button p. 74
There are several reasons to set font characteristics before creating a button. First, doing so prevents the label from being formatted in the last-used font. Second, if that font was a large one, it prevents the button from being automatically enlarged to display a huge font.