Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Applying Styles
Making the two layout titles look the same is easy because you already saved the style back
on
Creating a New Style
.
Now you just need to apply your saved style to the text block.
Make sure the Inspector is visible and select the Styles tab. Click the Lease Agreement List
text block to select it and then choose Layout Title from the list of styles in the Inspector.
The text block's formatting changes.
WARNING
If you're familiar with the Format Painter from previous versions of FileMaker Pro, you'll be temp-
ted to use it to make your layouts match. It's still there for old times' sake, but you should rarely use
it in your new databases. If you use the Format Painter instead of applying styles, your database may
increase drastically in file size and become inefficient. This is especially important if you'll share
your database on iOS or on the Web (
Server Hardware
).
This text block has more text in it than the one you copied the style from, so you may need to
resize it after the new formats are applied.
Now that you've formatted two layouts—Lease Agreement and Lease Agreement
List—switch back to Browse mode and then switch between layouts. Although the text
blocks are now the same font and point size, you can see that they're not in exactly the same
spot on the two layouts. Making sure objects look alike and are in the same location is anoth-
er way to make your database more polished. When objects are in nearly the same location
on different layouts, but are off by a few pixels, you'll notice an annoying flash in that spot
when you switch between layouts. But if they are in exactly the same spot, that flash goes
away and you'll have a seamless transition as you switch.
Use the Inspector to find the Left and Top positions of the logo on one layout and then
switch to the other layout to apply those position measurements to the second logo. Use the
same technique for matching the title text blocks—except that for the title blocks, you'll
match up the right and top edges. Make the new layout's Header part 95 points high. That's a
lot taller than the other layout's Header, but this one needs to have room for your column
heads. Select the Field labels and move them down near the bottom of the Header part.
TIP
To move an object more precisely, press the up, down, right, or left arrow keys on your keyboard.
The selected object(s) move 1 point at a time.
