Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Layout mode, but it'll be fine in Browse mode. It's annoying having it cover part of the First
Name field, so select the text block and then choose Arrange→“Send to Back” to place it be-
hind the name field. It'll work just fine there without being distracting. If you want to format
the record number, just select it and apply the changes you want. You don't need to bring it
forward first. Switch to Browse mode, where you see that FileMaker puts the current record
number in place of the symbol.
As with Merge Fields, you can insert symbols into existing text objects. Just click in the text
object first, as if you're going to type. Then, when you choose Insert→Record Number Sym-
bol, FileMaker adds the record number symbol to the existing text.
Figure 4-20. The number to the left of each record on the Lease Agreement List layout comes from
a special symbol placed on the layout. Sort the list, and notice that the records change order, but
the record numbers themselves stay in sequence. The record number is meant to help you figure out
where the record is ordered in a list, but not to identify any specific record. See page 126 for a way
to assign a permanent ID number, or key, to a record.
Writing a Basic Script
Now that you have a record number on the Lease Agreement List layout, and have sorted the
list, you can start to see how useful the layout really is. The Lease Agreement layout is great
