Layout Mechanics - FileMaker Pro 13: The Missing Manual - page 329

Chapter 7. Layout Mechanics
In Chapter 3 , you learned how easy it is to lay out a database by using FileMaker's tools.
You can start out with one of the program's Starter Solutions and then customize it by mov-
ing your fields around, adding fields, text, lines, and other fancy stuff. In this chapter, you'll
delve deeper into all the components that make up a FileMaker layout.
By putting these parts together, you can build your own layout from the ground up. It takes
longer—in some cases, a lot longer—than using a Starter Solution, but you get to pick your
own fonts, colors, fields, and overall arrangement, unencumbered by anyone else's work. In
this chapter, you'll learn how to assemble layout parts; create field controls, like drop-down
menus and date pickers; make your own buttons; and format fields exactly the way you want
them.
Layout Types
You used FileMaker's New Layout/Report dialog box when you created the List layout in
Chapter 3 , but that tutorial stepped through the process rather quickly without exploring your
other options. So before you start building a layout, the following pages give you a brief in-
troduction to each of the kinds of layouts FileMaker can build for you.
Selecting a Device
To get started, go to Layout mode and choose Layouts→New Layout/Report. When the New
Layout/Report dialog box appears, it's divided into four sections. At the very top, you'll find
a field for naming your layout. A dropdown list lets you select the table occurrence to associ-
ate with the new layout, and also provides an option to open the Manage Database dialog
box if you want to create a layout but haven't created a table for it yet.
The second section of the dialog box contains icons to select the device the layout is de-
signed for; Computer, Touch Device (meaning Apple touchscreen devices), or Printer.
Choosing Touch Device lets you specify the type of Touch Device your layout will be de-
signed for, as shown in Figure 7-1 ).