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I hope you enjoy this FREE online training. Let me know if you'd like to see more! You can email me
at jmo@filemakerpros.com. And, if you really like this online training, consider one of
my live classes based on my wildly popular book and CD ROM.
Happy FileMaking!
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Alternative Popup Menus
Popup menus can't be tabbed into and popup lists aren't differentiated enough from standard fields to make their
function obvious. Here is a solution that provides a happy medium between the two. It allows you to tab into the
field, but is also obviously marked that you can use it as a popup list.
This solution takes advantage of the way FileMaker treats layers. Each object in layout mode is on a separate
layer. Think of the layers as an onion. Each layer corresponds to another level of skin on the onion.
ScriptMaker also takes layers into consideration when performing a script. For instance, if you have the same
field on a layout twice and script uses the Go to Field command, the first field on the layout or the field on
the layer furthest back is chosen.
TIP: You can change the relative position of each object in the layer mechanism using the Arrange menu items:
Bring to Front, Bring Forward, Send to Back and Send Back.
You may have guessed what I am going to do next. That's right! Place your field on the layout twice and set the
first field to have a popup list. Next, omit the first field with the popup list from the Tab Order. Set Tab Order
is located under the Arrange menu while in layout mode. Just remove the number next to the first field with the
popup list and click Okay. When the dialog appears warning you that some of the fields are not in the tab order,
click the Omit button.
You are free to use the graphics provided in the example file for your own solutions. Just copy and paste
the field outline and down arrow button to your layout. Assign a button to the arrow that runs the Go to
Field script step.
TIP: Buttons with single script steps assigned in the Button dialog are faster than buttons that perform
a script that has a single script step. In addition, button scripts can be copied from file to file since
they don't reference a script.
Here is what the final product looks like.
You can tab through the fields as you normally would, but if you want a popup list, click on the arrow button.
NOTE: The only reason Field 2 is present on the layout is to demonstrate that the tabbing aspect works.
It has nothing to do with the solution.
Download an example FileMaker file
.
DONE
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Database Pros offers training classes across the globe. Classes
include the wildly popular Intermediate and Advanced Scriptology training series.
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