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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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Making Fields Disappear
This last technique is probably the most amazing of all, yet simple to implement.
It allows you to have fields appear only when needed. This sounds easy enough to do
with calculation fields that mask the field with a graphic, but this technqiue is far superior.
It allows the fields to go in and out of the tab order. Masking the field will not allow this capbility.
Let's say you want the fields to appear as soon as the previous field is filled with data. If you have
three fields on your current layout, you will need two calculation fields with the following formula:
Case(IsEmpty(Field 1), "", 1). The only difference in the second calculation is that it will reference Field 2
Once you have the calculations completed, you can define the relationships. This relationship will be a same file
relationship. Instead of relating to a second file, the relationship will look at itself. In other words,
FileMaker will ask you to locate a file when creating a relationship. Just locate the file where you are creating
the relationship.
Notice that the Conditional Calculation you just created is on the left side of the relationship and
a field called Constant is on the right side. The Constant Calculation is a simple formula, resulting
in the number one (1). Any time the Conditional Calculation results in a one, the relationship will become
valid. Otherwise, it results in blank ("") and the relationship is invalid.
Now all you need is a single row portal with your field and field label inside the portal.
Once you have created the portal, set the fill and pen color to the same as your background color.
This will make the portal invisible. If you try to set the pen and fill color of the portal to transparent,
the portal may blink when the fields appear and disappear.
That's all there is to it. The relationship that the portal is linked to will not be valid until
the Conditional Calculation match field contains a one (1). This will only happen if the previous
field is filled. When the relationship is valid, the next field will appear on the layout.
When the relationship is invalid, the field will disappear from the layout.
Download an example FileMaker file
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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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