FMPRO Session 4 About Database
Modes
- You can work with FileMaker Pro in four different modes:
Browse, Find, Layout, and Preview. You have different menu options in each
mode, so choose a mode after deciding what work you need to do. You can choose
a mode from the Mode menu or from the mode pop-up menu at the bottom of the
document window.
- If you're working with a database and you can't find
the command you need, you may be in the wrong mode.
- Mode keyboard commands
- You can use keyboard commands to change modes, navigate
among records and fields, enter values in records and fields, and format and
edit text.
- Use the following commands to switch to another mode:
- To switch to Press
- Browse mode Command-B
- Find mode Command-F
- Layout mode Command-L
- Preview mode Command-U
The Browse Mode
- Use this mode to: Work with the content of the file.
Enter and view data, and add, change, omit, and delete records.
- Use the status area in Browse mode to:
- choose which layout to use from the layout pop-up menu
- move from record to record with the book
- see the number of records in the database and, if you've
performed a find operation, the found set
- determine whether the records are sorted
The Find Mode
- Use this mode to: Search for a record or group of records
to work with by typing search criteria for the fields you want to search through.
For example, you can search for all customers who have paid their bills. After
you find a group of records, FileMaker Pro returns to Browse so you can begin
working with them.
- Find mode status area
- In Find mode, use the status area along with menu commands
to create and manage find requests.
- Find Request pop-up menu
- Switch between layouts that are included in the menu
- Book
- Move between find requests you've defined
- Omit checkbox
- Omit records matching this find request's definition
from the found set
- Symbols pop-up menu
- Choose mathematical or logical operators to define search
criteria for a field
- Find button
- Perform all defined find requests. FileMaker Pro creates
a found set of the records matching the criteria in the find requests and
displays those records in Browse mode
Note: If you've performed a find
operation, you see only the records in the found set when browsing, previewing,
and printing. To work with all the records, choose Find All from the Select
menu in Browse, Find, or Preview modes.The Preview Mode
- Use this mode to: See how your records, forms, and reports
will look when they're printed. After previewing, you can adjust the layout
if you need to.
Preview mode status area
Use the status area in Preview
mode to:
- choose which layout to use from the layout pop-up menu
- move from page to page with the book
- see the total number of pages in a printed report using
the current layout
- You may need to go to the end of the report (using the
bookmark) before the total number of pages is accurately displayed under the
book.
- The horizontal scroll bar does not move you through the
pages of the layout; you can use it to scroll up and down on the current page
only. Use the book to move between pages.
The Layout Mode
Use this mode to: Determine how
information is presented, either on your computer's display or in printed reports
and forms.
- Select and arrange fields to modify an existing layout,
or create new layouts. Add graphics and text and format fields.
- About layouts
- In FileMaker Pro, you can design or customize layouts
to enter, display, or print your data. A layout is a way to view selected
fields in your database file. You can design more than one layout for a file.
For example, use a layout designed for your computer screen for data entry,
and a differently arranged layout for a printed report.
- To create or edit layouts, you work in Layout mode. In
each layout, you control which fields are displayed and how your data is displayed
(for example, you can use a bold font and currency format for a numeric field).
- Editing a layout or selecting a different layout never
affects the data in your file, but may change the way you see your data.
