Question

How to start FileMaker with a particular layout

Asked by: speedway

When I open my FileMaker database, the layout that’s in a form view is always displayed.  I have different layouts and some of them are in other views such as table view by design.  I would like to be able to open my database by defaulting to another layout (I’m talking about layouts here not view modes).  I wish FileMaker would simply remember my viewing settings when I close and reopen in the same layout.

Is there an option in FileMaker to do this?  I can only think of making a script for now.  However, since we have many users accessing hosted database files, making scripts for everyone’s own viewing preference is too much work.

Thanks for any suggestions.

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Asked On
2003-07-28 at 14:43:31ID20692852
Tags

filemaker

,

layout

,

script

,

start

Topic

FileMaker Pro Database

Participating Experts
3
Points
250
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: TheSupportGroupPosted on 2003-08-06 at 06:32:11ID: 9090774

Actually, it wouldn't be all that bad.  If you have (or create) a user file, something simple with name and maybe a field for layout preference, you can capture what layout number they want to start at.  Then, your startup script would have the user "login".  What the login would do is actually make a relationship to the user file.  This would then make the layout number field available and you could use the "Go to layout number...FieldName".  One script would take care of all the users.  Hope this helps.

Adam

 

by: speedwayPosted on 2003-08-06 at 09:20:55ID: 9092476

I only understand how to make a script with the "Go to layout" option so every time the file opens, FileMaker would go to that particular layout.

I don't follow your instructions on multi-user settings.  Can you explain in detail "capture layout number they want to start at"?  How do you make a startup script that would have the user login?  I have database hosted using FileMaker Server software.  My users just open the file directly from their computer by clicking on "hosts" button and finding the file.  They don't login to anything.

Thanks a bunch.

 

by: speetePosted on 2003-08-11 at 12:50:06ID: 9124783

What you need is a local file which keeps the preferences for the user. You should have a startscript in this file which opens the database. Fields in this file can store user settings like the last opened layout. A script in your database on the server can check this "preferences file" and go to the stored layout. When you close the database a script should open the "preferences file" and write the actual values to it.

 

by: speedwayPosted on 2003-08-12 at 14:27:27ID: 9133783

Can you explain how to make the "Fields in this file can store user settings like the last opened layout"?  I have a file with a script that would open the database file hosted on the server.  Basically, I use the script file as a shortcut to open hosted files.  This is as far as I got.

 

by: PotzUKPosted on 2003-10-14 at 05:57:19ID: 9546541

Create a user preferences file with

Username(Text)
DB1_Layout(Num)

Create a record for each staff member ensuring that the Username MATCHES the setting in the Filemaker Preferences

In the database you want to have Filemaker recall the layout for:

Create a global field called gCurrentUser
Create a relationship from gCurrentUser to Username from the prefs file

Create a script in your master database and call it 'Close':

--
Set Field(gCurrentUser, Status(CurrentUsername)
Set Field(Relationship::DB1_Layout, Status(CurrentLayoutNumber))
--

Create another database and call it 'Open'

--
Set Field(gCurrentUser, Status(CurrentUsername)
Go To Layout(By Field Value, Relationship::DB1_layout)
--

With your master database at the front set the Close script to run on Closing the file and the Open script to run when opening

Add extra fields in the prefs file for extra databases and adjust the scripts to suit.

If you wanted to be smart, you could add a prompt asking if they want to save the preference:

Put

Show Message(Save Preference, Yes/No)
If(Status(CurrentMessageChoice = 1)
Run Script(Close)
Else
Exit Script
End If

:)

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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