Top 10 time-saving Layout Tricks
We all love those "Top 10" videos because we know what we're getting into. It's just a list of 10 things right? But it's the best 10 things - right? Ok, well, "best" is possibly relative to what your particular daily workflow is like, but at least there's always something new to learn! Right!
And, that's exactly what this video is about. It's about learning those little time-saving tricks which make it much nicer to work within FileMaker's Layout Mode. Need some incentive to check it out? Here's the first 5 of the top 10 list of what's covered.
#10: Easier cursor selections
#09: Using the Object Inspector
#08: Shortcuts for Align & Resize
#07: Top Object Wins
#06: Know your Parts
Want to know what's covered in the remaining 5? Just watch the video and pick up some new skills!
Comments
Select SAME
Might have missed this in skimming through the video, but if not: On MacOS, the SELECT ALL menu choice will change to SELECT SAME, by holding down the modifier key OPT with any object selected. If you have selected a field, it will select ALL fields; if a button bar, all button bars, etc. Makes applying styles, etc. to everything of the same type, quick and easy.
I understand it works differently in Windows - something like click on an object and use the keyboard CTRL-A, and it does the same (or something like that - don't have a PC in front of me at the moment).
Scaling Objects
If you group a set of objects before scaling them, the spatial relationship between the objects is maintained. If you grab a bunch of objects and scale before grouping, the inter-object spacing also changes.
This trick is good in almost every app - a very common action in PowerPoint. :-)
wow
I learned much more than expected. I did not know how much I did not know.
Thanks very much, well done!
Phil B.
Great Time Savers
Thanks so much for these helpful tips, Matt. I already saved a lot of time today by using that top object wins video. I was able to add conditional formatting to a number of fields in seconds, instead of minutes.
Thank you for making the world a better place. We may not always show our gratitude, but so many of us benefit from your effort.
Pasting an object in different layouts
Wanted to share a tip I learned from Nick Hunter that is also a huge time saver.
When pasting objects on multiple layouts and wanting to make sure that the object is in the exact same spot as you cycle through (to avoid that annoying pixel shifting that happens) the steps are as follow
1. copy your objects from the first layout. :)
2 switch to the other layout
3 switch to layout, than switch to browse, and than switch to layout (use shortcut keys)
4 paste the object
This will paste the object in the exact same location as the previous layout. Its amazing.
If doing it lots I would maybe make a simple AppleScript or something but with shortcut keys its pretty fast to do.
Again thanks to Nick Hunter and to you as well Mr. Petrowski, my go to sources for my Filemaker learning
I think Nick learned that
I think Nick learned that trick from Matt. :)
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Daniel Farnan
Ignorance is curable, not preventable