Tips and Tricks for FileMaker Pro 10

The following tips are from the upcoming book FileMaker 10: The Missing Manual, by Susan Prosser and Geoff Coffey

New Live Reports lets you edit sorted data and see the changes in  real time. Edited records change categories and your summaries update  in real time. Just make sure you're using subsummary parts to create  the layout, summary fields to do the math and that your reports are  sorted by the same field you set in the subsummary part.

Make your layouts more professional by lining up elements using the Object Info palette. When any object is selected you can see the top  position, left position, height and width measured in your choice of  pixels, inches or centimeters. Make sure that all objects that exist  on the same layout have the same size and position, and your users  won't even notice when you switch layouts.

FileMaker Pro 10 now supports Excel 2007 files for import and export.  Just make sure to choose the version you need in the appropriate pop- up menus when you're sharing data with spreadsheet fans.

FileMaker's button tool makes a pre-formatted button to which you can attach a script step or script. For a custom, polished look, create a  button in a graphics program, and then choose Insert -> Picture to  place the graphic on your layout. Then choose Format -> Button Setup  to attach a script.

Use container fields to create an asset management system. Store  almost any file, including PDFs, graphics, word-processing documents,  video, sound, and even other FileMaker files in a container field.  You can view many file types without leaving FileMaker, but if you  double-click on the container field, the file opens directly.

Help users with data entry with Conditional Formatting. First, select  all the "required" fields on a layout, and then choose Format ->  Conditional. Add a condition, and then choose "Value is" and "Empty"  from the condition lists. Set a contrasting color and then click OK.  When data's in them, the fields look "normal," but when empty, users  see the fill color.

The Web Viewer lets you show the contents of a web page without  leaving FileMaker. Use your data to control the web page that's  shown. For example, track package sent to your customers by using the  Shipper and Tracking Number in the calculation that tells the web  viewer what to show.

Finding the records you need is easy with FileMaker Pro 10's Saved Finds. The Find icon on the toolbar has a handy pop-up menu that  remembers your last 10 finds -- re-do the find by selecting it. Or  make any recent find permanent with the Create New Find command.