FileMaker Pro 9: The Missing Manual

Advanced Field Controls

As you’ve seen throughout the last few chapters, FileMaker field controls can take on many forms. In this section you’ll learn exactly how each of these works, and how you can configure them to get just the behavior you want. As a refresher, Figure 6-4 shows the Field/Control Setup dialog box.

GEM IN THE ROUGH: Custom Sort Orders with Value Lists

Value lists play a part in so many database activities, it’s a wonder they didn’t call it ValueListMaker Pro. The Sort dialog box is another place value lists show up. Suppose you have a database of clothing products, each with a size: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large. If you sort these records by size, they show up in alphabetical order:

• Large

• Medium

• Small

• X-Large

Chances are, that’s not what you want—you want them in order from smallest to largest, or largest to smallest. To arrange that, simply create a value list with custom values: each size in the proper order.

You can then tell FileMaker to sort the record by size, but to use the order of this value list instead of alphabetical order:

1. Choose Records → Sort Records. You see the Sort Records dialog box.

2. Clear any existing fields from the Sort Order list and add the Size field. Remember you can quickly add items to the list by double-clicking them.

3. From the Sort Order list, select Size. The radio buttons below the list are now clickable.

4. Turn on “Custom order based on value list”. This option informs FileMaker to order the sizes according to a value list.

5. Select the Sizes value ...