Brand new to FileMaker Pro ... I'm creating a form whose entries may be 
one line in one record, and many lines in another record.  How can I 
create each field so that it expands with the amount of text in it?

In other words, I'd like to have the field show up as a ten line field 
on one page, but on the next page, where the text for that field is 
shorter, have it be a one line field, and not have a large space between 
it and the next entry.

In article <460f02fe$0$24745$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>, "R. Barre"
<robarre@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Brand new to FileMaker Pro ... I'm creating a form whose entries may be 
> one line in one record, and many lines in another record.  How can I 
> create each field so that it expands with the amount of text in it?
> 
> In other words, I'd like to have the field show up as a ten line field 
> on one page, but on the next page, where the text for that field is 
> shorter, have it be a one line field, and not have a large space between 
> it and the next entry.

FileMaker Pro doesn't have "expandable" fields.

For on-screen use they would be a waste of time since you'd have to
leave enough empty space under the field for it to expand into anyway.
You can set the field to an "average" height that may be needed and
then give it a scrollbar (Format -> Field) so that users can access any
data "off the bottom". Technically you don't need a scrollbar since
when you click in the field FileMaker will automatically make it bigger
to see all the text (or at least as much as fits on the screen size),
but it does look messy that way.

For printouts and Preview mode you can use Sliding. Make the field to a
"maximum" size that may be needed. Next select that field and ALL the
fields and objects below it (within the same Layout Part) and set them
all to Slide Up (Format -> Sliding Printing) and to "shrink the
enclosing part".

Sliding can be tricky to get working properly, but remember you will
not see any change in Browse Mode or Layout Mode - only in Preview mode
or when printing out the Layout.


Helpful Harry                   
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships  ;o)

You can do that using the "Merge field" and you data will only take place it 
need
OR
use the "sliding/printing" in the Format menu to make object slide up.

JF


"R. Barre" <robarre@hotmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news: 
460f02fe$0$24745$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Brand new to FileMaker Pro ... I'm creating a form whose entries may be 
> one line in one record, and many lines in another record.  How can I 
> create each field so that it expands with the amount of text in it?
>
> In other words, I'd like to have the field show up as a ten line field on 
> one page, but on the next page, where the text for that field is shorter, 
> have it be a one line field, and not have a large space between it and the 
> next entry. 

R. Barre wrote:
> Brand new to FileMaker Pro ... I'm creating a form whose entries may be
> one line in one record, and many lines in another record.  How can I
> create each field so that it expands with the amount of text in it?
>
> In other words, I'd like to have the field show up as a ten line field
> on one page, but on the next page, where the text for that field is
> shorter, have it be a one line field, and not have a large space between
> it and the next entry.

If you want it to work like an invoice, where an invoice can have any
number of lines,
follow these steps:

1 Two tables are needed, Invoice and LineItems for example
2 Create a number field for each table. Called id_invoice and
id_lineItem
3 Link the tables with a relationship using the id fields =
4 On the LineItem side of the relationship check "Allow records to be
created" (double click link icon)
5 Create a portal in your original layout (invoice) and link it to
lineItems
6 Add the fields you want to view in LineItems to the portal. Don't
use the id field
6 In the portal settings window, (double click the portal), check
"Show scrollbar"
7 In the field, id_invoice, set it to auto enter a serial number, to
give each new  invoice an id

Back in browse mode, an empty line will appear in the portal. Enter
any data in the field
and exit the field. When you exit, a record is created in lineItems
and the field id_LineItem
will automatically have the same id as the parent invoice. If you open
another window to
view the lineitem table you can watch the record being created.

Good Luck
Mike Phalen - Developer