Use FileMaker Pro field formats to control how data appears on a layout. The formats you specify don’t change the data as it’s stored in the database, and you can specify different formats each time you place a field on a layout (whether it’s on the same layout or a different layout). For example, if you enter –5123 into a number field, you can format it in one place to display as –$5,123.00 and in another place as <5123>.
FileMaker Pro applies field formatting in the following precedence:
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If you don’t specify formats, FileMaker Pro displays numbers, dates, and times based on the system formats set in Regional Optionscontrol panel (Windows) or the International pane in the System Preferences application (Mac OS) when the file was created.
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In FileMaker Pro, you can specify display formats for text, number, date, time, timestamp, or container fields with no objects selected. FileMaker Pro applies these default formats to fields you place on layouts later. For number, date, time, and timestamp fields, these display formats override the system formats.Specifying text formats for fields
In Layout mode, you can specify a set of text character attributes for each field. All the characters in that instance of the field (including all repetitions of repeating fields) share the same font, size, style, color, line spacing, tab, and paragraph settings.
Note You can also format characters in text fields in Browse mode (for example, italicize or underline a word for emphasis). Unlike text formatting specified in Layout mode, this formatting is stored with the data, and you see it in any layout that displays that field. 1. In Layout mode, select one or more fields, then choose Format
menu > Text.
Or, to set text formats for fields you place later, start with no fields selected.
2. In the Text Format dialog box, select the formats you want to use. You see examples of the options you choose in the Sample area.
Specifying formats for fields containing numbers
You can control how FileMaker Pro displays the values in number fields, calculation fields with numeric results, and summary fields. 1. In Layout mode, select one or more fields that display numeric values.
2. Choose Format menu > Number.
3. In the Number Format dialog box, select the formats you want to use.
You see examples of the options you choose in the Sample area.
4. Click OK. Choose text attributes Select one or more styles Set options for negative values
Specify font, style, size, line spacing, alignment, and color Choose options
for Boolean or decimal numbers and currency
Set options for displaying different Japanese numeral types
Define the symbols for thousands, decimal, and Kanji separators
Specifying formats for date fields
You can control how FileMaker Pro displays the values in date fields, and calculation fields with date results.
Note To avoid confusion when using dates in fields, FileMaker recommends that you always format date fields to display four-digit years.
1. In Layout mode, select one or more date fields or calculation fields with a date result.
2. Choose Format menu > Date.
3. In the Date Format dialog box, select the formats you want to use. You see examples of the options you choose in the Sample area.
4. Click OK.
Specifying formats for time fields
You can control how FileMaker Pro displays time values in fields. 1. In Layout mode, select one or more time fields, or calculation fields with a time result.
2. Choose Format menu > Time.
3. In the Time Format dialog box, select the formats you want to use. You see examples of the options you choose in the Sample area. 4. Click OK.
If you want to format the seconds component to display fractional seconds, continue with the next step.
5. Choose Format menu > Number.
6. In the Number Format dialog box, select the formats you want to use.
Only two options affect the display of the seconds component: Fixed number of decimal digits and Decimal separator. The remaining options have no effect.
7. Click OK.
8. Click OK. Set font, style, size,
color, line spacing, and alignment Choose options for day, month, date, year, and separator characters Choose to display numbers either as entered, in a predetermined format, or in a format you specify
Choose options for displaying Japanese dates
Set font, style, size, color, line spacing, and alignment Choose to display times either as entered, in a predetermined format, or in a format you specify
Choose options for displaying Japanese times
Specifying formats for timestamp fields
You can control how FileMaker Pro displays timestamp values in fields. You format a timestamp field by separately formatting its three components: date, time (excluding the seconds portion), and seconds (including fractional seconds).
1. In Layout mode, select one or more timestamp fields, or calculation fields with a timestamp result.
2. To format the date component, choose Format menu > Date. 3. In the Date Format dialog box, select the formats you want to use and click OK.
4. To format the time component (except the seconds portion), choose Format menu > Time.
5. In the Time Format dialog box, select the formats you want to use and click OK.
6. To format the seconds and fractional seconds component, choose
Format menu > Number.
7. In the Number Format dialog box, select the formats you want to use and click OK.
Only two options affect the display of the seconds component: Fixed number of decimal digits and Decimal separator. The remaining options have no effect.
You see examples of the options you choose in the Sample area. Specifying formats for container fields
You can control how FileMaker Pro displays images and file icons in container fields.
Note The following instructions also apply to formatting graphic objects that you insert onto a layout.
1. In Layout mode, select one or more container fields or inserted graphics.
2. Choose Format menu > Graphic.
3. In the Graphic Format dialog box, select the formats you want to use.
You see examples of the options you choose in the Sample area. File icons do not scale.
4. Click OK.
Formatting fields and text for vertical writing
If your operating system is configured to support Japanese text entry, you can format field objects and text objects that display Japanese text in vertical writing format. In vertical writing, characters are displayed and read from top-to-bottom, with successive columns displayed vertically from right-to-left. This is useful when printing addresses on labels.
When you select one or more fields, then choose Format menu >
Orientation > Sideways (Asian text only), the characters are rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise within the field. The field itself is not rotated. To rotate the selected fields, choose Arrange menu > Rotate. Depending on how you want the text to print, you may want to change the page orientation of the layout. To do so, choose File
menu > Print Setup (Windows) or Page Setup (Mac OS), and change the page orientation to Landscape or Portrait.
Choose how to align the graphic vertically Choose how to fit the
graphic in the frame Choose how to align the graphic horizontally