Formatting text paragraphs

You can format text, and the data in text fields, as paragraphs. For example, indent the first line of text, or insert tab stops in a text field. Set formatting options individually or all at once.

Using the text ruler

Format text on layouts and in text fields using the text ruler.

To insert Choose You see this on the layout

A fixed date Current Date The current date (taken from your computer’s calendar)

A fixed time Current Time The current time (taken from your computer’s clock)

A fixed user name Current User Name The current user name A variable date Date Symbol Two slashes (//) A variable time Time Symbol Two colons (::) A variable user name User Name Symbol Two vertical lines (||) A page number Page Number Two number symbols (##) A record number Record Number Two at symbols (@@)

Choose FileMaker Help Index from the Help menu, and then type:

E

?

Choose a font

Choose a font size Set font styles

Align paragraphs Set tabs

1. To display the text ruler in Layout mode, choose Text Ruler from the Show menu. In Browse mode, choose Text Ruler from the Format menu. 2. In Layout mode, select the objects to format. In Browse mode, select

the text to format.

To set tabs, indents, or margins, select text first. If you click a text object without selecting text, you can only set font, size, style, alignment, and ruler units.

3. Select options.

Note After you set tab stops within a field, use the tab stops in Browse mode by clicking inside the field, then holding down the Control key while pressing Tab.

To Do this

Indent the first line Drag the left indent marker. The first line indent marker automatically follows.

To move the left indent marker by itself, press Alt and drag it.

Set the font Choose a font from the drop-down list. Set the font size Choose a size from the drop-down list. Set the font style Click one or more style controls (bold, italic,

or underline).

Set a tab Click a set tab button, and then click the ruler where you want the tab. (Set up to 20 tabs for each text object or field.) Select a left-align, center-align, right-align, or decimal-align tab. Or double-click a tab marker to display the Tab dialog box. (See the next section).

Align text Click an alignment control. Select left, center, right, or justified alignment.

Change the unit of measure Choose a unit from the drop-down list). Change the left or right margin Drag the left or right indent markers on the ruler.

Choose FileMaker Help Index from the Help menu, and then type:

E

Setting tabs using the Tab dialog box

1. Display the text ruler, as explained in “Using the text ruler” on page 3-82. 2. To display the Tabs dialog box, with text selected, double-click a tab

marker in the text ruler.

You can also choose Text from the Format menu, click Paragraph in the Text Format dialog box, and then click Tabs.

3. In the Tabs dialog box, select options.

4. Click OK when you’re done setting options for all tabs.

To Do this

Set the tab alignment For Type, select an option.

Set a decimal tab Click Align On. To set a decimal tab on a separator other than a period (.), type a character in the text box. Specify the tab’s position on

the ruler

For Position, type a value.

Specify a fill character For Fill Character, type a character (for example, for a phone listing, you can fill the area between the name and the telephone number with periods).

Apply the current settings and set another tab

Click Apply.

Change the options for the currently selected tab

Select new options, and then click Set.

Set a new tab Select options, and then click New.

Clear the current settings, to start over

Formatting paragraphs all at once

1. Display the text ruler, as explained in “Using the text ruler” on page 3-82. 2. To display the Paragraph dialog box, with text selected, double-click

a blank area of the text ruler.

You can also choose Text from the Format menu, and then click

Paragraph in the Text Format dialog box.

3. In the Paragraph dialog box, select options, and then click OK. Choose FileMaker Help Index from the Help menu, and then type:

E

To Do this

Set text alignment For Alignment, select an option. Indent all the text For Indent, type a value for Left or Right.

Indent the first line only For Indent, type a value for First.

Set line spacing For LineSpacing, choose an option. To set the unit of measure, for Lines, choose an option.

Set tabs Click Tabs, and then see “Setting tabs using the Tab dialog box” on page 3-84.

Apply the current settings to the text without closing the dialog box

Click Apply.

Set alignment for a tab

Specify the tab’s position Specify a fill character Current tab settings