Drawing in FMP

#1

I want to be able to make a low-resolution line drawing, probably in a
container field in FMP 7 (or 8). I have a Tablet PC, so the stylus would
make a great input tool.

Is there a way to do this?

#2

I'm not sure if I understand your question properly. Are you saying
you want to create a graphic and get that into a container field?
If that's the case then simply go into layout mode
draw the graphic using the line tool
copy the graphic
or copy one from somewhere else
go back into browse mode
paste the graphic into a container field.

#3

I want to be able to "annotate" a layout (using arrows and lines, etc)
overlying a set of existing fields. Kind of like using Microsoft's "digital
ink", but since FMP is not Tablet PC native, it can't be done simply.

(I have an oval that represents the eye, and there are fields with numbers
around the periphery. I want to draw in the blank central oval. I don't want
to draw elsewhere, and copy and paste into a container field - I need to do
it right there where it is.)

On 10/6/05 10:24 PM, in article
1128662651.082351.284730 (AT) z14g20...oglegroups.com, "FP"
<a (AT) pottnerconsulting (DOT) ca> wrote:

Quote:

I'm not sure if I understand your question properly. Are you saying
you want to create a graphic and get that into a container field?
If that's the case then simply go into layout mode
draw the graphic using the line tool
copy the graphic
or copy one from somewhere else
go back into browse mode
paste the graphic into a container field.

#4

In article <BF6B5A37.5EF2D%trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com>, "David Robins, MD"
<trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote:

Quote:

I want to be able to "annotate" a layout (using arrows and lines, etc)
overlying a set of existing fields. Kind of like using Microsoft's "digital
ink", but since FMP is not Tablet PC native, it can't be done simply.

(I have an oval that represents the eye, and there are fields with numbers
around the periphery. I want to draw in the blank central oval. I don't want
to draw elsewhere, and copy and paste into a container field - I need to do
it right there where it is.)

FileMaker Pro is a database application, not a drawing application. If
you want to draw diagrams you'll need to use an application designed
for that purpose.

Container fields can hold a varitry of things, including images and
"files" (or at least links to files) so you can double-click them to
edit them in the original application, but unless you want to play with
AppleScript or the Windows equivalent you can't actually create a new
file directly within a container field. The only other way is to paste
/ insert an existing image into the container field.

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

#5

David Robins, MD <trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote:

Quote:

I want to be able to "annotate" a layout (using arrows and lines, etc)
overlying a set of existing fields. Kind of like using Microsoft's "digital
ink", but since FMP is not Tablet PC native, it can't be done simply.

(I have an oval that represents the eye, and there are fields with numbers
around the periphery. I want to draw in the blank central oval. I don't want
to draw elsewhere, and copy and paste into a container field - I need to do
it right there where it is.)

Somewhere somewhere there is a drawing plugin for FM. Search for it. I
have no idea whether or not it's be upgraded for recent versions, but I
do know it used to exist.

Lynn Allen
--
Allen & Allen Semiotics www.semiotics.com
FSA Associate Filemaker Design & Consulting

#6

Actually, I was hoping with my Tablet PC to be able to use Microsoft's "ink"
to "draw" superimposed on the FMP database layout and save it as part of the
record. (This is how I record part of the eye movement examination, which
cannot be just recorded using numbers, as I am doing now in lieu of the
drawing capability.

Perhaps someday this will be possible, if FMP becomes Tablet native, and can
incorporate "ink".

On 10/6/05 11:12 PM, in article
071020051912438058%helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com, "Helpful Harry"
<helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com> wrote:

Quote:

In article <BF6B5A37.5EF2D%trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com>, "David Robins, MD"
trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote:

I want to be able to "annotate" a layout (using arrows and lines, etc)
overlying a set of existing fields. Kind of like using Microsoft's "digital
ink", but since FMP is not Tablet PC native, it can't be done simply.

(I have an oval that represents the eye, and there are fields with numbers
around the periphery. I want to draw in the blank central oval. I don't want
to draw elsewhere, and copy and paste into a container field - I need to do
it right there where it is.)

FileMaker Pro is a database application, not a drawing application. If
you want to draw diagrams you'll need to use an application designed
for that purpose.

Container fields can hold a varitry of things, including images and
"files" (or at least links to files) so you can double-click them to
edit them in the original application, but unless you want to play with
AppleScript or the Windows equivalent you can't actually create a new
file directly within a container field. The only other way is to paste
/ insert an existing image into the container field.

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

#7

No offense, but that is like saying "FileMaker is a database application,
not an audio application...." Yet, one can quite easilly double-click a
fresh container field to bring up a simple sound recorder. Why should ink be
any different? Perhaps it's because Apple is behind the curve in tablet
computing.

The optimal way to solve this dilemma in Windows, without use of a plug-in
(I don't believe one is available), would be as follows:

1) create a table with a container field to hold the "source" image that is
the oval you want as a template.

The source image. must be created using the "Insert Object" method.
(Right-click and choose "Insert Object....") Specify it should be a bitmap
object. Use "Create New" (not Create from File), and Display as Icon should
be deselected.

Microsoft Paint will open. You can size the image and paste in any existing
artwork you like. When you close the Paint window, the image will appear in
the FileMaker container field.

2) in the table which is used for data collection, set up a relationship
with the source table you just created. Once that is done, specify the
container field should "look up" its contents from the container field in
the source table.

This copies over the image as an object into each new record. Use relookup
if necessary to put the oval into any existing records that need it.

Because the oval image is created this way -- as an "object" -- you may
double-click it within FileMaker... Paint will automatically open, allowing
you to edit the template image. Simply closing Paint will copy the oval back
to FileMaker Pro and update the container field.

With this method, plugins are not needed, scripting is not required, new
individual files do not have to be created manually, and users do not have
to use copy and paste. It does not offer the in-place editing you would
prefer. But, Paint will remember its window size for a semi-integrated look.

Bill

"Helpful Harry" <helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com> wrote

Quote:

In article <BF6B5A37.5EF2D%trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com>, "David Robins, MD"
trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote:

I want to be able to "annotate" a layout (using arrows and lines, etc)
overlying a set of existing fields. Kind of like using Microsoft's
"digital
ink", but since FMP is not Tablet PC native, it can't be done simply.

(I have an oval that represents the eye, and there are fields with
numbers
around the periphery. I want to draw in the blank central oval. I don't
want
to draw elsewhere, and copy and paste into a container field - I need to
do
it right there where it is.)

FileMaker Pro is a database application, not a drawing application. If
you want to draw diagrams you'll need to use an application designed
for that purpose.

Container fields can hold a varitry of things, including images and
"files" (or at least links to files) so you can double-click them to
edit them in the original application, but unless you want to play with
AppleScript or the Windows equivalent you can't actually create a new
file directly within a container field. The only other way is to paste
/ insert an existing image into the container field.

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

#8

In article <BF6E03E7.5F73F%trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com>, "David Robins, MD"
<trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote:

Quote:

Actually, I was hoping with my Tablet PC to be able to use Microsoft's "ink"
to "draw" superimposed on the FMP database layout and save it as part of the
record. (This is how I record part of the eye movement examination, which
cannot be just recorded using numbers, as I am doing now in lieu of the
drawing capability.

Perhaps someday this will be possible, if FMP becomes Tablet native, and can
incorporate "ink".

"Microsoft's ink"?!?!?!?

"Ink" (TM, R, C) is actually Apple's technology that is installed with
Mac OS X (it's an updated version of the Grafitti technology that was
used on the Newton PDA).

)

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

#9

In article <I7udnf61nbUbR9XeRVn-iA (AT) comcast (DOT) com>, "Bill Marriott"
<wjm (AT) wjm (DOT) org> wrote:

Quote:

No offense, but that is like saying "FileMaker is a database application,
not an audio application...." Yet, one can quite easilly double-click a
fresh container field to bring up a simple sound recorder. Why should ink be
any different?

Ink is installed with Mac OS X, but it's rather useless for most people
since drawing with a mouse is cumbersome at best.

It's possible that a future version of FileMaker will be bale to
utilise the OS's Ink abilities, just as it can now utilise the OS's
QucikTime abilities to record sound.

Quote:

Perhaps it's because Apple is behind the curve in tablet computing.

Ahhh, but let's wait and see what is announced at this Wednesday's
Apple event. ;o)

Quote:

The optimal way to solve this dilemma in Windows, without use of a plug-in
(I don't believe one is available), would be as follows:

A plug-in is a better idea, but is likely to be expensive since again
it's useless to anybody without a tablet (tablet PC or drawing tablet)
or PDA.

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

#10

On 9/10/05 4:16 PM, in article BF6E03E7.5F73F%trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com, "David
Robins, MD" <trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote:

Quote:

Actually, I was hoping with my Tablet PC to be able to use Microsoft's "ink"
to "draw" superimposed on the FMP database layout and save it as part of the
record. (This is how I record part of the eye movement examination, which
cannot be just recorded using numbers, as I am doing now in lieu of the
drawing capability.

Perhaps someday this will be possible, if FMP becomes Tablet native, and can
incorporate "ink".

On 10/6/05 11:12 PM, in article
071020051912438058%helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com, "Helpful Harry"
helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com> wrote:

In article <BF6B5A37.5EF2D%trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com>, "David Robins, MD"
trashadd (AT) bigfoot (DOT) com> wrote:

I want to be able to "annotate" a layout (using arrows and lines, etc)
overlying a set of existing fields. Kind of like using Microsoft's "digital
ink", but since FMP is not Tablet PC native, it can't be done simply.

(I have an oval that represents the eye, and there are fields with numbers
around the periphery. I want to draw in the blank central oval. I don't want
to draw elsewhere, and copy and paste into a container field - I need to do
it right there where it is.)

FileMaker Pro is a database application, not a drawing application. If
you want to draw diagrams you'll need to use an application designed
for that purpose.

Container fields can hold a varitry of things, including images and
"files" (or at least links to files) so you can double-click them to
edit them in the original application, but unless you want to play with
AppleScript or the Windows equivalent you can't actually create a new
file directly within a container field. The only other way is to paste
/ insert an existing image into the container field.

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

Hi David

I do a lot of work with the med profession here in Australia. I have found
there is usually a workaround for most problems.

I have been reading the posts and have a question re these drawings you
make. Is there a finite number of possible drawings? Could you pre draw
these diagrams and store them globally and then insert the appropriate
drawing to match the patients results?

Apart from this solution I have been looking at the xmChart plug in from
http://www.x2max.com/en/products/xmCHART/info.html

And then look at the graphics primitives section

Cheers Brad