How can I sort my layouts alphabeticaly? The data base was created
some time ago and has grown into a monster with more layouts than would
be easily "moved" manualy in Set Layout order. Is there anyway to
alphabetize the list of layouts automatically?

Thanks

Chris

In article <1133909537.590994.74560 (AT) g44g2000cwa (DOT) googlegroups.com>,
"Chris" <chrism (AT) arrow-speed (DOT) com> wrote:

There's no automatic way (although it may be possible using AppleScript
or the Windows equivalent). You'll have to do it manually using the Set
Layout Order option in the Layout menu (when in Layout mode of course).
In the window you can drag layout names up and down and also turn the
tick on or off to have some layout names hidden from the pop-up menu
when in Browse mode.


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

In article <071220051649190766%helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com>, Helpful
Harry <helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com> wrote:

This will only work if the file is standing alone on a hard drive
somewhere. To my ongoing frustration, setting layout order is a forbidden
operation when the file is being served. To do this, I'd have to stop the
service, copy the file to a working hard drive, open it (ignoring the
complaints about the dozen broken relationships) rearrange the layouts,
reinstall the file on the server and restart the service.

This is way more trouble than I'm prepared to go through for such a
relatively minor fix. I've just learned to live with it. "The
Product_Location layout? That one was about two-thirds of the way down
the list." Also, as the layout list is in creation order, I've honed my
memory skills by trying to remember what known layout was created near the
same time as a "missing" layout. I scroll to the know one & look around
in the vicinity.

Steve Brown

There is an easier way to do this without rearranging the layouts.
Using the "LayoutNames" design function load all the layout names into
a global field. Create a record for each layout in a utility table and
have the script go to layout name based on the record you select. If
you want you can sort the layouts first so they are in alphabetical
order.

Although not a solution in the same way as 42's post it is worth
remembering that you can jump around the layout list by pressing the
initial letter. For example, Product_Location, press P a few times and
you should find it unless you have large numbers of layouts whose first
letter is P.

My apologies - for 42 read FP - no offence intended

My apologies - for 42 read FP - no offence intended

Steve,

I am not sure about earlier versions, but in FileMaker 8 you can re-order
layouts as a remote user while the file is being served.

Bill

<eyebrown (AT) mindspring (DOT) com> wrote

In article <1133973903.440278.216180 (AT) g43g2000cwa (DOT) googlegroups.com>, "FP"
<ab (AT) pottnerconsulting (DOT) ca> wrote:

This sounds very cool, but I'm not familiar with the LayoutNames
function. Is this an FM 7/8 function? If not, is it a status function?

Do all the layout names need to be permanently parked in the global
field? If so, then the global would have to be rebuilt every day for each
user.

In general, all users but myself have scripted navigation buttons. They
are not even aware of the good ol' rolodex icon and the layout drop-down.
It is only I who is inconvenienced. Using your technique would greatly
help me, personally, but I can see modifications of this as very useful
user tools.

Steve Brown

In article
<eyebrown-0812050732270001 (AT) 216-10-174-89 (DOT) earthlink.wispnet.net>,
eyebrown (AT) mindspring (DOT) com wrote:

LayoutNames isn't a Status function, it's a Design function that's been
in FileMaker for many versions (possibly even since the very start) -
it's definitely in FileMaker 4.

You can use the function anywhere that a calculation is used:
Claculation fields, Auto-enter fields, If statment tests, the second
part of a Set Field command, etc.
eg.
Set Field [MyTextField, LayoutNames(MyDatabase)]

This will give the Text field MyTextField a list of all the layout
names in the database file called MyDatabase. Each layout name will be
separated by a carriage return character.

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