Defining conditional formatting for layout objects
You can format layout objects to change automatically when they meet specified conditions. For example, you can use conditional formatting to automatically display balances that are over 30 days past due in bold, red text. Conditional formatting settings affect only the way data is displayed or printed, not how data is stored in the database.
To specify conditional formatting for objects:
1.
In Layout mode, select one or more objects.
For more information, see Selecting objects.
2.
Choose Format menu > Conditional.
3.
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To specify a format based on common conditions, for Condition choose Value is. Then choose one of the following conditions and set the parameters.
 
Date data less than the specified number of days in the past, including the current day and any future days. See notes below.
Date data less than the specified number of days in the future, including the current day and any past days. See notes below.
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To specify a format based on a calculation, for Condition choose Formula is. Then click Specify to define the calculation. For more information, see Specify Calculation dialog box.
Tip  Use the Self function to reference data for the selected object. For more information, see Self.
5.
For example, select bold red text appears in a yellow field, when data meets your criteria.
Tip  Click More Formatting to see additional formatting options.
6.
Note  To see which fields have conditional formatting, choose View menu > Show > Conditional Formatting. You see Conditional formatting badge in fields with conditional formatting.
Changing conditional format settings
Moving, disabling, enabling, and deleting conditional format settings changes the order in which conditional settings are applied to an object.
 
Notes
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You can set conditional formatting on the following layout objects: text, fields (including fields from external ODBC data sources), merge fields, layout symbols (date, time, page number, record number, and so on), text-based buttons, web viewers, and tab panels. Conditional formatting is not available for non-textual objects (such as a rectangular layout object).
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To see the effects of conditional format settings while you work in Layout mode, choose View menu > Show > Sample Data. Note that your file must contain record data that meets the formatting criteria you have specified for conditional formatting to appear.
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When you set multiple formatting conditions on an object, all conditions are evaluated starting from the top of the list. Each condition that evaluates “true” is appended to the objects previous format settings.
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When you use the Value is option with the predefined conditions less than x days passed or less than x days ahead, the current date is included in the number of days you specify.
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Examples
If the current day is 11/20/2014 when you specify less than 4 days passed:
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If the current day is 11/20/2014 when you specify less than 4 days ahead:
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Number and date format settings (specified in the Data Formatting area of the Inspector) are applied after conditional formatting settings and are therefore preserved, even if data meets your conditional formatting criteria. However, sometimes number, date, and conditional format settings are combined. For example, if you set negative numbers to display in red and also set conditional formatting on the same field to display negative numbers in blue with the fill color yellow, the result will be a red number in a yellow field. System formats have no affect on conditional formatting settings.
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Conditional formatting settings are not transferred when records are copied within FileMaker Pro files or exported to other FileMaker Pro files.
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Related topics 
Creating a layout
Selecting and working with objects on a layout
Formatting text
Specifying formats for fields containing numbers
Specifying formats for date fields