Setting auto-resize options for layout objects
You can set objects to automatically resize or move horizontally or vertically when the FileMaker Pro window is resized. Horizontal settings also apply to Preview mode and printing when the page size is wider than the size of the layout being viewed or printed.
When layout objects are set to resize, they maintain a constant distance from the object to which they are anchored. This allows objects to move, expand, or contract when the FileMaker Pro window is resized.
Anchor points are either the layout, tab control, or portal margin in which an object resides. By default, objects are anchored on both the top and left sides of the layout or page.
To allow objects to resize or move when the FileMaker Pro window is resized:
1.
In Layout mode, select one or more objects on the layout.
For more information, see Selecting objects.
2.
Click Inspector Inspector button in the layout bar, then click Position.
3.
For example, to allow an object to maintain its horizontal position on the layout and expand to the right when the window is made wider, leave the default left and top anchors selected and select the right anchor.
Left, top, and right anchors selected in the Inspector
Tip  To allow an object to move to the right (rather than expand) when the window is made wider, clear the left anchor leaving the top and right anchors selected.
Notes
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The following table compares the effects of different and combined horizontal resize settings. Vertical resize settings behave the same. In these illustrations, the outer rectangle represents the layout, tab control, or portal margin. The inner rectangle represents the alignment of the anchored object under different layout settings. Top anchor settings are included so objects retain their vertical orientation on the layout.
Object’s position and width when window is original size
Auto-resize settings
Object alignment and
size when window is resized
Object shown in position when window is original size
Object stays in original position (left aligned) when window is made wider
Left and top anchors selected in the Inspector
Object is left-aligned and does not expand or move.
Object shown in position when window is original size
Object moves to right margin when window is made wider
Top and right anchors selected in the Inspector
Object is right-aligned, moving to the right margin of the layout, tab control, or portal.
Object shown in position when window is original size
Object expands to left and right margins when window is made wider
Left, top, and right anchors selected in the Inspector
Object expands to meet both left and right layout, tab control, or portal margins.
Object shown in position when window is original size
Object moved relative to the center of the layout when window is made wider
Top anchor selected in the Inspector
Object maintains a constant distance from the center of the layout.
Note  The object will not display in the exact center of the layout after resizing, unless it was positioned in the center of the layout before resizing.
Important  Multiple objects positioned side-by-side or stacked vertically and anchored to either both left and right or both top and bottom margins move or resize relative to the layout, tab control, or portal margin, not each other. Therefore, adjacent objects will not maintain a relative distance from one another and may overlap when the window is resized.
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Objects are not reduced beyond their original size, even when the FileMaker Pro window is made smaller than the size of the original layout.
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Objects located in tab controls or portals adhere to the following rules:
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Objects are anchored to the tab control or portal boundary rather than to the window or layout part boundary. For example, if a tab control is anchored on the right and objects inside the tab control are anchored on the left, these objects align to the tab control’s left side rather than the window’s left side.
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If you want fields on a tab panel to resize with the tab panel, you must specify resize settings for both the tab panel and fields located inside it. If a tab panel is not set to resize, objects inside the panel will not resize regardless of their individual resize settings.
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If a portal object is set to resize vertically by anchoring both its top and bottom to the layout part boundary, it can be set to expand by increasing the height of existing rows or row height can be kept constant and more rows can be displayed when the window is made larger.
- To increase the height of existing rows, set at least one object inside the portal to auto-resize vertically.
- To keep row height static and increase the number of rows displayed when the object that contains a portal is enlarged, do not set any objects inside the portal to auto-resize.
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Form View: Objects are anchored to the sides of the window horizontally and to the sides of their enclosing layout part vertically.
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List View: Objects are anchored horizontally.
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Table View: Auto-resize settings have no effect.
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Related topics 
Using the Inspector to position objects