Formatting and setting up field objects in Layout mode
Use FileMaker Pro field formats to control how data appears on a layout. The formats you specify don't change the data as it's stored in the database, and you can specify a different format for each time you place a field on a layout (whether it's on the same layout or a different layout). For example, if you enter -5123 into a number field, you can format it in one place to display as -$5,123.00 and in another place as <5123>.
You can also have field formats change automatically when data meets criteria you specify. See Defining conditional formatting for layout objects.
FileMaker Pro applies field formatting in the following precedence:
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Notes
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If a field uses system formats to display data, FileMaker WebDirect uses the default system formats for the location in which the database file was created.
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To display sample data in fields formatted with the specified field formats, in Layout mode, choose View menu > Show > Sample Data. FileMaker Pro replaces the field names with sample data from the record currently being browsed.
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Number and date format settings 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 in the Data Formatting area of the Inspector 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.
Related topics 
Adding tooltips on layouts
Topics in this section
Specifying text formats for fields
Specifying formats for fields containing numbers
Specifying formats for date fields
Specifying formats for time fields
Specifying formats for timestamp fields
Specifying formats for container fields
Adding borders, fill, and baselines to fields
Adding scroll bars to fields
Defining value lists
Setting up a field to display a pop-up menu, checkbox set, or other control
Setting up a field to display a keyboard
Setting up a field to display a drop-down calendar
Setting up a field to auto-complete during data entry
Setting up the display of repeating fields