Setting up a field to display a pop-up menu, checkbox set, or other control
You can make data entry for a field easier and more consistent by displaying fields as drop-down lists, pop-up menus, checkbox sets, radio button sets, or other controls.
You can set these controls at the same time you place fields on a layout, or you can modify existing field controls. For more information on placing fields on a layout, see Placing and removing fields on a layout.
Note  Values displayed in these controls come from value lists. You can define a value list before or after you set up the field controls.
To set up a field to display a pop-up menu, checkbox set or other control:
1.
In Layout mode, select the field.
2.
Click Inspector Inspector button in the layout bar, then click Data.
3.
In the Field area, choose the Control Style you want.
 •
 •
Drop-down list displays value list items in a list. Users can use the arrow keys or “type ahead” to select a value. Select Include arrow to show and hide list if you want to format the field as a combo box.
 •
Pop-up menu displays value list items as a pop-up menu. Users must select an item with the mouse.
 •
Checkbox set displays value list items as checkboxes. Users can select multiple values for a field. Choose the symbol you want displayed in checkboxes (a check mark or x).
 •
Radio button set displays value list items as radio buttons.
 •
Drop-down calendar displays the current date. Users can choose another date from the drop-down calendar, or type one in. See Setting up a field to display a drop-down calendar.
4.
To create a value list, click Edit button next to the Values from list. See Defining value lists. (You can use value lists you define in the Inspector with other fields as well.)
5.
To allow a user to add values to the value list for the current record, select Allow entry of other values. An “Other” option appears in the value list. This option is not available if you selected Drop-down list.
To allow a user to add or change values in the value list across records, select Allow editing of value list. An “Edit” option appears in the value list. This option is not available if:
 •
you selected Checkbox set or Radio button set for the Control Style.
 •
6.
In the Specify Field dialog box, select the field to display data from. Fields can be from the same table, a related or unrelated table in the same file, or a related table in another FileMaker Pro file. To choose a field in another table, choose the table from the tables list above the field list, then select a field from the list of fields in the table.
Select Create label if you want to include the field name as text on the layout. Click OK.
7.
To view drop-down lists or pop-up menus, select the field in Browse mode or Find mode.
Notes
 •
 •
 •
 •
 •
 •
 •
If the field you’re formatting to display a value list is in a portal and the value list is defined to include only related values, you may need to create a self-join relationship in order for the value list to display the related values properly. See Example of a value list that includes only related field values.
 •
To set a default value for a value list field, set up the value list and control style, then choose File menu > Manage Database, and click Fields. Select the value list field, click Options, click the Auto-Enter tab, and select Data. Type the default value, click OK, and close the Manage Database dialog box. When users add a new record to the database, this value will appear in the value list field. Users can choose a different value from the value list. See Defining automatic data entry.
 •
 •
 •
 •
Pop-up menus activate the OnRecordLoad and OnObjectEnter script triggers differently from drop-down lists and calendars:
 •
 •
Related topics 
Setting up a field to display a drop-down calendar
Setting up the display of repeating fields