Editing objects, layout parts, and the layout background > Creating and working with styles in layouts
 

Creating and working with styles in layouts

A style is a collection of attributes—such as font, color, line style, and text alignment—that determine the appearance of a layout. Each FileMaker Pro Advanced theme includes a default style for every object, layout part, and layout background. Some themes have additional default styles for some objects; for example, there are default styles for the dots on a slide control and the rows in a portal. A theme also includes a default style for the layout background.

Styles give layouts a consistent appearance. They also save you the time of reassigning formatting attributes each time you create a new object or part. When you add objects or layout parts to a layout, FileMaker Pro Advanced uses the default style defined in the current theme for that object type or part type. When you create a new layout, FileMaker Pro Advanced uses the theme's default style for the layout background.

You can modify default styles or design new styles and save them for use in the current layout. When you edit and save formatting attributes for styles that are applied to multiple objects or layout parts, your changes are applied to all objects and parts that use those styles on the current layout.

You can also create new styles with custom names, which you can then apply to objects, layout parts, or the layout background in the current layout. To use your custom styles in other layouts, save your styles to FileMaker Pro Advanced themes or to new custom themes that you create.

As you create and work with styles and themes:

Use the Styles Styles tab in the Inspector to view and apply defined styles.

Use the Appearance Appearance tab in the Inspector to create and modify styles and themes.

Use the Change Theme dialog box to apply default and custom themes to layouts in a file.

Use the Manage Themes dialog box to see which themes are in use in a file, and to import themes from other files.

Related topics 

Viewing and applying styles in layouts

Editing or creating styles in layouts

Copying formatting attributes in layouts

Example of a value list that includes only related field values

Priority used for displaying formatting attributes