Comments on: FileMaker 9 Tip#5: Using the Self Function http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/ smart business solutions Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:36:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Gordo http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-1146 Gordo Tue, 27 May 2008 23:08:47 +0000 http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-1146 Great Script Parameter, BUT be very careful that all users are running FM 9 + or you will get errors. ? FM 8.5 doesn't support the SELF parameter. Another great function is Upper(Self) as a lookup to ensure the data is all upper format. Great Script Parameter, BUT be very careful that all users are running FM 9 + or you will get errors. ? FM 8.5 doesn’t support the SELF parameter. Another great function is Upper(Self) as a lookup to ensure the data is all upper format.

]]> By: Michael Funayama http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-488 Michael Funayama Tue, 04 Sep 2007 05:58:18 +0000 http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-488 Tom Fitch's idea sounds good, but fm9 doesn't like Self as a script parameter. I've got a solution going where the menu buttons are text which changes colour conditionally if it matches the current layout name. With this I can have one set of menu buttons which I copy across to all my layouts, but I still have to enter a different script parameter for each button. They also have the same tooltip calculation. Tom Fitch’s idea sounds good, but fm9 doesn’t like Self as a script parameter. I’ve got a solution going where the menu buttons are text which changes colour conditionally if it matches the current layout name. With this I can have one set of menu buttons which I copy across to all my layouts, but I still have to enter a different script parameter for each button. They also have the same tooltip calculation.

]]> By: Geoff Coffey http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-246 Geoff Coffey Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:59:05 +0000 http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-246 @tom: That is a very cool technique. I am positive I'll be using it myself. I already use a single script and global variables to keep track of sort order so I can swap ascending/descending, so I can apply your idea to get visual feedback for my users with just some conditional formatting. Awesome :) @tom: That is a very cool technique. I am positive I’ll be using it myself. I already use a single script and global variables to keep track of sort order so I can swap ascending/descending, so I can apply your idea to get visual feedback for my users with just some conditional formatting. Awesome :)

]]> By: Tom Fitch http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-243 Tom Fitch Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:50:31 +0000 http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-243 You can use Self to highlight the column heading of a list layout to indicate sorting. 1. pass a Script Parameter "self" to the sort script; ... i.e., you're passing the text of the button... 2. in the script set $$sortorder to the param; 3. conditionally format the button you clicked with self = $$sortorder You can extend this to include an up or down triangle for ascending/descending sort, using a dingbat font that you hide/show by changing its text color to match the background or not. However, this method seems to require individually naming each object, which is kind of a bummer. I.e. you can nicely use conditional formatting for this part, but not the Self function. You can use Self to highlight the column heading of a list layout to indicate sorting.

1. pass a Script Parameter “self” to the sort script;
… i.e., you’re passing the text of the button…
2. in the script set $$sortorder to the param;
3. conditionally format the button you clicked with self = $$sortorder

You can extend this to include an up or down triangle for ascending/descending sort, using a dingbat font that you hide/show by changing its text color to match the background or not. However, this method seems to require individually naming each object, which is kind of a bummer. I.e. you can nicely use conditional formatting for this part, but not the Self function.

]]> By: Bart Bartholomay http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-203 Bart Bartholomay Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:59:12 +0000 http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-203 <p>Hey, David, do you have a small proof of concept file you could make available?</p> Hey, David, do you have a small proof of concept file you could make available?

]]> By: Geoff Coffey http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-135 Geoff Coffey Fri, 13 Jul 2007 14:45:47 +0000 http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-135 <p>@david: Awesome.</p> @david: Awesome.

]]> By: David Head http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-131 David Head Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:11:52 +0000 http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-131 <p>Since the Self function will return the contents of a field that it refers to, you can use tooltips to display the entire contents of a field. </p> <p>Take the case of a list where there is limited space for a field. When a user hovers their mouse over the field, a tooltip appears that displays the entire field contents.</p> <p>This was done in the past by defining the tooltip with the field name. Not any more - set the tooltip to Self. Then duplicate the field (with its tooltip), specify the field for the duplicate and the tooltip will display the contents of the new field.</p> <p>Now all that is just great. But what about existing fields? Set all the tooltips individually? No way. Select ALL the fields you want to add these tooltips to, right-clic, select Set Tooltip... and specify Self. All fields will display their individual field contents. Cool or what?</p> Since the Self function will return the contents of a field that it refers to, you can use tooltips to display the entire contents of a field.

Take the case of a list where there is limited space for a field. When a user hovers their mouse over the field, a tooltip appears that displays the entire field contents.

This was done in the past by defining the tooltip with the field name. Not any more - set the tooltip to Self. Then duplicate the field (with its tooltip), specify the field for the duplicate and the tooltip will display the contents of the new field.

Now all that is just great. But what about existing fields? Set all the tooltips individually? No way. Select ALL the fields you want to add these tooltips to, right-clic, select Set Tooltip… and specify Self. All fields will display their individual field contents. Cool or what?

]]> By: Geoff Coffey http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-106 Geoff Coffey Thu, 12 Jul 2007 00:19:35 +0000 http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-106 <p>@susan: I always knew you were a genius :) That's an awesome idea...it is such a nuisance to change out your navigation buttons on each layout. I love it.</p> <p>Geoff</p> @susan: I always knew you were a genius :) That’s an awesome idea…it is such a nuisance to change out your navigation buttons on each layout. I love it.

Geoff

]]> By: Susan Prosser http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-102 Susan Prosser Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:28:30 +0000 http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/filemaker-9-tip5-using-the-self-function/#comment-102 <p>I just made some navigation buttons that have the same name as the layout. Then you format it with "self = get (layoutname)." It's now bold and a different color when it appears on its own layout. Not terribly dramatic, but dead easy.</p> I just made some navigation buttons that have the same name as the layout. Then you format it with “self = get (layoutname).” It’s now bold and a different color when it appears on its own layout. Not terribly dramatic, but dead easy.

]]>