Hiding Buttons
It's just like when you see someone who is well-dressed, clean and sharp looking, your FileMaker user interface is no different. You're more impressed by that sharp, clean look. In this regard, not having something on your user interface is quite possibly one of the very things which makes your user interface look that much cleaner.
Portals and list views, pretty much anything which repeats itself many times, can be very overwhelming when there are a lot of options. Quite simply, if there are too many buttons, it's too cluttered.
In this video, we talk about getting those buttons off your user interface and making them available only when needed. It's a great way to start to clean up your user interface and make sure that certain option are only available after the user has made the selection of where they want to go next.
It's a simple concept, but one which is often ignored by newer developers because the examples they are shown do not take advantage of the opportunities to hide these types of buttons. So, we end up with FileMaker solutions which are littered with buttons on every list view row and every portal row. So, let's get rid of them until they are needed!
Comments
Download Video
Hey Matt, where's the download (save as) video area?
Hide When Active Object
Matt,
I noticed that an object will not hide on a layout if that object is the active and focused object even with a refresh object in v16. Not sure if this is what FM intended but this is how it operates. I noticed this specifically with fields and button bars. If I remained in/on the object that I wanted to hide, it would not even with a refresh. My thought is it has to do with FM not knowing what to make active once the object is hidden or where to go. I started doing what I needed for the script then exiting the object by going to another identified object /field depending on my need.
John
Nice Workaround
This is a great technique. Too bad refreshing the portal has to be done.
Issue in list view
I have a portal on a layout and I am in list view, showing multiple records. The hide command does not work correctly for my trash icon. The other visible records start showing trash icons randomly. Any ideas?
Doug Jacobs
Button Bar
I've noticed that the ButtonBar (BB) does not act like the button with regards of the naming of the BB; The BB adds quotes ("") whereas the button does not so the BB will not hide. Thanks for the great job you're doing with the magazine.