It happens fairly often that we need a button with versatile text like for instance "Create" vs "Update" <Related table>.
Actually, it costs a calculated field to accomplish, which is far from ideal for numerous reasons. Then, we place a merge field into the button text...
Why not imagine simply the common choice between text string OR calculation as for e-mail step, custom dialog box, popover titles and so much more other FM tools.
THANKS to consider it !
Fred
We are at a point now where we have three different button objects: standard button, popover button, and button bar. Of these, only the button bar allows for setting the button text as a calc. Some people have taken to using one-button bars as a total substitute for standard and popover buttons, to get the calced text as well as the option at any point to change a standard button into a popover (or vice versa).
It would be nice (I guess this is technically a separate request, but it goes so nicely with this request and I'm lazy :-) ) if a future version of FMP just automatically converted all our legacy buttons across all existing layouts into single button bars that have the same size and look. And then they could get rid of the old layout objects and we could get on with our lives. Nne of the existing themes I just tried even have themed styles for the button bar to match single buttons.
there's also lot room for improvements with Button Bars for dynamic width and individual options and arrangements for every segment within a Button Bar.
Why use buttons? Button bars do exactly what you are asking for.
Thank you twice Malcolm ! First for the nice workaround and once more for giving me an additional argument : this difference make no sense, does it ? NB : I think the simple button object is still useful. Why configure so much element for just one button !
Only one thing matters. Is the button doing its job? if no... then vote UP. Filemaker will decide if it makes sense to keep it. there are many things to consider, that we have no clue about.
I am no fan of "tips&tricks" in the ideas area, but since FM13 and the hideable text option we have no formula fields for varying texts on our layouts anymore. Just place the texts you need above each other and hide the one you don´t want to see on certain conditions - works with buttons too and you have a calculated field less.
I fully agree that all static texts everywhere should be optionally based on a calculation though.