Log in to create and rate content, and to follow, bookmark, and share content with other members. Not a member? Join Now!

AnsweredAssumed Answered

Formatting the outline of a tab control

Question asked by rickaltman on Oct 12, 2018
Latest reply on Oct 16, 2018 by schamblee

Like • Show 0 Likes0
Comment • 22

I have this nifty tab control that functions well and I have formatted the lettering and the look of the tab as desired. However, the overall tab boundary stubbornly shows with a blue border and there is a thick border below the tabs themselves, also blue (see attached). I have carefully used the inspector to select the tab control and remove all outlines and shadows -- to no avail.

This is beginning to annoy me, as either this border cannot be removed (bad functionality), or the control for it is very well hidden (bad UI design), or I'm just an idiot (bad genes).

Which is it...?

Rick A.
Pleasanton CA

Attachments

tab outline.png19.1 KB

No one else has this question

Outcomes

22 Replies

user19752 Oct 12, 2018 5:36 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
It is defined in theme, but not found in FM17 (may be deprecated). What version and theme do you use.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
rickaltman Oct 12, 2018 6:08 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I am using FM17, sorry for not mentioning that. I'm simply using the Default theme, and that is one of my frustrations: I do not know how to define the elements of a theme. In other software, I would right-click it and see a Format choice, or select an object and have some sort of Apply Formatting to Theme or Save As Theme. I don't know where any of those controls are in FM.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
user19752 @ rickaltman on Oct 12, 2018 6:48 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
There is no built-in theme named "Default", so it is your custom theme, maybe based on a theme (Blue) in old version of FM.

To resolve it, make another layout with another theme (all theme in FM17 doesn't have the line), then copy the tab control then paste it into new layout, apply current style, then copy back to original layout.

I'm not so experienced with theme, someone else would have better way.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
schamblee Oct 12, 2018 7:02 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
It appears to be the Blue Theme from an earlier version of FMP.
You can change the theme in layout mode. Once in layout mode go to Layouts>Change Theme. Each layout can have a different theme.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
rickaltman Oct 12, 2018 9:49 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I appreciate these suggestions and will try them both. But first, I have to vent: I have to do all of this mishegos just to remove a border on a tab? Please...
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
user19752 @ rickaltman on Oct 12, 2018 10:21 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
There are some plug-ins that can edit XML source of layout object, so you may be able to directly edit CSS to change the border. (I did half way but stop it at seeing terribly long CSS strings for EACH tab panel.) This shows it is "Bad UI design".

I guess many of theme are removed (from FM15?) for that reason, users want to modify some styles of the theme but it can't be done in FM UI.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
schamblee @ rickaltman on Oct 13, 2018 1:45 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
The border is part of the of theme, its part of the css code which is not editable in FM. The blue theme was one of the original themes released in FM12. FM received a few complaints about the border that couldn't be changed in a few themes. FMI deprecated several themes including the blue theme. There are fewer themes available in FM17 but each part is now modifiable within FM.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
rickaltman Oct 13, 2018 7:23 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I appreciate everyone's comments here; to broaden the discussion a bit, I guess I just really don't understand color management in FileMaker. Here is a summary of my frustrations:
1. From a freshly designed layout, I created a new theme, expecting that if I applied that theme to an older layout, the colors of various elements would update. They don't.
2. From a freshly designed layout with a new color scheme, I sought a way to lock in those colors so that I could quickly apply them to other layouts. Perhaps a way to save a color scheme, as I can in Microsoft Office products. I can't find that, either.
3. I resorted to clicking Other from the color drop-downs, dialing up the desired RGB values and adding them to the Custom color section (all the while seeing the Define Custom Colors button be grayed out). That worked for a particular session of FileMaker but then those assignments went away.
Is there really no better way to design and apply a color palette to layouts and objects? I'd love for someone to tell me that I have just been overlooking a gigantic segment of the interface all these years.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
schamblee @ rickaltman on Oct 13, 2018 8:57 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
You can modify the color of themes. As I stated some of the colors in the older themes is part of the CSS code and can not be modified in FM. It is part of the Theme. Most of those Themes are been deprecated.
Google "Modify FileMaker themes"
modify filemaker 17 themes - YouTube
2 people found this helpful
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
rickaltman Oct 13, 2018 9:18 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I have performed exhaustive searches on that very phrase and ones just like it and it is now clear to me: FileMaker is woefully deficient in global color and design management. It should take a page from PowerPoint, whose system of slide masters and slide layouts, coupled with simple color and typeface styles, would allow us far greater control and consistency of design elements.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
schamblee @ rickaltman on Oct 13, 2018 12:25 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
It takes time to learn how to customize Themes. If you don't want to learn yourself you can purchase Themes that others have made.

Themes for FileMaker Pro - filemakerthemes.com

Using Themes - Tutorial 202 - FileMaker Custom App Academy

Working with layout themes

Exploring Styles in FileMaker 13 | Soliant Consulting

FileMaker Themes Best Practices | DB Services
Like • Show 2 Likes2
Actions
rickaltman Oct 13, 2018 1:00 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
My understanding is that it is all CSS- and XML-based at the code level. That kind of proves my point: these are basic design tasks that should be readily available to us at the interface level.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
schamblee @ rickaltman on Oct 13, 2018 1:46 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
The themes are CSS based. FMP is not a CSS editor it is a relational database used to create FMP databases. There are many features built into FM to let you edit layouts and themes. There are many resources available to teach you how to modify your theme, so no I don't see your point.

Here is another link Theme Editor for FileMaker Pro
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
beverly @ schamblee on Oct 13, 2018 2:00 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
The themes are "CSS based" (use a combination of XML, CSS, and image & other files) and use methods to which we have no direct access. The Inspector is the way to make changes, save styles (& themes). Any other method (to change the styles) may be hazardous to your files at a later date. This has happened in the past, so may happen again.

Find and vote upon those ideas where there is greater/alternate control of the themes.
Beverly
1 person found this helpful
Like • Show 2 Likes2
Actions
rickaltman @ schamblee on Oct 13, 2018 2:05 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Could you please point out one of those resources for theme editing? I have not been able to find any. The Theme Editor that you cited looks interesting, but requires a $199 plugin in order to export.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
rickaltman @ beverly on Oct 13, 2018 6:08 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Thank you, Beverly -- I just have to wonder if I'm missing something fundamental to FM's functionality, because the things I am seeking seem so basic. I simply want to create a format for a database and be able to link design elements by a style, so that I can ensure consistency of appearance across layouts. This seems so difficult to do.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
beverly @ rickaltman on Oct 14, 2018 6:10 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Themes are not as they "should be" for many of us at this point. Those of us that live on the web (as developers) have long used the power of CSS and the ability to "apply" a style many places based on the selector(s). FMP's Layout-based themes are not quite there.
When these discussion come up, I like to refer to the elegance of:
CSS Zen Garden
I suppose I will not ever by totally "happy" until we can achieve this level with FileMaker Pro.
Beverly
2 people found this helpful
Like • Show 3 Likes3
Actions
Jason Wood @ rickaltman on Oct 14, 2018 9:25 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
rickaltman wrote:

Could you please point out one of those resources for theme editing? I have not been able to find any. The Theme Editor that you cited looks interesting, but requires a $199 plugin in order to export.
Watch the DevCon session "Understanding Themes and Styles".

And several other great "Design" sessions.

Session Materials 2018
4 people found this helpful
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
rickaltman Oct 14, 2018 10:25 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Jason, I just learned more from Javier Dura in 20 minutes than the preceding 20 years. Thank you!
Like • Show 4 Likes4
Actions
rickaltman Oct 16, 2018 7:31 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I want to close the loop on this discussion and exonerate FileMaker on several fronts. While yes, the program does need a better color engine, my disappointment over its lack of global formatting was unwarranted. Thanks to Javier Dura's seminar from last year's DevCon, I learned a few key maneuvers, without which I could not make sense of styles and themes:
1. When you create a style, it does not appear on any other layouts unless you also save the Theme.
2. When you make changes to a style, those changes do not cross layouts unless you save the Theme.
Making global changes is a two-step process: save the style AND save the theme. Learning that has made a world of difference to my workflow. My thanks to Mr. Dura!
Like • Show 4 Likes4
Actions
beverly @ rickaltman on Oct 16, 2018 7:40 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Thanks for the "close out", @rickaltman! You may mark an answer as "correct" or because there were many great answers, "assumed answered" on the entire thread. This helps others looking for the same answer(s).
Beverly
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
schamblee @ rickaltman on Oct 16, 2018 7:45 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Glade you got the right resource to help you with the FM themes. It been a few years since I had reviewed any videos about themes, I knew several existed.
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions

Formatting the outline of a tab control

Attachments

Outcomes

Related Content

Recommended Content