Allowing or preventing entry into fields

Contents > Editing objects on layouts > Controlling data input behavior of fields > Allowing or preventing entry into fields

Allowing or preventing entry into fields

You can allow or prevent entry into a field. For example, you can restrict entry into a field containing a serialized number, so the field can't be modified. You can set separate Browse and Find mode data entry options, which would allow you to permit finding serialized numbers even though they cannot be entered.

If you allow entry into a field, you can also control whether the entire contents of the field is selected when you click or tab into the field in Browse mode or Find mode. Otherwise, FileMaker Pro places the insertion point after the last character in the field.

To customize entry into a field:

1.	In Layout mode, select one or more fields.

For more information, see Selecting objects. Or you can specify attributes for fields you add later by starting with no fields selected.

2.	Choose Format menu > Field/Control > Behavior.

In the Field Behavior dialog box, select the following options:

Do this

Prevent entry into a field in Browse mode

For Allow field to be entered, clear In Browse mode.

Prevent entry into a field in Find mode

For Allow field to be entered, clear In Find mode.

Select the entire field's contents when the field is entered

Select Select entire contents of field on entry.

Click OK.

Notes

Preventing entry into a field only affects the field object on that layout. To always restrict access to a field on any layout of the database, define a privilege set to permit "view only" field access for that field. For more information, see Protecting databases with accounts and privilege sets.

When you prevent entry into a field in Browse mode, it's no longer possible to copy data in that field to the Clipboard. If you want to prevent a field from being changed and still permit Clipboard copying, define the field to enter an auto-entered value and select Prohibit modification of value. For more information, see Defining automatic data entry.

Contents > Editing objects on layouts > Controlling data input behavior of fields > Allowing or preventing entry into fields