Button Bars

Intermediate

Build professional navigation and action toolbars using FileMaker's Button Bar object -- covering segment configuration, active-state styling, and script parameters.

What you'll learn

How to create and configure a button bar
How to set scripts and labels on individual segments
How to use active-state styling to show the current selection
How to use script parameters to share one script across all segments

Button bars are a native FileMaker object that combines multiple clickable segments into a unified control. They are ideal for tab-style navigation, mode selectors, and filter controls. Unlike individual buttons, a button bar handles active-state styling natively and keeps segments visually aligned without manual positioning.

1/4

Creating a button bar

In Layout mode, use the Button Bar tool (next to the Button tool in the toolbar) to draw a button bar. After drawing, double-click to enter button bar configuration. Add segments with the + button and configure each.

TEXT

// Button bar creation:
// Layout mode -> Button Bar tool ([ ][ ][ ] icon in toolbar) -> draw on layout
// Double-click to open Button Bar Setup
// Each segment has:
//   - Label (text or icon)
//   - Script or action
//   - Script parameter (optional)

// Segment actions:
//   - Perform Script
//   - Go to Layout
//   - Go to Related Record
//   - Any other button action

Merge Fields vs. Field Objects Layout Variables ($$Variables)