Find Mode Layouts

Intermediate

Design layouts optimized for Find mode -- dedicated search screens, field placement for common finds, and scripted finds that bypass the Find mode UI entirely.

What you'll learn

  • How Find mode reuses the current layout vs. dedicated Find mode layouts
  • How to design a search panel that performs scripted finds without entering FM's native Find mode
  • How to pre-fill Find requests for common searches
  • How to provide search syntax hints for power users

FileMaker's Find mode reuses the Browse mode layout for entering search criteria. But most layouts are designed for data display, not for searching -- wrong field order, confusing labels for search purposes, and missing helper text. Dedicated Find mode layouts or scripted quick-search panels provide a far better user experience for common searches.

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Native Find mode behavior on existing layouts

When a user enters Find mode on a Browse layout, every field becomes a criteria entry box. The field's format (dropdown, date picker) is removed -- it becomes a plain text box. Fields not on the layout cannot be searched.

TEXT
// Native Find mode quirks:
// - Only fields on the current layout can be searched
// - Value list dropdowns become text entry fields
// - Portal fields can be searched (parent record must have a matching portal row)
// - Related fields can be searched
// - Merge fields are NOT searchable in Find mode
// - Summary fields are NOT searchable in Find mode

// Implication: if a user needs to search by a field not on the current layout,
// they must navigate to a layout that contains that field first.
Hide Object When -- Advanced PatternsPortals: Advanced Configuration

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