Multi-Window Management

Beginner

Design and manage multi-window FileMaker solutions -- controlling window types, sizes, positions, and scripts that coordinate actions across windows.

What you'll learn

The three FileMaker window types and their use cases
How to script window creation, positioning, and closing
How to execute scripts in specific windows using Select Window
How global variables and global fields behave across windows

FileMaker supports multiple window types: document windows, floating document windows, and card windows. Complex solutions use multiple windows for side-by-side comparisons, detail views, reference panels, and background processing. Coordinating scripts and state across windows requires care -- each window has its own context (current record, found set, layout) but shares the same global variables.

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Window types and their use cases

FileMaker has three window styles with different visual and behavioral characteristics.

TEXT

// Window types:
// Document Window: standard FM window -- appears in the Window menu,
//   has full toolbar, can be minimized/maximized
//   Use for: main working views, multiple record lists, side-by-side comparison

// Floating Document Window: stays on top of other windows even when unfocused
//   Has no toolbar by default
//   Use for: reference panels, quick-lookup palettes, tool windows
//   Behavior: remains visible while user works in other windows

// Card Window: appears as a modal-style overlay on top of the parent window
//   Doesn't appear in Window menu
//   Use for: detail panels, pickers, confirmation dialogs, entry forms

Layout Object Tips and Tricks Layout Templates and Standards