Creating and editing custom menu items

Note  This feature is available when the Use advanced tools general preference is selected. See Using advanced tools.

After you create a menu, you can create menu items. You can also create or edit menu items that are copies of the standard FileMaker menus. Menu items can be commands, submenus or separators. You can create a menu item that is based on a standard FileMaker command or you can create a menu item that initially does not have an assigned command.

When you base a menu item on a standard FileMaker command, that menu item inherits all the properties of that command. You can override properties (title, shortcut, or action) to customize the menu item.

To add or edit menu items in a custom menu:

  1. Choose or create a custom menu and set options such as menu name, menu title, and mode. See Defining custom menus.
  2. Choose File menu > Manage > Custom Menus > Custom Menus tab.
  3. In the Manage Custom Menus dialog box, select the menu from the list and click Edit.
  4. In the Edit Custom Menus dialog box, specify which menu items are included in the menu:

    5. To

    Do this

    Add a command

    Click Create to add a new (<unknown>) menu item to the list. For Menu Item Type, choose Command, then select Based on existing command. In the Specify FileMaker Command dialog box, choose a command, then click Select or OK.

    Tip  You can Shift-click Create to create an <unknown> command menu item.

    Add a submenu

    Click Create to add an <unknown> menu item to the list. For Menu Item Type, choose Submenu, then click Specify. In the Select Menu dialog box, choose a menu, then click Select.

    Add a separator line

    Click Create to add an <unknown> menu item to the list. For Menu Item Type, choose Separator.
  5. Select each menu item from the Menu Items list and specify its properties, then click OK to close the Edit Custom Menu dialog box.

    6. To

    Do this

    Change a command for a menu item

    For Based on existing command, click Specify, choose a different command, then click Select or OK.

    Change the name of a menu item

    Select Item Name and enter a new name.

    Windows: To specify an access key, type an ampersand (&) before the character you want to use as the access key. For example, type &Open to display the Open menu item with the letter "O" as the access key.

    To base the menu title on the result of a calculation, click Specify, then build a formula in the Specify Calculation dialog box.

    Define a keyboard shortcut for a menu item

    Select Keyboard Shortcut. In the Specify Shortcut dialog box, type a key combination, then click OK.

    Perform a script or script step when a user selects a menu item

    Select Action. In the Specify Script Step dialog box, select a step and specify options as necessary, then click OK. See Automating tasks with scripts.

    Install menu items based on conditions you specify

    For Install when, specify a calculation that results in a Boolean value.

    • If the calculation evaluates true or non-zero, the menu item is installed.

      For example, for the menu item to appear when the file is opened in Windows, enter:
      If( Abs(Get( SystemPlatform )) = 2; 1; 0 )

    • If the calculation evaluates false or zero, the menu item is not installed.

    To ensure a menu item is always installed, for Install when, enter 1.

Notes 

  • Buttons on toolbars are linked to menu items. If you customize a menu item that has a toolbar button, you also customize the button, its behavior, and its tooltip.
  • If you customize a menu item that has a shortcut menu item, you also customize the behavior performed by the shortcut menu item.
  • To display an ampersand (&) as part of a menu or menu item name, type the ampersand twice.
  • Privilege set considerations:
    • You can modify privilege sets in the Edit Privilege Set dialog box to control which menu items are enabled. See Creating and editing privilege sets.
    • If you set Available menu commands to Editing only or Minimum, menu items based on standard FileMaker commands are enabled or disabled according to the setting. All other menu items, including items with customized actions, are disabled. For example, if you choose Editing only, all basic FileMaker editing commands are enabled but all other items (including items with customized actions) are disabled.
  • FileMaker Pro uses keyboard shortcuts that don’t appear in the menu bar. For example, Command-Option-Z zooms a macOS window. In addition, the operating system defines shortcuts. Both types of shortcuts override those you define in the Specify Shortcuts dialog box.
  • For a list of FileMaker Go keyboard shortcuts that override those you define in the Specify Shortcuts dialog box, see FileMaker Go Development Guide.