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Filling objects, layout parts, or the layout background with an image

You can fill an object, a layout part, or a layout background with an image. Supported image formats include .png, .bmp, .tif, .gif, or .jpg.

When you fill an object with an image, the image is stored in the FileMaker Pro file and appears in every record that uses the layout. You can also insert an image onto a layout, which lets you reference the image from another file. See Inserting graphics onto a layout.

To fill an object, a layout part, or the layout background with an image:

1.	In Layout mode, select one or more objects, a part label, or click anywhere in the layout background to select it.

See Selecting objects.

Note  To select the layout background, ensure no objects or parts are selected.

2.	Click Inspector in the layout bar, then click Appearance.

3.	To change the appearance of the object or the body part when it’s in a particular state (for example, when a button is pressed), choose from the object state list (near the top of the Appearance tab).

See Specifying the display state for an object.

4.	In the Graphic area, for Fill, click Image.

Note  To display the layout background, one or more layout parts must be transparent. See Setting the fill, line style, and borders for objects, layout parts, and the layout background.

5.	Select an image file, then click Open (Windows) or Insert (OS X).

Tip  To change an inserted image file, click Choose and select a different file.

6.	Choose a fill option:

 

Choose	To
Original Size	Place the image in the object, layout part, or the layout background in its current state. If the image is larger than the object, layout part, or the layout background, you see only a portion of the image.
Scale to Fit	Scale the image proportionately to its largest size where its width and height fit inside the object, layout part, or the layout background.
Scale to Fill	Scale the image proportionately to its smallest size so that both its width and height completely cover the object, layout part, or the layout background.
Slice	Divide an image into segments that can be used to fill the object, layout part, or the layout background. Using a portion of an image as fill (such as a portion of a company logo):  • ensures colors on the layout match the brand  • allows you to use color on multiple layouts without substantially increasing the size of the file Note  Sliced fills do not display lines or rounded corners, and circles display as square images.
Tile	Duplicate and display the image in a repeating pattern in the object, layout part, or the layout background.

Notes

•	If an image is larger than 20MB, FileMaker Pro reduces the size to 20MB.

•	When you fill multiple objects, layout parts, or layout backgrounds with an image, FileMaker Pro stores only one copy of the image in the file.

•	To export an image, in Layout mode, right-click the image and choose Export Fill Graphic. Choose a location and type a filename, then click Save. FileMaker Pro saves the image in the specified location. You can’t export an image if you set the option to store only a reference to the file.

•	You can also insert graphics as data into container fields. Do this when you have a different graphic for each record, such as employee photos in an employee directory database. See Inserting content into container fields.

•	Each theme comes with a set of default styles for objects such as shapes, buttons, lists, and menus. When you create an object or a new part on a layout, the object or part is formatted in the theme’s default style.

•	Layout background fill does not extend behind navigation parts.