how do I unlock a locked header?

I using Windows XP and accessing an old file on the FMP Server, also
of Version 5 vintage. I have full access to the file and have been
asked to make changes to one of the layouts. [The guy who did it from
the start has retired and now they are looking at me.]
The original layout has a header that is about two and half to three
inches wide in the landscape mode. It has scads of white space for the
new fields that the boss wants added. While I have been able to move
the objects around and resize them that are currently inside the
header, I can't change the size of the header. I would like to move it
up so the header is only one inch thick, but I can't move it.
I tried grabbing the dashed line that separates parts (the header
and the body) and no go. The cursor moves the line but as soon as I
release the mouse button it pops back to where it was. I tried
clicking in several random spots in the header in the event a layout
object was locked in there. No good. I tried to use the mouse to
click and drag the "header" label to adjust it as the manual says to
do. No good. Checked the user manual that described the parts setup
for the layout and it confirmed that, yup, the little lock symbol means
that part (the header) is indeed locked. Nothing is said on how to
"lock" or "unlock" parts of the layout setup. [Although it is
mentioned for layout objects.]
At this point I'm thinking of deleting the old header and just
making a new one (it would take a whole five minutes at most) and be
done with it. But I would like to know if there is a way to "unlock"
that header or change it's size for the next time when I might have a
far more complicated header and can't easily delete is and start anew.

Re: how do I unlock a locked header?

On 2007-10-31 21:16:28 -0700, Lee Steffeck said:

> I using Windows XP and accessing an old file on the FMP Server, also
> of Version 5 vintage. I have full access to the file and have been
> asked to make changes to one of the layouts. [The guy who did it from
> the start has retired and now they are looking at me.]
> The original layout has a header that is about two and half to three
> inches wide in the landscape mode. It has scads of white space for the
> new fields that the boss wants added. While I have been able to move
> the objects around and resize them that are currently inside the
> header, I can't change the size of the header. I would like to move it
> up so the header is only one inch thick, but I can't move it.
> I tried grabbing the dashed line that separates parts (the header
> and the body) and no go. The cursor moves the line but as soon as I
> release the mouse button it pops back to where it was. I tried
> clicking in several random spots in the header in the event a layout
> object was locked in there. No good. I tried to use the mouse to
> click and drag the "header" label to adjust it as the manual says to
> do. No good. Checked the user manual that described the parts setup
> for the layout and it confirmed that, yup, the little lock symbol means
> that part (the header) is indeed locked. Nothing is said on how to
> "lock" or "unlock" parts of the layout setup. [Although it is
> mentioned for layout objects.]
> At this point I'm thinking of deleting the old header and just
> making a new one (it would take a whole five minutes at most) and be
> done with it. But I would like to know if there is a way to "unlock"
> that header or change it's size for the next time when I might have a
> far more complicated header and can't easily delete is and start anew.

I suspect you've got a locked OBJECT on the layout. Do a Select All and
look for corner indicators of any object in that area that are slightly
grayed out. The "header" you're trying to alter could be a box object
drawn the same size as the header part or a line or other object down
near the bottom of the header part, since as far as I know you cannot
lock an actual layout part.

You can also click and drag your cursor to select all objects on the
header, then under the Format menu, select Unlock. This will let you
resize or remove any of the objects.

Once all objects are dragged into the top inch of the header, you will
be able to resize the header using the separator line or the object
size palette.
--
Lynn Allen
--
www.semiotics.com
Member Filemaker Business Alliance
Long Beach, CA

Re: how do I unlock a locked header?

In article <311020072116289561%final@xdsysmatrix.net>, Lee Steffeck
wrote:

> I using Windows XP and accessing an old file on the FMP Server, also
> of Version 5 vintage. I have full access to the file and have been
> asked to make changes to one of the layouts. [The guy who did it from
> the start has retired and now they are looking at me.]
> The original layout has a header that is about two and half to three
> inches wide in the landscape mode. It has scads of white space for the
> new fields that the boss wants added. While I have been able to move
> the objects around and resize them that are currently inside the
> header, I can't change the size of the header. I would like to move it
> up so the header is only one inch thick, but I can't move it.
> I tried grabbing the dashed line that separates parts (the header
> and the body) and no go. The cursor moves the line but as soon as I
> release the mouse button it pops back to where it was. I tried
> clicking in several random spots in the header in the event a layout
> object was locked in there. No good. I tried to use the mouse to
> click and drag the "header" label to adjust it as the manual says to
> do. No good. Checked the user manual that described the parts setup
> for the layout and it confirmed that, yup, the little lock symbol means
> that part (the header) is indeed locked. Nothing is said on how to
> "lock" or "unlock" parts of the layout setup. [Although it is
> mentioned for layout objects.]
> At this point I'm thinking of deleting the old header and just
> making a new one (it would take a whole five minutes at most) and be
> done with it. But I would like to know if there is a way to "unlock"
> that header or change it's size for the next time when I might have a
> far more complicated header and can't easily delete is and start anew.

When in Layout mode and using the arrow tool, try choosing "Select All"
from the Edit menu. You may find that there is an "invisible" element
that is stopping you shrinking the header (eg. a white line).

Helpful Harry
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)

Re: how do I unlock a locked header?

On Oct 31, 10:16 pm, Lee Steffeck wrote:
> I using Windows XP and accessing an old file on the FMP Server, also
> of Version 5 vintage. I have full access to the file and have been
> asked to make changes to one of the layouts. [The guy who did it from
> the start has retired and now they are looking at me.]
> The original layout has a header that is about two and half to three
> inches wide in the landscape mode. It has scads of white space for the
> new fields that the boss wants added. While I have been able to move
> the objects around and resize them that are currently inside the
> header, I can't change the size of the header. I would like to move it
> up so the header is only one inch thick, but I can't move it.
> I tried grabbing the dashed line that separates parts (the header
> and the body) and no go. The cursor moves the line but as soon as I
> release the mouse button it pops back to where it was. I tried
> clicking in several random spots in the header in the event a layout
> object was locked in there. No good. I tried to use the mouse to
> click and drag the "header" label to adjust it as the manual says to
> do. No good. Checked the user manual that described the parts setup
> for the layout and it confirmed that, yup, the little lock symbol means
> that part (the header) is indeed locked. Nothing is said on how to
> "lock" or "unlock" parts of the layout setup. [Although it is
> mentioned for layout objects.]
> At this point I'm thinking of deleting the old header and just
> making a new one (it would take a whole five minutes at most) and be
> done with it. But I would like to know if there is a way to "unlock"
> that header or change it's size for the next time when I might have a
> far more complicated header and can't easily delete is and start anew.

I'm not using FM 5, but I think the controls are the same...

It's possible that your problem is that the Part tabs that you need to
grab are hidden. Is there a thin gray column along the left side that
breaks where the header breaks? Along the bottom left of your window
are a handful of icons. Click on each of them (they won't hurt) and
get a handle on what they do. The fifth one from the left is the one
you want.

Re: how do I unlock a locked header?

In article <47295e72@news.bnb-lp.com>, Lynn Allen
wrote:

> I suspect you've got a locked OBJECT on the layout. Do a Select All and
> look for corner indicators of any object in that area that are slightly
> grayed out. The "header" you're trying to alter could be a box object
> drawn the same size as the header part or a line or other object down
> near the bottom of the header part, since as far as I know you cannot
> lock an actual layout part.
>
> You can also click and drag your cursor to select all objects on the
> header, then under the Format menu, select Unlock. This will let you
> resize or remove any of the objects.
>
> Once all objects are dragged into the top inch of the header, you will
> be able to resize the header using the separator line or the object
> size palette.

First, thank you one and all for your replies. It turned out in the
end that there was indeed a locked "layout object" in or around the
header. I say that because while using the "Object Size" pallette and
clicking on the dotted line that divided the Header and the Body, I
found the problem. A line that was exactly on the same pixel as the
bottom of the header and the top of the body and it was locked. Once I
unlocked it and moved it down a few pixels completely into the body,
the moving of the dotted line between the layout parts worked fine.
Now the header is smaller and everyone is happy.
I'm putting all of your replies in my personal notebook of tips &
tricks for FM Pro. Again, thank you very much.