With FileMaker Pro 12 we got Themes with new design elements. And I am glad to see design changes with checkboxes in some themes. But still, it is not perfect yet. Of course, the new css-based layout system hint some future changes, perhaps even allowing user-created Themes. Still I like to propose additional changes for layout checkbox objects.

User-defined Checkbox Images

FileMaker knows only predefined checkbox designs. But with the new design possibilities, the current checkbox design might not be enough. Perhaps a developer creates an Aqua-style inspired design. That includes the design for checkboxes.

There are workarounds available, using calculation fields and containers. But how much easier would it be with this new feature:

Feature Request

The developer may assign images for the different states of a checkbox. This gives developers greater control over their layout design. It would even allow different checkbox designs within the same layout, if someone likes to have it. This will also support my other feature request for Tri-State Checkboxes. The design for the indeterminate state is not clearly defined. Different versions floating around. Some prefer a dot in the checkbox, other use a black, gray or colored square, or it is a question mark or …

Whatever design you prefer, with this feature you can create your own design. Just assign the appropriate image to the checkbox indeterminate state.

Implementation could be based on css layouts. The checkbox configuration dialog would help to save the assigned images into the proper place and links them to the layout object accordingly. This would even allow to reused already assigned checkbox state images, helping saving memory and making changes an easy task.

What do you think? Is this a Like-to-Have feature for FileMaker? If you like this feature for checkboxes, please add your own feature request on the FileMaker feature request page.