One of the most useful palettes you will use in Layout mode is the Object Info palette. Open it the old way through the View menu or click the new FileMaker Pro 10 button in the Layout bar (it's the button with an "i" in a circle).

Once open, the Object Info palette provides data about selected objects on your layout.

The six measurements are displayed with a unit abbreviation. The three unit choices are cm (centimetres), px (pixels) and in (inches). The units can easily be changed by clicking on any unit abbreviation. As you click, the units cycle... cm->px->in->cm->px...

So which unit should you use? Pixels. When? Always. Why? Several reasons:

1. Your screen works in pixels. A pixel is the smallest measurable unit on screen for sizing and positioning objects.
2. Pixels are whole numbers and are therefore easier to work with. An object could be 1.917in, or 4.868cm, or 138px wide.
3. Entry of numbers in inches or centimetres is usually 'adjusted' by FileMaker Pro to the nearest pixel. For example, make a field 5cm wide and it will change to 5.009cm.

The FileMaker Developer Conference 2010 will be held in sunny San Diego, California 8-11 August, 2010 (Sunday-Wednesday) at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

This is the most intensive FileMaker education experience of the year. Choose from over 50 sessions and workshops on a wide range of FileMaker solution development topics such as:

• Calculations
• Deployment Best Practices
• Custom Functions & Scripts
• Data Integration
• FileMaker Server
• Security
• Relational Database Modeling
• Design & Development Tips
• Web Publishing & PHP
• Development Standards and
• FileMaker Training Series

The full conference schedule will be available in February 2010.

Register by 21 May, 2010 and save US$200. The Standard Package gives you admission to over 50 sessions and workshops, conference exhibits and networking events. The early bird cost is US$1,295.

FileMaker are also offering a Gold Package (a US$2,800 value for just US$1,949) - all-inclusive 4-day pass for pre-conference sessions, FileMaker Training Series sessions, over 50 conference sessions and workshops, conference exhibits and networking events.

UPDATE: the dates and venue of the FileMaker Developer Conference 2010 have changed. It will now be held 15-18 August, 2010 (Sunday – Wednesday) at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina on Harbor Island Drive.

As of 22 January 2010, speakers have been selected and notified. A full conference schedule will be available in February 2010.

It seems like just last year that we offered our first FileMaker training course in Sydney. How time flies! On 20 November 2006, three people attended a FileMaker Pro 8.5 Essentials course. The next day, ten people attended the follow-up course. Since then, we have trained over 350 people from more than 200 companies and organisations. In that period, we have also seen the release of new versions FileMaker Pro 9 and FileMaker Pro 10. Our courses have been rewritten with each release to accommodate the new features. David Head is the only FileMaker Authorised Trainer in the region and trains the official FileMaker curriculum.

One, Two... FREE!

uLearnIT is three years old and we are celebrating by giving you a special deal on training. For all courses in November and December (see below for dates), uLearnIT is offering the third course FREE!. Simply book three or more course places and the third enrolment is FREE (for equivalent priced courses). Course participants find it very useful to have a colleague who also attended the course.

Check our course schedule and book your place online.