If the text object contains merge fields or other special symbols, the result of `Self` includes the actual replacement data. More specifically, it returns the *browse mode* contents. In that case, `Self` returns the contents of the text object itself. For example, if you apply conditional formatting to a text object, you can use `Self` in the condition formula. When you use Conditional Formatting (Format -> Conditional in layout mode), you can perform calculations on *text objects* and *buttons*. Self has one more capability that’s a little less useful. With `Self`, the same formula - unchanged - works in each place. How often have you added the exact same validation calculation to several different fields? Before `Self` you had to adjust it in each field to refer to the correct value. Since you don’t have to refer to the field explicitly by name, you can easily copy and paste the formula somewhere else without the need to edit it. After all, there’s another way to get at that field’s value in a calculation: put the field name in the calculation. For instance, if you put `Self` in a validation calculation, it will return the value in the field being validated. The `Self` function is simple in concept: it returns the value of whatever object it lives in. Although the primary purpose of this function is to facilitate the Conditional Formatting feature (which can perform calculations on such unnamed items as text objects and buttons), `Self` comes in handy in lots of common situations. One of the least talked about features of FileMaker 9 is a new calculation called `Self`.
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