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Creating a database
F
ILEMAKER PRO HELP 176
• References to related fields can become invalid if the related file is missing, or if you delete
a field in the related file. FileMaker
Pro alerts you that a field reference is invalid when you
display or change the calculation formula. Changing the field type in a related file may
cause unexpected behavior.
• If your FileMaker Pro file accesses data from an ODBC data source, you can use
supplemental fields to define unstored calculations or summary instructions that act on data
coming from the external sources. See
Using supplemental fields.
• If you are using FileMaker Pro Advanced, you can copy field schemas from one file and
paste them into the same file or some other file. See Copying and pasting field schemas
(FileMaker Pro Advanced).
Calculation examples
Related topics
About formulas
Working with formulas and functions
About functions
Changing calculation formulas
Formatting and setting up field objects in Layout mode
Defining summary fields
Use summary fields to calculate values such as subtotals, averages, and grand totals across
multiple records. For example, a summary field can display the grand total of all sales in the month
of May in a report.
To define summary fields:
1. With the database open, choose File menu > Manage > Database.
2. In the Manage Database dialog box, click the Fields tab.
3. If your database contains more than one table, select the appropriate table from the Table
list.
4. For Field Name, type a name for the field.
See About naming fields.
5. For Type, select Summary.
6. Click Create.
7. In the Options for Summary Field dialog box, select a summary type, then select the field
you want to group data by.
Field name Field type Calculation
Today’s Date Date Get( CurrentDate )
Full Name Tex t FirstName & “ ” & LastName
Sales Tax Number SubTotal * .08
Select this type of
summary calculation To summarize values in a field in the found set of records by
Total of Calculating the total of values in the field.