Help

Creating a database
F
ILEMAKER PRO HELP 187
• Selecting All for text fields can significantly increase file size, as every word in the text field
is indexed. Certain operations, such as importing records, may also take more time, as each
word in the field is added to the field’s index as the import occurs.
• Automatically create indexes as needed indexes the field the first time a user performs a
find request (searches) on the field. The first search is slow because the index is being
created. However, subsequent searches on that field are faster because they use the index.
(This option also creates an index when the field is used in a relationship.)
• To create relationships using text fields as match fields without creating word indexes for
these fields, use Minimal and disable Automatically create indexes as needed.
• To reduce file size and prevent users from creating indexes, use None (or Minimal) and
disable Automatically create indexes as needed.
• The combination of selecting None and disabling Automatically create indexes as
needed prevents the field from being used to create relationships.
• For databases that will be placed on CD-ROM or other read-only media, any field that could
be used in a find request should be set to Indexing All (if disk space on the CD-ROM
allows).
• To choose storage options for container fields, see Setting up container fields to store data
externally.
Related topics
Using a field index
Defining Furigana options
The Furigana option is a Japanese-specific feature. The option allows a user to specify that the
Kana reading for Japanese text in one field be entered automatically to another.
Japanese text is composed of Kana (Hiragana and Katakana) and Kanji (characters). Kanji
characters have multiple readings, and the Unicode ordering of these characters is arbitrary. Thus,
to sort Kanji characters in a truly meaningful way, it is necessary to sort by the Kana (phonetic
syllabary) reading intended for each character. The Furigana field is intended as a shadow field into
which the Kana readings for Kanji can be entered.
To create a Furigana field, the user creates two text fields in Manage Database, then selects the
field into which Kanji will be entered (the “parent” field), and establishes a link, via the Use Furigana
Field option, to the field into which the corresponding Kana readings will appear (the “child” field).
A Furigana “child” field defined with this option maintains a connection to its “parent” field data.
When the user inputs Japanese text into the parent field, FileMaker
Pro guesses the intended Kana
reading of the entered characters, based on how the characters have been input, and enters this
text in the Furigana field.
To set Furigana options for a field:
1. With the database open, choose File menu > Manage > Database.
Note To set options for fields in Table View, right-click the column heading for the field, then
choose Field
> Field Options from the shortcut menu, then skip to step 6.
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.