U.M. (Windows)

FileMaker Pro basics 1-9
Managing files
The following sections tell you how to work with FileMaker Pro files.
Creating and opening files
You can create a file when you start FileMaker Pro or after
FileMaker Pro is already running.
Create a file from a copy of a template—a predefined file that you use as
is, or modify to suit your particular needs. Or create a file from scratch,
without using a template. (If you didn’t install templates and want to use
them, see the FileMaker Pro Installation and New Features Guide.)
After you name a new file, you see the Define Fields dialog box, where
you create the database fields and define their characteristics. (See
chapter 2, “Creating a database file.”)
The following table describes the ways to create or open a file in
FileMaker Pro. If FileMaker Pro isn’t already running, start it by
choosing Programs from the Start menu, and then FileMaker Pro 4.0.
You can also double-click the application icon. When you start
FileMaker Pro, you see the New Database dialog box, and you can skip
the first (Choose New...) step in the following directions.
To Do this
Create a file using a
template file
In FileMaker Pro, choose New from the File menu. In the New
Database dialog box, select Create a new file using a template, choose
a template category from the drop-down list, and then double-click
the name of a template file. In the Create Copy dialog box, type a
name for the file (choose a different folder, if needed), and then
click Save. If you don’t type a file extension, FileMaker Pro adds
.FP3 for you.
Create a file without
using a template file
In FileMaker Pro, choose New from the File menu. In the New
Database dialog box, select Create a new empty file, and then click
OK. In the New File dialog box, type a name for the file (choose a
different folder, if needed) and then click Save. If you don’t type a
file extension, FileMaker Pro adds .FP3 for you.