Quick Start

Lesson 4
Creating a database and entering records
In the previous lessons, you saw how to use a simple database with
existing data. Now you will create your own file and add records.
In this lesson you will:
1 create a simple database
1 define fields to hold different kinds of data
1 create records
1 enter data
1 modify data
If you are not familiar with database basics, you should do the first
two lessons in this tutorial before continuing.
Note You can install a fresh copy of the tutorial files at any time. For
Windows-based systems, see “Compact installation or Custom
installation” on page 9. For Mac OS systems, see “Custom
installation” on page 20.
Create a simple database and define fields
Look at the sample file
The sample file is the model for the file you’ll create. It shows you
how fields are defined and that different field types hold different
types of data.
1. Open the Tutorial folder in the FileMaker Pro folder.
2. Open the Sample Files folder.
You should be here: FileMaker Pro\Tutorial\Sample Files.
3. Open Sample04.fp5.
4. Choose File menu > Define Fields.
You see the Define Fields dialog box showing all of the fields in the
database.
5. Notice that the First Name and Last Name fields are of type Text, Fee
Paid is of type Number, and Date Paid is of type Date.
6. Click Done.
7. Notice that the data in each field corresponds to the field type.
You will learn how to add text and graphics, like the title and logo,
in lesson 5.
About field definitions
You create a field for each category of information you want, such
as First Name or City. To find, sort, calculate, and display data
correctly, the field type should match the kind of data it contains
(text, number, date, and so on). For example, you can’t search for
text values in a field of type Number.
You will learn about other field types in later lessons.