Quick Start

Simplifying data entry 63
Automatically enter a serial number
FileMaker Pro lets you automatically enter certain types of data—for
example, incremental numbers—when you create a new record.
Look at a serial number example
1. Choose Window menu > Sample07.fp5.
2. Go to the last record in the database.
3. Locate the Member Number field, and note the current number of
this record.
4. Create a new record by choosing Records menu > New Record.
The value in the Member Number field of the new record is
increased by one.
Note If you did the first activity in this chapter, you will notice that
the value in Member Number is 32, even though there are now 31
records in the Sample07.fp5 database. FileMaker Pro continues to
increment serial numbers even if intervening records have been
deleted, such as record 31 in this case.
Create a field for serial numbers
1. Choose Window menu > MyFile07.fp5.
2. Choose File menu > Define Fields.
3. For Field Name, type Member Number.
4. Select Number as the field type.
5. Click Create.
6. Click Options.
7. Select Serial number on the Auto-Enter tab. You don’t need to
change amounts for next value and increment by for this exercise.
8. Click OK.
9. Click Done.
The new field appears at the bottom of the layout. (You might need
to scroll down to see it.)
10. Test your new field entry option by choosing Records menu >
New Record. Each time you create a new record, the value in the
Member Number field increments by one.
To learn how to change the position of the new field, see lesson 5.
11. When you are finished with this lesson, close each open file by
choosing File menu > Close.
For more information
You have learned how to simplify data entry by defining and
formatting value lists, calculation fields, and auto-entered serial
numbers. For more information on calculation fields and field
auto-enter options, see chapter 5 of the FileMaker Pro User’s Guide.
For more information on defining and formatting value lists, see
chapter 7 of the FileMaker Pro User’s Guide.
Select Serial
number