User manual

38 FileMaker Pro User’s Guide
For example, create separate layouts for printing labels or envelopes.
For more information about creating layouts, see “Creating layouts
and reports” on page 48.
13. Create a form such as the one shown below to list the files and
tables you need and the fields for each table. Also list the forms and
reports you will generate from each table.
14. Create your database.
Creating a FileMaker Pro file
You can create a file from a FileMaker Pro template—a predefined
database file that you can modify to suit your needs. Or, you can
create a file without using a template.
Tip You can also create a file by making a copy of an existing
FileMaker
Pro file. See “Saving files” on page 16.
If you didn’t install templates and want to use them, see the
Installation and New Features Guide for FileMaker Pro and
FileMaker
Developer.
1. In FileMaker Pro, choose File menu > New Database.
2. In the New Database dialog box, do the following:
If Show templates in New Database dialog box isn’t selected in the
General tab of the Preferences dialog box (or if the templates aren’t
installed), the New Database dialog box doesn’t appear. Skip to the
next step.
3. In the dialog box that appears, type a name for the file and choose
a different folder, if needed.
Windows: For Save as type, select FileMaker Files. If you don’t type a
filename extension, FileMaker
Pro adds .fp7 to the filename. (To view
filename extensions in Windows, see the Windows operating system
Help.)
4. Click Save.
Sample Database Design Form
Project Name
Purpose of this database
Filename for this database
Table name
Field name Field type Comments
Layouts
Table name
Field name Field type Comments
Name Purpose Screen Print Web
To Do this
Create a file using a
template
Click Create a new file using a template, then double-click
the name of a template.
Create a file without
using a template
Click Create a new empty file, then click OK.
Open an existing file See “Opening files” on page 14.
Select an
option for
creating a
file
Select
to stop
showing this
dialog box
Choose a
template
from the list
Choose a
template
category
from the list