Functions Reference

218 FileMaker Functions Reference
External function
A function written in C or C++ as part of a third party plug-in that extends the feature set
of FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Pro Advanced
External script
A script used by a database file, but defined in a different database file. Use the Perform
Script script step to select a defined script from a related file, or to select a file reference
to a database file on your hard drive or network.
F
Field
The basic unit of data in a record. You define a field to hold a specific, discrete category
of data, such as Last Name, Employee Photo, or to display the result of a calculation. You
can define text, number, date, time, timestamp, container, calculation, and summary
fields. Field can also refer to the object on a layout that displays the data, such as an edit
box, checkbox set, or pop-up menu.
Field boundary
In Layout mode, an outline that shows the size of a field. To see field boundaries, choose
View menu > Show > Field Boundaries. You can specify in Layout mode that field
boundaries appear in other database modes by choosing Format menu > Field Borders.
(In Browse mode and Find mode, when you make a field active by clicking in it, you see
the field boundary whether or not you specify borders.)
Field label
Text on a layout that identifies a field. When you place a field on a layout, you can have
FileMaker Pro add a field label that matches the field name. You can change or delete this
field label if you want.
Field name
The name you assign to a field when you define the field. When you place a field onto a
layout, you can have FileMaker Pro also place an editable field label that matches the field
name.
Field type
The part of a field definition that determines what kind of data you can enter in the field
and the kinds of operations FileMaker Pro can perform with the data. FileMaker Pro can
create text, number, date, time, timestamp, container, calculation, and summary fields.
(Global fields contain the same value for all records in the database and can be of any
type except summary.)
File Maintenance
A FileMaker Pro Advanced feature that lets you compact the size of database files and
improve the performance of database files.