User manual

Chapter 1
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Using databases 37
Printing table and field information
To print table or field information:
1. Choose File menu > Define > Database, then click the Tables or Fields
tab.
2. Select the table(s) or field(s) you want to print.
To select more than one contiguous table or field in the list, Shift-click
the tables or fields. To select more than one non-contiguous table or
field, Ctrl+click (Windows) or
2-click (Mac OS) the tables or fields.
3. Click Print.
4. Click OK (Windows) or Print (Mac OS).
The field names, field types, and formulas or data entry options are
printed for each selected table.
Printing the relationships graph
You can print a graphical representation of your database by printing
the relationships graph.
1. Choose File menu > Define > Database, then click the Relationships
tab.
2. Click to display page breaks in the relationships graph.
3. Click to display the Print Setup (Windows) or Page Setup
(Mac OS) dialog boxes.
4. Click Print.
5. In the Printing Options dialog box, choose an option.
1 Choose Print graph on multiple pages to print the graph on more
than one page.
1 Choose Print graph on one page to resize the graph to fit on one
page.
6. Click Continue.
7. Click OK (Windows) or Print (Mac OS).
For more information about previewing and printing databases, see
Help.
Automating tasks with scripts
Scripts can do simple tasks like setting print orientation or complex
tasks like preparing a customized mailing to clients. Scripts can
incorporate conditional decisions (if-else statements) and perform
repetitive tasks (loop statements).
You use the ScriptMaker feature in FileMaker Pro to build scripts by
selecting from a list of FileMaker Pro script steps, specifying options,
and arranging the steps in the correct order to perform the task.
Use scripts to combine and automate tasks like:
1 switching to another layout or mode
1 finding, sorting, and printing records
1 importing data from the same source
Procedures for creating scripts and a reference to all FileMaker Pro
script steps (organized alphabetically or by category) are available in
Help.
Backing up database files
Routine backups are imperative for any document stored on a
computer. It is easier to restore a backed up database than it is to
recreate it. How often you should back up depends on the amount of
data you are adding to your databases, and how difficult it would be to
recreate your files if they become corrupt.
For very important files, it’s a good idea to routinely store backups at
an off-site location.
For an example of a backup script, see Help.