User manual

50 FileMaker Pro User’s Guide
To set options for summary fields, see “Defining summary fields” on
page 48.
Defining automatic data entry
To automatically enter a default value into a field for each record:
1. With the database open, choose File menu > Define > Database.
2. In the Define Database dialog box, click the Fields tab.
3. If your file contains more than one table, select the appropriate
table from the
Table list.
4. Double-click a field in the fields list.
5. In the Options for Field dialog box, click the Auto-Enter tab and
select options. (The available options depend on the field type.)
6. Click OK to close the Options for Field dialog box, or click another
tab to set additional field options.
Defining field validation
You can select field validation options to ensure that data is entered
into the field correctly. FileMaker
Pro displays a message if you enter
data incorrectly.
Important To avoid confusion when using dates in FileMaker Pro, set
date field validation options to make sure dates are always entered
with four-digit years.
1. With the database open, choose File menu > Define > Database.
2. In the Define Database dialog box, click the Fields tab.
To Do this
Enter a date, time,
timestamp, user name, or
account name when the
record is created or
modified
Select Creation or Modification, then choose an
option from the list.
Assign a sequential number
to the field in each record
Select Serial number. Select On creation to assign the
number when a record is created. Select On commit
to assign the number when the record is committed.
For next value, type a starting value (for example,
1001), then type the number to increment by.
Enter the value from the
previously accessed record
Select Value from last visited record.
Enter data you specify Select Data, then type up to 255 characters.
Enter the result of a
calculation in the field
Select Calculated value, define the formula in the
Specify Calculation dialog box, then click OK.
For more information about the Specify
Calculation dialog box, see
“Defining calculation
fields” on page 46.
Select Do not replace existing value of field (if any) to
prevent overwriting data already present.
Enter a value that’s copied
from a field in the same or a
different table or file
Select Looked-up value, define the lookup, then click
OK. See “Creating lookups” on page 79.
Prevent users from
changing an automatically
entered value
Select Prohibit modification of value during data entry.
Turn off automatically
entered data
Clear all selected checkboxes.
To Do this
Select options for
entering default
data in the field
Click Auto-Enter