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To enter a sticky-space, type option-space on a Mac, or alt-space on the PC side.Īfter defining the field, click "Options" and you'll see that the field is defined as Serial Number, with the next new record to have serial number C00004. A "sticky-space" is advantageous when using fields in calculations: when the field name is double-clicked, the whole name is selected instead of one word of the name. It is a difficult exercise in self-discipline, but I try to not use spaces in my field names. Why? It's a bit beyond the scope of this beginner's article, but let me say that it works better this way because of the tricks that FMPro lets you play with many-to-one relationships, where using a number field could restrict severely the size of the "many" side of the equation. Here it's named Serial Number (how original!) and it's defined as type TEXT, not number. One way to do this is to define a serial number field. This is especially important when relational considerations are taken into account, but the concept has merit even with flat-file databases. Your template need not contain any of the name, address and phone fields, which are provided for illustrative purposes only.Įvery database record should have a unique identifier. The template contains a number of fields which again take it beyond mere template toward a flat-file contacts database. That should be control-shift-D on a Windows machine. Go to the field definition dialog by pressing command-shift-D. The first thing FMPro asks for when you're creating a new database is field definitions. unless you have a reason for making it otherwise. The real template, of course, would contain no data. The template has data entered in three records to illustrate what you might make out of it without little or no extra work: a basic contacts database that allows for mailing labels, form letters, envelopes, and a list of contacts. You'll see that most of them call a script. To see how the buttons are defined, go into Layout Mode (command-L) and double-click on any button. You may prefer a horizontal navigation panel. What you see with our template is a medium-grey background with darker grey buttons and a navigational panel to the side. Design is a very personal matter, and if you are one who prefers to make all of your databases conform to a similar design, then you'll want your template to incorporate your design features. Some of those may become part of future Penultimate FMPro Template releases. FREE FILEMAKER PRO TEMPLATE FREEPlease feel free to email me with your suggestions. ![]() ![]() Undoubtedly many of you will have ideas as to what I've left out. FREE FILEMAKER PRO TEMPLATE ISOThe bonus file " TEMPLATE.FP3" provided with this issue of the ISO FileMaker Magazine is only a starting point. You will continue to alter your template as you discover new tricks and techniques that you want to have at your fingertips. Everyone's ideal template will be different from that of his neighbor, and everyone's template will be a work in evolution. The purpose of a database template is to store features that you, the database programmer, use often so as to avoid reinvention of the wheel with each new project. Avoid reinvention of the wheel with each new project. ![]()
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