FileMaker Pro 4.1 Mac User's Guide

Changing field definitions
Important Keep the following in mind:
Creating a database file 2-25
1 Deleting a field from a file in the Define Fields dialog box
permanently and irretrievably deletes the field definition and all the
data in that field in all your records. Before you delete a field from a
file, be sure you don’t need any data the field contains. To delete a
field from only a layout, see “Deleting a field from a layout” on page
3-59.
1 When you change the definition of a field that contains data, the data
in that field could be affected. In addition, changing the field type to
container, calculation, summary, or global erases data permanently
and irretrievably.
1. Open the file you want to change, and choose Define from the File
menu and then choose Fields.
2. In the Define Fields dialog box, make your changes.
To Do this
Change a field
name
Duplicate a field
definition
Change the field
type
Change data entry
options
In the field definitions list, select the field to change. For Field Name,
type or paste the new name, and then click Save. FileMaker Pro also
changes the field name in layouts and field references in formulas.
In the field definitions list, select the field to duplicate, and then
click Duplicate. The new field appears at the end of the list with copy
added to the name. You can change the field name.
In the field definitions list, select the field, select a field type, and
then click Save. (See “Assigning a field type” on page 2-5.)
In the field definitions list, double-click the field, and then make
your changes. (See “Choosing data entry options” on page 2-6.)
Change a formula In the field definitions list, double-click the field, and then make
your changes. Once you exit the Define Fields dialog box,
FileMaker Pro recalculates the value for every record in the
database.
Reorder field
definitions
Delete a field from
the file (and from
all layouts that
contain the field)
For View by, choose an option from the pop-up menu. To define a
custom order, use the double-arrow pointer to the left of a field
definition to drag an item to another location on the list.
(FileMaker Pro uses the order for all dialog boxes and when it
creates Standard and Single-page form layouts.) Reordering field
definitions does not affect existing layouts.
In the field definitions list, click the field, click Delete, and then click
Delete again.