Using a field index

Contents > Adding and viewing data > Entering data in records > Using a field index

Using a field index

FileMaker Pro can create an index of values for each text, number, date, time, timestamp, and calculation field. You can view the values in the index, and insert them into a field to prevent typing values incorrectly.

Note To use index values, indexing options must be enabled for the field. See Defining field indexing options.

To insert values from the index:

1.	In Browse mode or Find mode, click the field you want to insert an index value into.

2.	Choose Insert menu > From Index.

3.	In the View Index dialog box, choose a value, then click Paste.

Notes

While the View Index dialog box is open, you can view the list of values as individual words by selecting Show individual words.

You can enter two or more words in a field and have them treated as one word by the index. For example, you may want a name like Jean Louis to appear as one word in the View Index dialog box, even when Show individual words is selected. To have two or more words treated as one, enter the space between words by pressing Ctrl+Space bar (Windows) or Option+Space bar (Mac OS) instead of the Space bar alone.

For a text field, FileMaker Pro sorts the value index according to the index order of the field's default language. If you want to display the values in a specific language's dictionary sort order, select Re-sort values based on and choose a language. Note that the re-sorted index lasts only while the View Index dialog box is displayed. The next time you access this dialog box, values will be displayed in the original order. For more information, see Choosing a language for indexing or sorting.

Contents > Adding and viewing data > Entering data in records > Using a field index