Replacing the contents of a field

Contents > Adding and viewing data > Replacing the contents of a field

Replacing the contents of a field

You can replace the contents of a field in all records or in a found set with a new value, a calculation, or a serialized number.

Important This process overwrites a field in every record (or every record in the found set) with a new value. You can't undo replacing field values. Before you begin, consider making a backup copy of the file.

To replace field values in every record in the found set:

1.	If necessary, find, omit, or sort the records in the database file.

For more information, see Finding, sorting, and replacing data.

2.	In Browse mode, in the current record, select the contents of the field you want to replace.

3.	If you're replacing data with a constant value (instead of serialized numbers or a calculated result), type the value.

4.	Choose Records menu > Replace Field Contents.

5.	In the Replace Field Contents dialog box, select an option:

To replace each value with

Select

The value in the currently selected field

Replace with <value>. FileMaker Pro replaces the contents of the field for the entire found set.

A serialized number

Replace with serial numbers, then type the starting value for the serial numbers in Initial value, and the incremental value in Increment by.

If the field is defined to automatically enter a serial number, you can select Update serial number in Entry Options to reset the next value in the Options for Field dialog box.

A calculated value

Replace with calculated result, then click Specify. In the Specify Calculation dialog box, enter the calculation you want evaluated. (The result must match the field type of the replaced field.) Click OK.

Note For more information about the Specify Calculation dialog box, see Specify Calculation dialog box.

6.	Click Replace.

Notes

You can't replace calculation or summary fields or fields defined with the global storage option.

You can't reserialize calculation, summary, container, or global fields.

If the field that contains the replaced data is validated, FileMaker Pro doesn't validate the new data. See Defining field validation.

If you select Update serial number in Entry Options, the next automatically entered value for this field (after the replace is performed) follows in sequence. If you clear this option, the next value isn't changed in the Options for Field dialog box. The next automatically entered value is based on the current settings (not in sequence with the records reserialized by this replace task.)

You can modify a field's existing values by using a calculation that includes the field. For example, you can change the value Gross Pay to the results of the calculation Gross Pay + 1000. See Defining calculation fields.

You can use a calculation to add a suffix or prefix to an existing field value. For example, to append "-01" to all the values in the "Partnumber" field in the found set, enter Partnumber & "-01" in the Specify Calculation dialog box. The result must match the field type of the replaced field.

Important To avoid confusion when replacing dates in FileMaker Pro, always enter dates with four-digit years. For more information, see Conversion of dates with two-digit years.

Related topics

Entering and changing data in fields

Finding records

Adding and viewing data troubleshooting

Saving and copying files

Contents > Adding and viewing data > Replacing the contents of a field