Using a reserved word or symbol for a field or table name

Contents > Creating a database > Working with formulas and functions > Using a reserved word or symbol for a field or table name

Using a reserved word or symbol for a field or table name

FileMaker Pro reserves the use of some words and symbols, including:

The names of functions that have no arguments such as Pi or Random.

Pre-defined parameters of some functions such as the Roman and Greek font scripts for the TextFont function.

Some keywords and symbols. See About naming fields for some guidelines.

Avoid using these words and symbols in field names and table names, because the names become difficult to refer to in calculations.

If one of your field names or table names is a reserved word or contains reserved symbol, you must put the characters ${ } around the name when it appears in a function.

Tip When you double-click to choose a field for a calculation, FileMaker Pro will automatically wrap the characters ${ } around field names that are reserved words or that contain reserved symbols.

Examples

${A + B} returns the contents of a field named A + B.

${.123} returns the contents of a field named .123.

${Pi} returns the contents of a field named Pi.

Note During file conversion, FileMaker Pro will use the characters ${ } to enclose field names that conflict with reserved words and symbols.

Related topics

About formulas

Defining calculation fields

Text operators

Using operators in formulas

Functions reference (category list)

Functions reference (alphabetical list)

Contents > Creating a database > Working with formulas and functions > Using a reserved word or symbol for a field or table name