Welcome to FileMaker Pro! Let’s create a database and add records.

To create a database:

1. In the FileMaker Quick Start Screen, click Create Database, then select Create an empty database.
2. Click OK.
3. For File name, type MyFile.fp7.
4. Choose where you want to save the file and click Save.

   The Manage Database dialog box appears. FileMaker Pro creates a table for you in the empty database with the same name as your file.

You will now create fields in the table that will store information.

1. To create the first field, type First Name in the Field Name box.

   Notice that the field type is Text.

2. Click Create.
3. Type Last Name in the Field Name box, then click Create.
4. Type Fee Paid in the Field Name box, select Number from the Type list, then click Create.
5. Type Date Paid in the Field Name box, select Date from the Type list, then click Create.
6. Type Container in the Field Name box, select Container from the Type list, then click Create.
7. Click OK.

You see empty fields in a new, blank record. Let’s create the first record.

1. If you don’t see field boxes, press Tab to begin data entry.
2. Type Jane in the First Name field.
3. Press Tab to move to the next field.

   Note FileMaker Pro automatically saves your changes as you work.

4. Type Doe in the Last Name field.
5. Type 25 in Fee Paid.

   You will learn how to format number fields to display as currency later.

6. Type 11/11/2009 in Date Paid.

   The completed record should look like this example.

1. To add another record, click New Record.
2. As you did for Jane Doe’s record, enter data for John Smith, who paid 75 dollars on 2/2/2009.

   Your database now contains two records. Click the book icon in the status toolbar to switch between each record.

You can view your records in three different ways: as a form, as a list, and as a table.

• Form View displays one record at a time.
• List View shows one record appearing beneath another.
• Table View shows you many records at one time in a grid.

In the status toolbar, click View As options to switch between Form View, List View, and Table View in the same layout to see how they are different.

Suppose you realize that Jane Doe paid 75 dollars, not 25. You can easily correct the entry.

1. Go to the first record.
2. Select the amount in Fee Paid.
3. Type the new amount, 75.
4. Click an empty area outside the field to save the change.
5. Close the file by choosing File menu > Close.

Let’s enhance the way your data looks by adding graphics and other effects.

Even though you enter information only once in FileMaker Pro, you can use that information in many ways. Layouts let you view some or all of your fields.

Because it is not necessary to see all of your fields in each layout, layouts are a powerful tool for working with or printing just the information you need to accomplish a particular task.

Design layouts in Layout mode. Changes you make in Layout mode affect only the way data appears. The data itself remains as it was entered in the file.

Let’s make a copy of the sample file, and then go to Layout mode.

1. Open Sample.fp7 in the Tutorial folder.

If the sample file was installed, it is in FileMaker Pro 10/English Extras/Tutorial or FileMaker Pro 10 Advanced/English Extras/Tutorial.

You can also download the sample file from the FileMaker website by visiting www.filemaker.com/documentation.

2. Choose File menu > Save a Copy As.
3. Select the Tutorial folder as the location for the copy.

Sample Copy.fp7 is automatically entered as the filename.

4. Click Save.
5. Close the original sample file by choosing File menu > Close.
6. Open Sample Copy.fp7 in the Tutorial folder.

Click Edit Layout in the layout bar.

The status toolbar displays tools you use to design layouts. If you don’t see the layout tools, resize the FileMaker Pro window to make it wider.

Let’s resize a field.

1. Click the First Name field to select it.
2. Drag the handle at the lower-right corner of the field to the left until the field is smaller, yet large enough to display the longest first name you expect in your file.
3. Click Save Layout, then click Exit Layout to see your results in Browse mode.
4. In Browse mode, use the book in the status toolbar to flip through the records.

If the field doesn’t display all names completely, return to Layout mode and make the field larger.

5. Click Edit Layout and repeat these steps for Last Name.

Let’s move a field.

1. If necessary, click Edit Layout.
2. Click inside the Last Name field and drag it beside the First Name field.

In the next steps, you’ll align these fields.

3. While the Last Name field is still selected, press Shift and click the First Name field to add it to your selection. Both the First Name and Last Name fields are now selected.
4. Choose Arrange menu > Align > Top Edges.

The Last Name field moves until it aligns with the top of the First Name field.

5. Drag the Last Name field label above the Last Name field.
6. Drag the First Name field label above the First Name field.
7. Experiment with the Align commands and arrow keys on your keyboard to align the field labels with each other and their respective fields.

Tip If you make mistakes while designing layouts, you can click Revert in the layout bar to discard any unsaved changes, then start again.

Your layout should look similar to this example when you are finished.

8. Click Save Layout, then Exit Layout in the layout bar to see your results in Browse mode.

Let’s add a field.

1. Click Edit Layout.
2. Click the Field tool  in the status toolbar and drag the new field under the Date Paid field.
3. In the Specify Field dialog box, select Member Since, select Create Label, then click OK.

The Member Since field appears on the layout. In the Sample database, the Member Since field has been defined to automatically enter the current date.

4. Move the Member Since field and field label under the Date Paid field.
5. Click Save Layout, then Exit Layout to check the new field and label in Browse mode.
6. Click New Record in the status toolbar.

You see today’s date entered in the Member Since field in the new record. The current date will be entered in the Member Since field in each subsequent new record.

You can display a number as currency, even though only the number is typed into the field. Formatting affects only the way data is displayed. It does not change the data.

1. Click Edit Layout.
2. Select the Fee Paid field.
3. Choose Format menu > Number.
4. Select options as shown in this example.
5. Click OK.
6. Click Save Layout, then Exit Layout to see the formatted data.

Let’s change text size and color.

1. In Layout mode, select the Selection tool  in the status toolbar.
2. Click the The Corporate Travelers Club heading to select the text block.
3. Choose Format menu > Text.

The Text Format dialog box appears.

4. Choose Custom from the Size list, type 25, and click OK.
5. For Color choose blue and for Style, choose Italic.
6. Click OK.

Next you will add a logo beside the club name.

1. Click to the left of the The Corporate Travelers Club text, where you want to place the club logo.

You will see no change onscreen yet.

2. Choose Insert menu > Picture.
3. Choose the logo.gif file located in the Tutorial folder.

If the sample file was installed, it is in FileMaker Pro 10/English Extras/Tutorial or FileMaker Pro 10 Advanced/English Extras/Tutorial.

You can also download the sample file from the FileMaker website by visiting www.filemaker.com/documentation.

4. Make sure all file types are showing, and select logo.gif.
5. Click Open.
6. Drag the logo or text block to move it, if necessary.
7. Click Save Layout, then click Exit Layout to see the finished layout.

Congratulations! You have learned how to create and customize a FileMaker Pro database.

If you found this hands-on visual tour helpful, you can expand your skills with an in-depth tutorial.

To open the tutorial:

1. In FileMaker Pro, choose Help menu > Product Documentation > Tutorial.

   Or, in the FileMaker Quick Start Screen, click Learn More, then click Learn It.

2. Follow the steps in the tutorial PDF to learn about many other useful features in FileMaker Pro.