You can:
•create a file (or custom app) based on one of the predefined Starter apps or Sample apps, which come with FileMaker Pro Advanced
•create an empty file, then create its tables, fields, and layouts
•convert a file containing data in another file format (for example, a Microsoft Excel file); see Converting a data file to a new FileMaker Pro Advanced file
1. Choose File menu > Create New.
2. Choose a predefined app from the following categories:
Category | Description |
Starter apps | These simple apps, which track multiple related items, are a good place to start when creating your first custom app. Along with a main table whose records are displayed in list and details layouts, these apps have one or more related tables whose records are displayed in portals or additional layouts. For example, the Contacts Starter app tracks contacts that can each have multiple street addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses displayed in portals. |
Sample apps | These advanced sample apps show more of what's possible to create with FileMaker Pro Advanced. For example, with the Contacts Sample app, you can sort and filter the contacts list and print address labels. |
3. Click Create.
4. Type a name for the file (choose a different folder, if needed).
5. Click Save.
FileMaker Pro Advanced opens the new custom app in Browse mode.
After you create a custom app, you can easily add Add-on Tables to display related records in your custom app. See Adding Add-on Tables to custom apps.
1. Choose File menu > Create New.
2. Choose Blank, then click Create.
3. Type a name for the file (choose a different folder, if needed).
4. Click Save.
FileMaker Pro Advanced opens the new custom app in Browse mode and displays the Manage Database dialog box, where you define fields. Several default fields may already be defined. See Defining database tables.
5. Define the fields and choose options for them. See Defining and changing fields.
You can also add tables and define relationships using the Manage Database dialog box. See Defining database tables and Working with related tables.
6. Click OK to close the Manage Database dialog box.
7. (optional) Switch to Layout mode and add objects to the layout. See Creating and managing layouts and reports.
8. In Browse mode, add data to the custom app. See Adding and viewing data.
•To define fields using the Fields tab in Layout mode, see Defining and changing fields in the Fields tab.
•Avoid using the following in FileMaker Pro Advanced filenames:
•more than one period; the filename should include only the period before the .fmp12 filename extension
•quotation mark ("), slash (/), backslash (\), angle brackets (< >), asterisk (*), question mark (?), colon (:), vertical bar (|)
See the FileMaker Knowledge Base.