Home > Designing and creating databases > Creating a database > Defining database fields

Defining database fields

A field is the basic unit of data entry in a record. To define a new field, you give it a name. Then you select options that determine how the field interprets, enters, calculates, stores, and displays data.

After defining a field, you can set validation, auto entry, and storage options. See Setting options for fields for more information on setting these options.

To create fields:

1.	When you create a database, by default the database opens in Table View. Click the Create Field column heading and type a name for the first field.

2.	The default field type is text. To change the field type, right-click the column heading for the field, then choose Field > Field Type.

3.	To add a second field, click + in the column heading.

A new field is added to the database and is displayed as the last column in Table View.

4.	Type a name for the field.

5.	Create more fields or add records (rows) to the database.

Note  You can also create fields by choosing File menu > Manage > Database.