Working with data in Table ViewWhen you view records in a table, FileMaker Pro displays data in rows and columns. Each row displays a record, and each column displays a field. In Table View’s spreadsheet-like format, you can add, modify, and delete data, create quick reports, and create charts. For information on quick reports, see Creating dynamic reports in Table View. For information on quick charts, see Creating quick charts.While viewing data in Table View in Browse mode, you can create, modify, or delete fields.
For the first field, click Create Field in the column heading for the first column of the table. To create additional fields, click + in the column heading. A new column is added on the right in the table.To cancel creating the new field press Esc before submitting the change.You can prevent new fields that you create from being automatically placed on the current layout by deselecting Add newly defined fields to current layout in the Preferences dialog box. See Setting layout preferences. To discard changes to the field name, press Esc before you exit the column heading.Tip You can press Tab or Shift-Tab to edit the field names. If you press Tab in the far right column heading, FileMaker Pro creates a new column. Right-click the column heading, choose Field > Field Type to display a shortcut menu, and choose a field type. For more information about field types, see About choosing a field type. Select a column heading and optionally Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (OS X) additional headings. Right-click one of the selected column headings and choose Sort Ascending or Sort Descending. A sort icon appears on the column headings indicating the sort setting. Select an unsorted heading to deselect the columns you are sorting by, then right-click the heading you want to remove from the sort order and choose Remove <field name> from Sort. You can Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (OS X) multiple headings to remove more than one field from the sort order. Select any column heading, right-click, then choose Sort By Value List, and choose a value list. Sort the file by two or more fields, select then right-click the column heading you want to remove from the sort order, choose Remove <field name> from Sort. When you release the mouse, data re-sorts based on the fields that remain in the sort order.Tip Click Sort in the status toolbar to view the current sort order.
• Click Modify in the layout bar and use the options in the Modify Table View dialog box. See Displaying and hiding fields in Table View.
• Or, right-click a column heading, then choose Field > Hide Field to hide the selected field. To display a hidden field in Table View, right-click the + column heading, then choose a field from the list of existing fields. Right-click the column heading, then choose Field > Delete Field. See Deleting table definitions, field definitions, and data.While viewing data in Table View in Browse mode, you can add, duplicate, sort, or delete records.
• if Keep records in sorted order is cleared in the Sort Records dialog box Right-click the left or right margin of the record that you want to copy, then choose Copy Record. You can paste the copied, tab-separated data into a field or into Microsoft Excel. Right-click the left or right margin, then choose Sort Records. Use the Sort Records dialog box to specify how to sort records. See Options for sorting records. Right-click the left or right margin, then choose one of the options from the Save/Send Records As shortcut menu. While viewing data in Table View in Browse mode, you can resize or reorder the columns, change the background or alternate color, or restore the default display settings.
Select one or more column headings. Right-click, then choose Table View > Set Column Width from the shortcut menu. In the dialog box, type a width, choose units from the list, then click OK. Right-click the left or right margin of a record, choose Part Color from the shortcut menu, then choose a color. The color of the row for adding new records and the column for adding new fields will be slightly darker than the main background color. Right-click the left or right margin of a record, then choose a color from the Alternate Color shortcut menu. If you customized the color or filled the part with an image, the part is locked. Right-click a column heading or the left or right margin and choose Table View > Reset from the shortcut menu.
• To use the column heading to create fields in Table View, you have to select the Include column headers option in the Table View properties. To display Table View properties, right-click a column heading or the left or right margin and choose Table View > Edit Properties. See Setting up form, list, and table views for a layout.
• Table View displays fields from the body part of the current layout. If a layout contains a portal, Table View displays the data from the first related record (the first row of the portal).
• Global fields display one value for all records. You can edit a global field in any row of the table. See Defining global fields (fields with global storage).