Setting file options

Setting file options

You can set preferences for the current file’s default layout, login information, spelling, and opening and/or closing scripts. To set preferences for all files, see Setting preferences.

To set options for opening and closing the current file:

1.

Choose File menu > File Options, and click the Open tab if it is not already selected.

Select

To

Minimum version allowed to open this file, then choose a version of FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go, or FileMaker Server from the list

Prevent a file from being opened with a version of FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go, or FileMaker Server that’s earlier than the specified version.

The file must be local and not shared when the option is set. However, once the option is set, the file can be hosted remotely. All files will appear in the Open Remote dialog box, but only qualifying files can be opened. You need exclusive access to the file in order to set this option, so make sure no one else is using the file.

Log in using, then Account Name and Password, and type an account and password

This is the default selection. The default is Log in using selected with the Account Name and Password option set to Admin and a blank password.

Automatically log in using a specific account and password when you open the database. To temporarily bypass the default password and enter a different one, press Shift (Windows) or Option (OS X) while opening the file.

Note If the default account is valid but the password is invalid, you will be prompted to enter another password.

Log in using, then Guest Account

Automatically log in using a guest account

Switch to layout, then choose a layout from the list in the Specify Layout dialog box

Display the specified layout whenever you open the file. If you don't select this option, FileMaker Pro opens the layout you displayed when you worked in the file, or opens a layout you specify in a startup script. (See the “Perform script” option below.)

If a layout has been selected, its name appears to the right of the Specify button of this option. To change the layout to use, click Specify, then choose a layout from the list. See Specify Layout dialog box.

Note FileMaker Pro saves your current layout only if the file has been modified in a significant way, such as editing a record or modifying database schema. See What FileMaker Pro doesn’t save.

2.

Click OK to save your changes, or click another tab to set additional file options.

To set spelling options for the current file:

1.

Choose File menu > File Options, and click the Spelling tab.

Select

To

Indicate questionable words with special underline

Mark possible misspelled words with a red dotted underline (in Browse, Find, and Layout modes).

Off

Type without receiving any cues that you might have made a spelling error.

Beep on questionable spellings

Receive an audio cue that you might have made a spelling error.

2.

Click OK to save your changes, or click another tab to set additional file options.

Checking spelling as you type can be slower than using the other spelling options if a large amount of text is visible in the active field. See Checking spelling as you type.

To set text handling and data entry options for the current file:

Note  You must log in using the Full Access privilege set to edit items in the Text tab.

1.

Choose File menu > File Options, and click the Text tab.

2.

In the Text Handling area, select one or more of the following options:

Select

To

Use smart quotes

Use curly quotation marks and curly apostrophes. If this option is deselected or you use a font that doesn't have curly quotes, FileMaker Pro uses plain (straight) quotes and apostrophes. Changes affect new typing only; they do not affect existing data.

Use Asian language line-breaking

Control Asian language line-breaking. This option is enabled by default. If this option is disabled, standard Asian language rules concerning which characters can start or end a line of text are ignored.

Use Roman language line-breaking

Control standard Roman language line-breaking, including word wrapping. This option is enabled by default. If this option is disabled, letters and spaces are treated equally as symbols, and Roman language words are not treated as units. Instead, a word will wrap to the next line when it exceeds the width of the field or text block, which could occur in mid-word.

Overwrite input when an Asian IME is on (Windows)

Overwrite existing characters at the cursor location with new characters entered by the user when an Asian input method editor (IME) is running. This option is off by default.

3.

In the Data Entry area, select one or more of the following options:

Select

To

Always use current system settings

Use the current system settings for data entry of numbers, dates, and times. This option is on by default.

Always use file’s saved settings

Use the system settings saved with the file for display and data entry of numbers, dates, and times.

Ask whenever settings are different

Prompt the user to choose which system settings to use when entering data in a number, date, time, or timestamp field that was created using system settings that are different from the current system settings.

4.

Click OK to save your changes, or click another tab to set additional file options.

To perform scripts that open and close windows:

Note  You must log in using a Full Access privilege set to edit items in the Script Triggers tab.

1.

Choose File menu > File Options, and click the Script Triggers tab.

2.

Select one or more script triggers in the list.

Select

To

OnFirstWindowOpen

Run a script each time you open a window of a database file when no other windows for the file are currently open. The script is triggered after the first window of a file is open.

Click Specify to choose or create the script you want to use.

Note Although this is typically the first time you open a file, you can also trigger a script this way when you open a window for a hidden file previously opened via a script or relationship.

For more information, see OnFirstWindowOpen. For information about operations that do not activate script triggers, see Changing object data without activating script triggers.

OnLastWindowClose

Run a script each time you close the last open window of a database file. The script is triggered before the last window of a file is closed.

Click Specify to choose or create the script you want to use.

Note The script will run even if the file itself remains open, for example if it is referenced by another file with open windows. The closing script will be performed each time the last open window of the specified file is closed.

For more information, see OnLastWindowClose. If the script executed by the OnLastWindowClose script trigger returns a False value, the file will not close.

OnWindowOpen

Run a script each time you open a window of a database file. The script is triggered after a window is opened or after OnFirstWindowOpen (if it is selected in the Script Triggers tab) is activated.

Click Specify to choose or create the script you want to use.

Note You can also trigger a script this way when you open a window for a hidden file previously opened via a script or relationship.

For more information, see OnWindowOpen. For information about operations that do not activate script triggers, see Changing object data without activating script triggers.

OnWindowClose

Run a script each time you close a window of a database file. The script is triggered before a window is closed or before OnLastWindowClose (if it is selected in the Script Triggers tab) is activated.

Click Specify to choose or create the script you want to use.

Note The script will run even if the file itself remains open, for example if it is referenced by another file with open windows. The closing script will be performed each time a window of the specified file is closed.

For more information, see OnWindowClose. If the script executed by the OnWindowClose script trigger returns a False value, the file will not close.

Note  If a snapshot link is created from a database to which any of the above script triggers are assigned, the snapshot link will open and close as described in the table above.

3.

Click OK to save your changes, or click another tab to set additional file options.

Related topics

Creating a FileMaker Pro file

Defining automatic data entry

Defining field validation

Opening files protected with passwords

Checking spelling

Creating scripts to automate tasks

Setting up script triggers

Select	To
Minimum version allowed to open this file, then choose a version of FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go, or FileMaker Server from the list	Prevent a file from being opened with a version of FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go, or FileMaker Server that’s earlier than the specified version. The file must be local and not shared when the option is set. However, once the option is set, the file can be hosted remotely. All files will appear in the Open Remote dialog box, but only qualifying files can be opened. You need exclusive access to the file in order to set this option, so make sure no one else is using the file.
Log in using, then Account Name and Password, and type an account and password	This is the default selection. The default is Log in using selected with the Account Name and Password option set to Admin and a blank password. Automatically log in using a specific account and password when you open the database. To temporarily bypass the default password and enter a different one, press Shift (Windows) or Option (OS X) while opening the file. Note If the default account is valid but the password is invalid, you will be prompted to enter another password.
Log in using, then Guest Account	Automatically log in using a guest account
Switch to layout, then choose a layout from the list in the Specify Layout dialog box	Display the specified layout whenever you open the file. If you don't select this option, FileMaker Pro opens the layout you displayed when you worked in the file, or opens a layout you specify in a startup script. (See the “Perform script” option below.) If a layout has been selected, its name appears to the right of the Specify button of this option. To change the layout to use, click Specify, then choose a layout from the list. See Specify Layout dialog box. Note FileMaker Pro saves your current layout only if the file has been modified in a significant way, such as editing a record or modifying database schema. See What FileMaker Pro doesn’t save.

Select	To
Indicate questionable words with special underline	Mark possible misspelled words with a red dotted underline (in Browse, Find, and Layout modes).
Off	Type without receiving any cues that you might have made a spelling error.
Beep on questionable spellings	Receive an audio cue that you might have made a spelling error.

Select	To
Use smart quotes	Use curly quotation marks and curly apostrophes. If this option is deselected or you use a font that doesn't have curly quotes, FileMaker Pro uses plain (straight) quotes and apostrophes. Changes affect new typing only; they do not affect existing data.
Use Asian language line-breaking	Control Asian language line-breaking. This option is enabled by default. If this option is disabled, standard Asian language rules concerning which characters can start or end a line of text are ignored.
Use Roman language line-breaking	Control standard Roman language line-breaking, including word wrapping. This option is enabled by default. If this option is disabled, letters and spaces are treated equally as symbols, and Roman language words are not treated as units. Instead, a word will wrap to the next line when it exceeds the width of the field or text block, which could occur in mid-word.
Overwrite input when an Asian IME is on (Windows)	Overwrite existing characters at the cursor location with new characters entered by the user when an Asian input method editor (IME) is running. This option is off by default.

Select	To
Always use current system settings	Use the current system settings for data entry of numbers, dates, and times. This option is on by default.
Always use file’s saved settings	Use the system settings saved with the file for display and data entry of numbers, dates, and times.
Ask whenever settings are different	Prompt the user to choose which system settings to use when entering data in a number, date, time, or timestamp field that was created using system settings that are different from the current system settings.

Select	To
OnFirstWindowOpen	Run a script each time you open a window of a database file when no other windows for the file are currently open. The script is triggered after the first window of a file is open. Click Specify to choose or create the script you want to use. Note Although this is typically the first time you open a file, you can also trigger a script this way when you open a window for a hidden file previously opened via a script or relationship. For more information, see OnFirstWindowOpen. For information about operations that do not activate script triggers, see Changing object data without activating script triggers.
OnLastWindowClose	Run a script each time you close the last open window of a database file. The script is triggered before the last window of a file is closed. Click Specify to choose or create the script you want to use. Note The script will run even if the file itself remains open, for example if it is referenced by another file with open windows. The closing script will be performed each time the last open window of the specified file is closed. For more information, see OnLastWindowClose. If the script executed by the OnLastWindowClose script trigger returns a False value, the file will not close.
OnWindowOpen	Run a script each time you open a window of a database file. The script is triggered after a window is opened or after OnFirstWindowOpen (if it is selected in the Script Triggers tab) is activated. Click Specify to choose or create the script you want to use. Note You can also trigger a script this way when you open a window for a hidden file previously opened via a script or relationship. For more information, see OnWindowOpen. For information about operations that do not activate script triggers, see Changing object data without activating script triggers.
OnWindowClose	Run a script each time you close a window of a database file. The script is triggered before a window is closed or before OnLastWindowClose (if it is selected in the Script Triggers tab) is activated. Click Specify to choose or create the script you want to use. Note The script will run even if the file itself remains open, for example if it is referenced by another file with open windows. The closing script will be performed each time a window of the specified file is closed. For more information, see OnWindowClose. If the script executed by the OnWindowClose script trigger returns a False value, the file will not close.

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