Setting general preferences
General application preferences affect the way you work with all FileMaker Pro documents.
To set general preferences:
1.
Choose one of the following menu commands:
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Windows: Choose Edit menu > Preferences.
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OS X: Choose FileMaker Pro menu > Preferences.
2.
In the Preferences dialog box, click the General tab, and then set the options you want to use.
 
To
Do this
Enable drag and drop capabilities to move text in fields, between fields, and between layouts, as well as between applications that support drag and drop.
Select Allow drag and drop text selection.
Display the names of up to 30 recently opened files when you choose File menu > Open Recent or when you use the FileMaker Quick Start Screen to open files.
Select Show recently opened files, and then enter a number from 1 to 30.
Windows: Make text easier to read by increasing the size of all layout objects in the work area.
Select Enlarge window contents to improve readability.
Notes:
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In the lower-left corner of the window, an asterisk appears next to the zoom percentage when this option is selected.
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In Windows, font smoothing is turned off at the 75% zoom level and higher when this option is selected.
Display and use the Manage Database dialog box to create a new database when you choose File menu > New Database.
Select Use Manage Database dialog to create files.
Reset the size and position of all dialog boxes to their defaults.
For Reset dialog sizes and positions, click Reset.
Set the name that identifies the user.
(This value is used, for example, when you choose Insert menu > Current User Name.)
Windows: Type a name for User name.
OS X: Select System in the User Name area or, for User Name, select Other, and then type a name in the text box.
Note  In OS X, the System name is the name entered in the Accounts System Preference.
Set the language that FileMaker Pro uses for menus, dialog boxes, and messages.
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Windows: For User Interface Language, choose a language.
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OS X: Use the Language & Text System Preference. See OS X Help Center. (You must log out of OS X and log back in to see the new language.)
Notes:
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The new language does not take effect until you restart FileMaker Pro. If some language components are not installed, FileMaker Pro may alert you to install a language pack. See Installation and New Features Guide for FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced.
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This setting does not change the system formats used for displaying and sorting dates, times, and numbers in a particular file. For more information on system formats, see Opening files with different system formats.
Windows: Set the style of font smoothing.
For Font smoothing style, choose a style.
Notes:
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If the fonts on your screen look fuzzy, you may want to experiment with the different font smoothing styles until you find one that looks best with your monitor.
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In Windows, font smoothing is turned off at the 100% zoom level and higher.
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In OS X, you can set font smoothing options in the Appearance System Preference. See OS X Help Center.
Have FileMaker Pro automatically check for software updates once a week.
Select Notify me when an update is available.
This preference setting does not automatically install software updates for you. If you have an internet connection, you can go to the update web page and download the updater software. If you choose not to update your software when notified, you can do so later by choosing Help menu > Check for Updates.
Have FileMaker automatically check for a new version every 30 days.
Select Notify me when a new version is available.
If you select Don’t tell me about new versions again in the New Version Notification dialog box, FileMaker does not check for new versions.
3.
Click OK.
Related topics 
Moving text and data with drag and drop
Creating a database
Keyboard shortcuts (Windows)
Keyboard shortcuts (OS X)
Formatting fields and text for vertical writing
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