About container fields
Use container fields to store any file:
 •
photos, movies, sounds
 •
documents, including Microsoft Word and Excel files, PDF files, and so on
You can reference container fields in calculation formulas or summary fields.
Data in container fields is by default embedded. You can, instead:
 •
store a reference in the field when you select a file to insert into it (see Inserting content into container fields)
 •
define the field to store data externally (see Setting up container fields to store data externally)
FileMaker Pro saves externally stored container data in the same folder in which the database file is located. See Managing external storage of container data.
When you save a FileMaker Pro file as a self-contained copy, container data that is stored as a file reference, as well as externally stored data, is embedded in container fields in the copy. See Saving and copying files.
You can use the GetContainerAttribute function to track how the contents of a container field are stored and how much storage space it uses. This function also returns metadata about a container field’s contents, such as the height and width of images, photo orientation, cover art of audio contents, bar code type, and signature timestamps.
You can make a container field interactive to optimize the field for content such as audio, video, or PDF files. See Specifying formats for container fields.
Notes
 •
After you define a container field, you can make the field larger in Layout mode.
 •
You can't find or sort records based on a container field, but you can define a text field to describe or identify the contents of the container. Then, you can find or sort records based on the information in the text field.
 •
To specify how data in a container field displays (for example, whether the image is cropped or scaled), see Formatting and setting up field objects in Layout mode.
 •
FileMaker Pro uses the orientation attribute set by many cameras to display photographs right side up in container fields. See Inserting content into container fields.
 •
To put a static graphic (like a logo) on a layout, create, paste, or import the graphic directly onto the layout, or use a global container field. Either option will use less storage space than storing the same graphic with every record.
 •
You can create a script that includes the Insert File script step to specify the contents of a container field.
 •
When externally stored container data is hosted on FileMaker Server, the data can be located on a different volume from the databases, including on a remote volume. For more information, see FileMaker Server Help.
Related topics 
About defining database fields
About setting up container fields
Using data in container fields
Deleting data from container fields
Creating file paths
Was this topic helpful? Send feedback.