Creating a solution > Creating a FileMaker Pro file
 
Creating a FileMaker Pro file
You can create as many files as you need to organize information. You can:
Create an empty file, then design layouts yourself.
Create an empty file using layouts defined in a FileMaker Pro Starter Solution. See Creating a FileMaker Pro file from a Starter Solution.
Use FileMaker Pro to open a file containing data in another file format (for example, a Microsoft Excel file), then modify the design by adding layouts, if needed. See Converting a data file to a new FileMaker Pro file.
Note  To quickly create a file using any method described above, choose File menu > Get Started.
To create a new file:
1. Choose File menu > New Solution.
2. Type a name for the file (choose a different folder, if needed).
Windows: For Save as type, select FileMaker Files.
3. Click Save.
FileMaker Pro creates the file, displays a blank, empty layout in Layout mode, and displays the Field Picker dialog box, where you can define fields and add them to the layout.
4. Define the fields, drag the fields to the layout, then close the Field Picker dialog box.
See Defining database fields.
5. Add objects and other embellishments to the layout.
See Creating and managing layouts and reports.
6. Save and exit the layout.
Notes
To define tables, fields, and relationships, or to set field options in the Manage Database dialog box, choose File menu > Manage > Database. See Defining fields in the Manage Database dialog box and Defining database tables.
To add fields and records, define field types, and set options for fields in a spreadsheet-like table, use the options in Table View. See Working with data in Table View.