Defining global fields (fields with global storage)

Creating a solution > Setting options for fields > Defining global fields (fields with global storage)

A field that uses global storage contains one value that's used for all records in the file. Fields defined with global storage are also referred to as global fields.

To define global storage options for a field:

1. With the database open, choose File menu > Manage > Database.

2. In the Manage Database dialog box, click the Fields tab.

3. If your database contains more than one table, select the appropriate table from the Table list.

4. For Field Name, type a name for the field.

See About naming fields.

5. Click Options (or double-click the field name).

6. In the Options for Field dialog box, click the Storage tab, then select Use global storage (one value for all records).

7. Click OK.

8. Continue to define fields or click Done.

Notes

•You can use a global field:

•as a fixed value in calculation formulas across all records in a file, or in conditional script steps, such as If, Else, End If, Loop, End Loop, and Exit Loop.

•as a match field for a relationship.

•You can use variables instead of global fields for temporary data storage. See Using variables.

•You can't use a global field to find records.

•If your file is shared, only the host's changes to global field data are saved. Changes are saved only when the file is closed.

•For information about how calculations that include global fields are evaluated, search the FileMaker Knowledge Base available at http://help.filemaker.com.