Working with related tables > Working with the relationships graph
 
Working with the relationships graph
When you create, change, and view the relationships in a FileMaker Pro database, you use the relationships graph.
Each box on the relationships graph represents a table occurrence, a separate view into a single underlying source table. A single source table may appear as many table occurrences, each with a different name and each of which you can relate to other table occurrences.
You create a relationship between two table occurrences at a time. You can create chains of relationships between many table occurrences. However, FileMaker Pro prevents you from creating a chain of relationships that relates a table occurrence back to itself, which can’t be resolved.
Because each relationship represents an additional set of criteria, you must be aware of the context within the relationships graph. Context is the point in the relationships graph from which a relationship is evaluated. Because the graph is never a cycle, each point along the graph offers a different perspective into your data.
To display the relationships graph:
1. Choose File menu > Manage > Database.
2. Click the Relationships tab, and use the buttons and other elements in the relationships graph to define relationships.
Relationships graph buttons
By default, the relationships graph displays all the tables that are in the current database file.
 
Click
To
Add table button
Add a table to the relationships graph
Add relationship button
Create a relationship
Duplicate table button
Duplicate selected tables (and relationships) and selected notes
Edit button
Edit the selected relationship, table occurrence, or text note in the relationships graph
Delete button
Delete selected relationships, table occurrences, or text notes in the relationships graph
Align vertical button
Align the left edges, centers, or right edges of the selected objects
Align horizontal button
Align the top edges, centers, or bottom edges of the selected objects
Distribute objects button
Distribute the selected objects horizontally or vertically
Resize button
Resize the selected objects
Color palette button
Change the color of selected tables or notes in the relationships graph
Select object button
Choose the object selection cursor (default cursor)
Add text note button
Add a text note to the relationships graph; drag the cursor on the relationships graph to the size you want
Magnification cursor button
Choose the magnification cursor
Reduction cursor button
Choose the view reduction cursor
Reduce magnification of the relationships graph button
Adjust the magnification of the relationships graph to view all tables
Select related tables button
Select related tables 1-away or select tables with the same source table
100%
Manually reduce or increase the view of the relationships graph, up to 400%
Show page breaks button
Show page breaks
Show Print Setup or Page Setup dialog box button
Show the Print Setup (Windows) or Page Setup (macOS) dialog box
Print
Print the relationships graph across multiple pages, or resized to fit on one page
Other relationships graph elements
 
Element
Action
Displays source table and source file names
Displays the names of the source table and source file as you move the pointer over the table header
Toggles table display
Toggles the display of the table. Click once to collapse all but the match fields. Click again to collapse all but the table name. Click again to return the table to its original size.
Toggle text note display
Toggles the display of the text note. Click once to collapse to the first line of text. Click again to return the text note to its original size.
Match field is available to many records
Indicates that the match field is available to match many records (a one-to-many relationship)
Match field can match a single record
Indicates that the match field is intended to match a single record (a one-to-one relationship), such as an auto-entered value
Unindexed match field indicator
Indicates that the join cannot be made. For example, a match field is missing or is an unindexed field (such as an unstored calculated field or a global field), or the table closest to the indicator is missing or unavailable.
Relational operator indicator
Displays the relational operator, or Multicriteria indicator for a multicriteria relationship
Related topics 
Working with related tables
About relationships
Creating and changing relationships
Adding and selecting table occurrences
Creating a solution