Creating a FileMaker Pro file

You can:

  • create a file (or custom app) based on one of the predefined apps (FileMaker Pro only)

  • create an empty file, then create its tables, fields, and layouts

  • create an empty file with tables and layouts linked to your team's current Claris Studio views (Claris Pro only)

  • convert a file containing data in another file format (for example, a Microsoft Excel file); see Converting a data file to a new FileMaker Pro file

To create a custom app based on a predefined app:

  1. Choose File menu > Create New.

  2. Choose a predefined app and click Create.

  3. Type a name for the file and:

    • if you're a team manager, you can save the file to a team's FileMaker Cloud host or click On My Mac or On My PC to save locally. (If you change your mind, click FileMaker Cloud to save to a team's host.)

    • if you're not a team manager, choose a different folder, if needed.

  4. Click Save.

    The new custom app opens in Browse mode.

After you create a custom app, you can easily extend it with add-ons. See Working with add-ons.

To create a custom app from a new, empty file:

  1. Choose File menu > Create New.

  2. Choose Blank, then click Create.

  3. Type a name for the file (choose a different folder, if needed).

  4. Click Save.

    The new custom app opens in Browse mode and displays the Manage Database dialog box, where you define fields. Several default fields may already be defined. See Defining database tables.

  5. Define the fields and choose options for them. See Defining and changing fields.

    You can also add tables and define relationships using the Manage Database dialog box. See Defining database tables and Working with related tables.

  6. Click OK to close the Manage Database dialog box.

  7. (optional) Switch to Layout mode and add objects to the layout. See Creating and managing layouts and reports.

  8. In Browse mode, add data to the custom app. See Adding and viewing data.

To create a custom app from a new file linked to Claris Studio data (Claris Pro only):

  1. Choose File menu > Create New.

  2. Choose Linked Blank, then click Create.

  3. Type a name for the file (choose a different folder, if needed).

  4. Click Save.

    The new custom app opens in Browse mode displaying data from one of your Claris Studio views in Table View. There's a layout for each of your team's current Claris Studio views and a layout for one Claris Pro table. The Claris Studio tables are linked to this app so that changes you make to the data here are also reflected in the associated Claris Studio views.

    To work with Claris Pro tables and fields, see Defining database tables and Defining and changing fields. To work with Claris Studio tables, see Working with a Claris Studio data source (Claris Pro only). To define relationships between tables, see Working with related tables.

  5. In Browse mode, add data to the custom app. See Adding and viewing data.

  6. (optional) Switch to Form View in Layout mode and add objects to the layout.

    See Viewing records as a form, list, or table and Creating and managing layouts and reports.

Notes 

  • To define fields using the Fields tab in Layout mode, see Defining and changing fields in the Fields tab.

  • Avoid using the following in Claris Pro or FileMaker Pro filenames:

    • more than one period; the filename should include only the period before the .claris (Claris Pro) or .fmp12 (FileMaker Pro) filename extension

    • quotation mark ("), slash (/), backslash (\), angle brackets (< >), asterisk (*), question mark (?), colon (:), vertical bar (|)

See the Knowledge Base.