Changing schema settings

Schema settings affect the way you work in Layout mode and when defining new tables.

  1. Windows: Choose Edit menu > Settings.

    macOS: Choose FileMaker Pro menu > Settings.

  2. Click the Schema tab.

    To

    Do this

    In Layout mode, keep the tool that you're using active until you click another tool or press Enter

    Select Always lock layout tools.

    Save layout changes without being prompted when exiting Layout mode

    Select Save layout changes automatically (do not ask).

    Update layouts whenever changes to field, table, or relationship definitions affect layouts

    Select Update layouts when the schema changes.

    For example, with this option selected, deleting a field definition in the Manage Database dialog deletes the corresponding field objects from all layouts.

    Add new fields you define to the bottom of the current layout

    Select Add newly defined fields to current layout.

    This option applies only when Update layouts when the schema changes is selected.

    Choose the default behavior for changing to another view in a hosted file when you have the privilege to modify the layout

    For Save layout view changes as the default for all users, choose one of these options:

    • Ask - Display a dialog each time you change views. The dialog asks: "Save this change as the default layout view for all users? If not, this change affects only you."

      In the dialog, you can choose Yes to set the default for all users, or No to set it only for yourself. If you also select the option Save layout view changes as the default automatically (do not ask), then this Schema tab option automatically changes from Ask to match your Yes or No choice.

    • Yes - Make the view that you're changing to the default view for all users, if your account has the privilege to modify the layout. Other users will see this new default view when they next open the file. This is equivalent to changing the default view in the Layout Setup dialog (see Setting up form, list, and table views for a layout) and overrides each user's current default view selection.

    • No - Make the view that you're changing to the default view only for yourself. Other users' default view remains unchanged.

    If your account doesn't have the privilege to modify the layout, changing to another view displays no dialog and behaves as if this setting is set to No.

    Add default fields to the initial table when creating a blank file, and select the option to add default fields to subsequently created tables in that file

    Select Add default fields to newly defined tables in new files.

    With this option selected, new files will have the Add default fields to newly defined tables option selected in the Schema tab of the File Options dialog. See Setting file options.

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