- FileMaker's Screen and Modes
- FileMaker's Menus
- FileMaker's Toolbars
- Rearranging the toolbars
- Opening, Closing, and Saving Files
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Opening, Closing, and Saving Files
Opening and closing files in FileMaker works like most programs. Unlike many programs, however, FileMaker automatically saves data as you enter it. If by habit, you type
)
or
)
, the Sort dialog box will appear. Just click Done and you'll be back to where you were with no harm done.
To open a file
- If you haven't started the FileMaker program, do so now by either choosing All Programs > FileMaker Pro from the Start menu (
Figure 3.30
) or double-clicking the FileMaker Pro icon in the FileMaker Pro 8 folder (Mac).
Figure 3.30 To launch FileMaker, navigate to the icon from the Start menu (Windows) or double-click its icon (Mac).
-
A dialog box will appear asking whether you want to create a new file using a template, create a new empty file, or open an existing file (
Figure 3.31
). Make your choice and click OK.
Figure 3.31 When FileMaker's opening dialog box appears, you may open a new template-based file, a new empty file, or an existing file.
- Depending on your choice in step 2, a dialog box will appear asking you to create and name a copy of the selected template ( Figure 3.32 ), open an existing file, or create and name a new file.
)
)
)
Figure 3.32 If you use one of FileMaker's templates, a dialog box will ask you to create and name a copy of the selected template.
TIPs
- If you'd rather not see the dialog box that asks whether you want to open a template, a new file, or an existing file every time you launch FileMaker, check the No longer show this dialog box (
Figure 3.33
). In the future, when FileMaker starts up, you can then go directly to the File menu.
Figure 3.33 To skip FileMaker's opening dialog box, check the No longer show this dialog box.
- If you've turned off the opening dialog box (see the previous Tip), you still can open an existing file by choosing File > Open (
Figure 3.34
). Or use your keyboard:
(Windows) or
(Mac).
Figure 3.34 You also can open an existing file using the File menu.
)
)
)
)
To create a new file
- Choose File > New Database (
Figure 3.35
). A new database with no fields or records will appear.
Figure 3.35 To create a new file, choose File > New Database.
)
Closing a file
Because FileMaker automatically saves your data, closing a file is simple. You can close a file several different ways.
To close a file
-
Choose File > Close ( Figure 3.36 ). The keyboard equivalents are:
(Windows) or
(Mac).
Figure 3.36 To close a file, choose File > Close.
or
Click the close button in the record's upper-right corner ( Figure 3.37 ) or click the FileMaker icon in the upper-left corner of the menu bar and choose Close
(
Figure 3.38
).
Figure 3.37 To close a Windows FileMaker file, click the close button in the upper right of the document.
Figure 3.38 You also can close a Windows FileMaker file by double-clicking the FileMaker icon at the far left of the menu bar.
Click the red button in the left corner of the record's title bar ( Figure 3.39 ).
Figure 3.39 To close a Macintosh FileMaker file, click the close icon in the upper left of the document.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Saving files
Though FileMaker saves your work as you go, you may want to make a copy of a database right before making a lot of changes to the original.
To save a copy of a database file
- Choose File > Save a Copy As (
Figure 3.40
).
Figure 3.40 To make a backup copy of a record, choose Save a Copy As under the File menu.
- When the dialog box appears, you can either accept the default name or type in a new name. Choose where you want to store the copy by navigating through the folder icons at the top of the dialog box. At the bottom of the dialog box (
Figure 3.41
), you also have the option to save the copy as a regular database file, a space-saving compressed file, or a clone. The clone option lets you save a database's layout, scripts, and field definitions but without any data.
Figure 3.41 When making a backup copy, you can save it as a regular record, a compressed version, or a layout-only clone. Choose one and click Save.
- Once you've picked your file name, destination, and file type, click Save.
)
)
To quit FileMaker
- Choose File > Exit (Windows) or FileMaker Pro > Quit FileMaker Pro (Mac OS X) (
Figure 3.42
). The keyboard equivalents are:
(Windows) or
(Mac).
Figure 3.42 To quit FileMaker, choose File > Exit (left, Windows) or File > Quit FileMaker Pro (right, in Mac OS X).
)
)
)