Once you find an appropriate template, click New Database. Click any item in the left-side list to see information on how to use that template. If you find a template you want to use, click New Database and resume with step 3.įigure 11.15. A detailed description of the selected templatewith the option of seeing information on all the templatesappears in a separate window ( Figure 11.15). In step 2, if you want to know more about a particular template before using it, click Template Info. If you don't see the dialog box in Figure 11.11, open FileMaker's Preferences dialog box, select the General tab and check Show templates in New Database dialog box. Click OK to close the Preferences dialog box and start again with step 1.įigure 11.14. In step 2, if you don't see the dialog box in Figure 11.11, choose Edit > Preferences (Windows) or FileMaker Pro > Preferences (Mac), select the General tab and check Show templates in New Database dialog box ( Figure 11.14). A copy of the template appears, ready for you to modify as needed. Use the create a copy dialog box to navigate to where you want to store the file and give it a distinctive name.Ī copy of the template appears in its default layout, ready for you to modify as needed ( Figure 11.13).įigure 11.13.

By default, FileMaker gives the file the same name as the original template but it'll be less confusing if you use a distinctive name. When the dialog box for creating a copy appears ( Figure 11.12), navigate to the folder where you want to store the file. To create a template-based file, select Create a new file using a template, pick a template from the list, and click OK. (If this dialog box doesn't appear, see the first Tip on the next page.)įigure 11.11. In the Portal Setup dialog box, for Show related records from, choose the related table from which you want to display related records. For information on label and envelope layouts, see Using Label and Envelope Layouts on page 149. Use the New Layout command for creating standard, columnar, table, label, envelope, and blank layouts. When the New Database dialog box appears, select Create a new file using a template, select a template in the right-side list, and click OK ( Figure 11.11). Position the crosshair pointer on the layout where you want the portal to begin, then drag the pointer diagonally until the portal is the size you want. Figure 10.2 When you first define fields, FileMaker by default generates a standard layout with fields and labels listed in the order they were created.

Why reinvent the wheel when FileMaker has rounded up a terrific collection of templates into what it calls Starter Solutions? These templates are empty databases using pre-built layouts, which you can easily customize using the information in this chapter and Chapters 12 and 13.

Filemaker pro 15 creating a layout