Entering Information - FileMaker Electronic Forms User Manual

Entering Information

Filling in information or entering data is perhaps the easiest and most used function of
electronic forms. This section describes the various options available in filling in forms using
FileMaker Pro.
A New Form
Three options are available to fill in a new form (or record):
1. Click on the button called 'New Record'. This will create a new record
and put the cursor on the first 'Field' or fill in blank on the form. The alternate
is found in the 'Edit' Menu' under 'New Record'. The shortcut key is 'Ctrl+N'.
2. The second option is to duplicate an existing record. Simply 'Browse'
or 'Find' the desired record and click on the 'Duplicate Record' button.
The alternate is 'Duplicate Record' under the 'Edit' Menu. The shortcut
key is 'Ctrl+D'.
Another option that may be required is to delete records or forms in a file. This option is fairly
easy but be very careful in using this feature because the deleted records cannot be recovered.
Deleted records are lost forever unless a backup or duplicate file is made.
To delete or erase a record simply 'Browse' or 'Find' the record(s) then use the 'Delete Record'
option in the 'Edit' menu. The shortcut is 'Ctrl+E'. A button for this option was intentionally not
included in electronic forms to preclude users from inadvertantly erasing files or records.
To navigate through the 'Fields' or blanks simply press the 'Tab' button. Tabbing moves the
cursor to the next field or blank.
To go back to the previous 'Field' or blank hold down the 'Shift' key while pressing the 'Tab'
button.
'Fields' may also be accessed by simply 'Clicking' with the mouse on the desired field. You can't
press Tab to select summary and calculation fields in Browse Mode; you must click in the field.
To enter information in a field, select the field while in Browse mode and start typing. The way
values appear depends on how the field was formatted in Layout mode, on the system formats
used when the file was created, or on your computer's system formats.
To type in a
Text field
Number field
Date field
Time field
Note If you mix numbers and text in a number field that's used in a calculation or summary
formula, FileMaker Pro ignores the text when performing the calculation or summary.
Select the field and then
Type the text (up to 64,000 characters)
Type the values (up to 255 characters)
Type the date in the format used when the file was created
Type the time in the format used when the file was
created. If you type a single digit in a time field,
FileMaker Pro assumes it's the hour (typing 5 in a time
field indexes it as 5:00:00).
eForms User Guide
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