FileMaker Pro 4.1 Mac User's Guide

Assigning a field type
Creating a database file 2-5
When you define a field, you must decide the kind of data it will contain
and then select the appropriate field type. FileMaker Pro uses the field
type to interpret the data when sorting and performing calculations. The
following table explains each field type.
Select this
field type If the field’s data will be
Text Up to 64,000 characters of letters, symbols, and numbers used as text.
You can sort records based on a text field and use a text field in formulas
for calculations and summary fields. Text fields are usually sorted
alphabetically (from first character to last character in the alphabet, or last
to first), starting with the first character in the field. For more
information, see “Sorting records” on page 4-30.
Number Up to 255 characters of numbers or other characters, of which only the
numbers are treated as numeric. You can sort records based on a number
field and use number fields in formulas for calculations and summary
fields. Number fields are sorted numerically (lowest to highest or highest
to lowest), based on the numeric part of the data.
Date Dates only. A date field must include at least the day and month portion
(dd and mm) of a date. If you enter no year, and have not typed a separator
character for a year, FileMaker Pro enters the current year for you. You
can sort records based on a date field and use date fields in formulas for
calculation and summary fields. Date fields are sorted chronologically
(from earliest to latest or latest to earliest).
Time Times only. A time field can contain only the hours, minutes, or seconds
portion (hh, mm, and ss) of a time. You can sort records based on a time
field and use time fields in formulas for calculation and summary fields.
Time fields are sorted chronologically (from earliest to latest or latest to
earliest).
Container A graphic, sound, or QuickTime movie. You enter data in a container
field in different ways, depending on the type of data. Container fields
can be used in calculation fields and summary fields. See “Working with
container fields” on page 4-6.
Calculation The result of a calculation formula that uses field values from the current
record or related records. The formula can use values of all field types.
The result can be text, a number, date, time, or container. See
“Understanding formulas” on page 2-13.
Summary A value that’s produced by summarizing field values from more than one
record in the same file. See “Defining summary fields” on page 2-23.
Global One value to be used in all records of the file. A global field can be text,
number, date, time, or container. Use the value of a global field in
calculations and scripts. You can’t use a global field to find records. See
“Defining global fields” on page 2-9.