11. Creating a New Database

Here we will create a very simple database from scratch. What you will do here is virtually the same for any database you might create in FileMaker Pro.

The database involves:

1. Storing a persons name (first and second).
2. Their data of birth,
3. The number of Standard Grade passes achieved at Credit level.

 

About different field types

FileMaker Pro has eight different field type available, some of which we have used. The names of these different fields are self explanatory.

1. Text
2. Number
3. Date
4. Time
5. Timestamp
6. Container
7. Calculation
8. Summary.

You will never use Summary or Timestamp fields. Container fields hold pictures. If a field will hold text and numbers, then the field should always be defined as text.

Number fields should only ever contain numbers.

In exam questions you may be expected to identify Calculated fields and or Date Fields. Date fields unsurprisingly contain date information.

 

 

What you have to do! - Create a New Database.

How to Create a New Database! Click to Go Larger Screen

 

1. Follow the steps shown in Video 12 to create a new database called Standard Grades
2. Create the following four records for your database.
3. Feel free to add additional records.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Records to be added.

First name	Surname	Data of Birth	Credit Awards
Brian	Reid	26/6/87	8
Diana	Mitchell	9/3/87	5
Liam	Hopkins	12/10/87	2
Kim	Lees	19/2/87	7

 

Mark off Exercise 20 in your Progress Grids

 

What you should be able to do now!

• Identify different field types in a database.

• Create a new database.

• Create fields to hold different data types - text, number and date.

 

Continue to the Next Section: Expert Systems