Creating a FileMaker Pro file
You can create as many database files as you need to organize information. You can:
  •
Create an empty file, then design layouts yourself.
  •
Create an empty file using layouts defined in a FileMaker Pro Starter Solution (template).
  •
Use FileMaker Pro to open a file containing data in another file format, then modify the design by adding layouts, if needed. For information, see Converting a data file to a new FileMaker Pro file.
To create a blank, empty file:
1.
Choose File menu > New Database.
2.
If you see the FileMaker Quick Start Screen, select Create empty database, click OK, then continue with step 3.
If you see the New File dialog box, continue with step 3.
3.
Type a name for the file (choose a different folder, if needed), then click Save.
Windows: For Save as type, select FileMaker Files. If you don't type a file extension, FileMaker Pro adds .fp7 to the filename. (To view file extensions in Windows, see the Windows operating system Help.)
FileMaker Pro creates the file on your disk and the Manage Database dialog box appears.
4.
Define fields and design layouts for the file, then add data. For information, see Defining database fields and Creating and managing layouts.
To create a file using a Starter Solution:
1.
In FileMaker Pro, choose File menu > New Database.
The FileMaker Quick Start Screen appears.
Note  If you don’t see the FileMaker Quick Start Screen, choose Edit menu (Windows) or FileMaker Pro menu (Mac OS) > Preferences, select Show FileMaker Quick Start Screen, click OK, then repeat step 1. You must use the FileMaker Quick Start Screen to create files based on Starter Solutions.
2.
Select Create database using Starter Solution.
3.
Select a solution from the list on the right, then click OK.
Note  If you don’t see the FileMaker Starter Solutions, they are not installed. If you have your installation CD, you can install the Starter Solutions by specifying the English language pack when you perform a custom installation of FileMaker Pro over your existing installation. For more information about installing FileMaker Pro, see the Installation and New Features Guide for FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced. If you do not have your installation CD, you can go to www.filemaker.com and download Starter Solutions individually. If you want Starter Solutions to be accessible from the FileMaker Quick Start Screen, place them in one of the following locations:
  •
FileMaker Pro/English Extras/Templates/
  •
FileMaker Pro Advanced/English Extras/Templates/
4.
Type a name for the file (choose a different folder, if needed), then click Save.
FileMaker Pro creates a pre-designed database that contains fields and buttons set up for tasks commonly performed in databases. This file contains no data.
5.
Click New Record in the status toolbar to add data to the file.
Notes
  •
To narrow the list of Starter Solutions, select a solution category on the left or type a few characters in the Filter text box.
  •
To prevent the FileMaker Quick Start Screen from appearing when you start FileMaker Pro or when you create a file, select Do not show Quick Start again, then click OK.
  •
You can create a file by opening a non-FileMaker Pro data file (for example, a Microsoft Excel file) in FileMaker Pro, or by making a copy of an existing FileMaker Pro file. When you open a non-FileMaker Pro data file, a new FileMaker Pro file is created with the file’s data in it.
Troubleshooting problems when creating a file
If you see the error message, This command cannot be used by this installation of FileMaker, the ability to create new databases was disabled during the installation of FileMaker Pro.
Contact your systems administrator for more information.
Related topics 
About planning a database
Defining database tables
Was this topic helpful? Send feedback.