Defining automatic data entry
To save time and ensure accuracy, you can set FileMaker Pro to automatically enter data in text, number, date, time, and container fields. For example, FileMaker Pro can enter the current user's name into a field.
To set options for automatic data entry:
1.
With the database open, choose File menu > Manage > Database.
Note  To set options for fields in Table View, right-click the column heading for the field, choose Field > Field Options from the shortcut menu, then skip to step 6.
2.
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Click Options (or double-click the field name).
6.
In the Options for Field dialog box, click the Auto-Enter tab, then select options for the field.
 
Select Creation, then choose Date or Time from the list.
Select Creation, then choose Timestamp from the list.
Select Creation, then choose Name from the list.
Select Creation, then choose Account Name from the list.
Select Modification, then choose Date or Time from the list.
Select Modification, then choose Timestamp from the list.
Select Modification, then choose Name from the list.
Select Modification, then choose Account Name from the list.
Select Serial number, then:
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For Generate, choose On creation to generate serial numbers when records are created.
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For Generate, choose On commit to generate serial numbers when records are committed.
For next value, type a starting value (like 100), then type the increment in increment by.
Select Value from last visited record.
Note  This value will be from the last record accessed in the table in which this options has been set.
Select Data, then type up to 255 characters. Use the keyboard arrow keys to scroll through the text box, if needed.
Select Calculated value (or click Specify), then enter a calculation.
See Defining calculation fields for information about the dialog box.
Select Do not replace existing value for field (if any) to prevent overwriting data already present.
Select Looked-up value (or click Specify), then define the lookup. See About lookups for more information.
Prohibit a user from modifying a value that you have defined to be auto-entered
Select Prohibit modification of value.
7.
Click OK to close the Options for Field dialog box, or click another tab to set additional field options.
Notes
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Your choices in the Options for Field dialog box are limited by the type of field you are defining. For example, you can't choose Creation Date for a time field.
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If Creation Name or Modification Name is selected, FileMaker Pro enters the user name shown in the General tab of the Preferences dialog box.
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If you select Calculated value, you can edit the field value in Browse mode (if Prohibit modification of value isn't selected). The value is calculated when you create a record, or when one of the referenced fields changes and the destination field is empty. (However, if you select Do not evaluate if all referenced fields are empty in the Specify Calculation dialog box, the value isn't calculated when you create a record and all fields referenced by the calculation are empty. Instead, the value is calculated when one of the referenced fields contains a value.)
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To make an auto-enter calculation self-modifying, leave the Do not replace existing value for field (if any) option unchecked.
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For information about auto-entered data and FileMaker Pro web publishing, see the online manual, FileMaker Instant Web Publishing Guide, which you can download by choosing Help menu > Product Documentation > Instant Web Publishing Guide.
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You can set auto-enter and validation options for external fields for ODBC tables. These field options only affect how you work with these external fields in FileMaker Pro. The options are independent of any options that might be set in the ODBC data source.
Related topics 
Working with formulas and functions
About choosing a field type
Inserting the current date or other variables into a field
Defining a value list for data entry
Entering preset data from a value list