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Setting options for fields

You can set field options when you define a field, or at a later time. You can set options for:

•	entering default data into fields to make entering data fast, accurate, and consistent (for example, FileMaker Pro can perform a calculation to automatically format a phone number)

•	checking data against validation requirements

•	making a repeating field

•	indexing and storing data

•	storing container data externally (see About setting up container fields)

•	storing a global value

•	setting Furigana input options (Japanese language fields only)

You can add, change, or remove data entry, validation, repeating, storage, and indexing options for all field types except summary.

FileMaker Pro doesn't update existing records if you change field options. You can find existing records and change the data, if needed.

Important  To avoid confusion when using dates in FileMaker Pro, set field validation options to make sure dates are always entered with four-digit years. For information on how FileMaker Pro handles dates with two-digit years, see Defining field validation and Conversion of dates with two-digit years.