Defining fields in the Field Picker dialog box
When you create a new database, by default FileMaker Pro opens the file in Layout mode, and displays a blank layout and the Field Picker dialog box. Use the Field Picker dialog box to define fields for the database, and to add or change fields for an existing layout. Fields defined using the Field Picker dialog box are added to the Manage Database dialog box.
After you’ve defined the fields, drag them from the Field Picker dialog box to the layout. (To have fields that you define in the Field Picker dialog box automatically placed on a layout, select the Add newly defined fields to current layout preference before you define the fields. See Setting layout preferences.)
Note  Using the Field Picker dialog box, you can define fields for the current layout of the current FileMaker Pro table only.
To define fields:
1.
A placeholder Field is created in the fields list, with a field type assigned. If this is a new database file, the field is a text field.
Tip  You can also press Ctrl+Enter (Windows), or Command-Return or Command-Enter (OS X), to add a new field.
2.
See About naming fields.
3.
See About choosing a field type.
4.
See Setting options for fields.
5.
Each new field has the same field type as the field added most recently.
6.
See Adding and changing field labels.
 
For Field Placement, click Place Fields Vertically button.
For Field Placement, click Place Fields Horizontally button.
For Labels, click No Field Labels button.
For Labels, click Labels Above button.
For Labels, click Labels Left button.
For Labels, click Labels Left button.
Subsequent fields that are added to the Field Picker dialog box use the current drag settings.
7.
To locate a field in a long list, type the field name in the search box near the top of the Field Picker dialog box.
To sort fields in the list, click Sort Fields button, then choose how you want to sort fields: Creation Order, Field Name, Field Type, or Custom Order.
To open the Manage Database dialog box, click Manage button. See Defining fields in the Manage Database dialog box.
8.
To add, delete, or change fields:
Note  Changes made in the Field Picker dialog box are applied to the fields in the database and all layouts on which the field appears.
1.
In Layout mode, click Field Picker button in the status toolbar to open the Field Picker dialog box.
You can also choose View menu > Field Picker.
2.
3.
 
Click New Field, type a name for the field, and choose a field type. Change drag options, if needed, then drag the new field to the layout.
4.
 
Note  Another way to add an existing field to a layout is to switch to Layout mode and drag a field from the Field tool Field tool. See Placing and removing fields on a layout.
Related topics 
Defining fields in Table View
Changing field definitions
Using a reserved word or symbol for a field or table name