Finding records based on criteria in a single field

Finding, sorting, and replacing data > Finding records > Finding records based on criteria in a single field

You can perform a find based on an entire field or a selection of text within a field. The commands to perform finds based on field data are available on the shortcut menu.

To find records based on data in a field:

1. In Browse mode, do one of the following:

•Click in a field that contains the entire text you want to use for the find.

•Select specific text within a field to use for the find.

2. Right-click the field or selection. From the shortcut menu, choose Find Matching Records.

The found set changes to include only the records that match the text you indicated. If the text you indicated contains multiple words, FileMaker Pro performs a phrase search, returning only those records that include the words in order.

You can also quickly narrow or broaden a found set by clicking in a field (or selecting specific text) and choosing Constrain Found Set or Extend Found Set from the shortcut menu. For more information and examples, see Constraining (narrowing) a found set and Extending (broadening) a found set.

Notes

•Performing one of the find commands creates a new find request and deletes any existing set of requests associated with the current window.

•The find shortcut menu items are only available if you are allowed to enter the field being used for the find. See Allowing or preventing entry into fields.

•In Browse mode you can save the find for future use. See Saving a find request.

•If you don’t have the correct privileges to perform the find, the find commands on the shortcut menu are disabled. See About accounts, privilege sets, and extended privileges.

•The find commands on the shortcut menu are disabled if a script is running, but has been paused.

•If the field type selected does not support finds (for example, summary fields, container fields, and global fields), the commands on the shortcut menu won’t appear.

•If no records match your selected data, an alert box appears. Click Modify Find to go to Find mode and correct your search criteria. Click Cancel to return to Browse mode; the found set won’t be changed.