Database Reference
In-Depth Information
As Entered
If you don't want the automatic rounding and scientific notation you get with General
format, simply choose “As entered.” FileMaker leaves your numbers alone, so they appear
exactly as typed.
Boolean
Sometimes you use a number field simply as a Boolean value. For instance, pretend you
have a field that flags customers who get holiday cards. You could use a number field for this
one, with a
1
in it if you want to send a card, and a
0
if you don't. But someone looking at
the layout later could mistake all those 1s and 0s for so much computer gibberish (even if
that someone is yourself).
For this reason alone, the Number Format options include a choice called Boolean. With this
setting, a number field shows one of two text values. The first (“Show non-zeros as”) shows
if the number field has any non-zero value. The second (“Show zeros as”) shows only when
the field has a zero in it. In the holiday card example, you may be tempted to turn this option
on, and use Send Card and Don't Send Card as the display values. Unfortunately, FileMaker
lops off anything past the first
seven
characters for each display value. So you have to stick
with short and sweet values, like “Yes” and “No.”
Decimal
The most flexible setting is Decimal. When you choose this option, you activate a host of
new settings:
▪ Turn on
Fixed number of decimals
if you want to force every number to have the same
number of decimal places. Of course, FileMaker also lets you say
how many
decimal
places you want. If the number in the field doesn't have a decimal part, FileMaker just
fills in zeros after the decimal point. If you only want to see integers, set the number of
decimals to zero.
▪
Do not display number if zero
. Suppose you have a report with lots of numbers, where
many of those numbers are zero. For example, a financial report that shows who owes
you money (like an Aging Receivables Report) often has more zeros than anything else.
All those zeros can make the report cluttered and hard to read. Turn on the “Do not dis-
play number if zero” option to make the zeros go away.
▪
Notation
lets you associate a unit description with your number field. Say you're meas-
uring temperatures. Place a degree symbol in the box, and FileMaker will display it with
the numbers in your selected field. The drop-down options pertain to where you want
