Database Reference
In-Depth Information
It consists of three field values and two copies of the * (multiplication) operator. The result is
just what you'd get if you used a calculator to multiply the three field values together.
FileMaker includes operators for basic math:
▪ + for addition
▪ - for subtraction
▪ * for multiplication
▪ / for division
▪ ^ for exponentiation (“to the power of” a value)
The Concatenation Operator
While the mathematical operators combine numbers, the “&” (concatenation) operator works
with text. It hooks together two text values:
ShapeLength & " inches"
If the ShapeLength field contains 36, then the result of this calculation is
36 inches
.
TIP
FileMaker can mix numeric values and text together in the same calculation. If you use a number
value or field where FileMaker is expecting text, it just treats the number as text and gets on with its
business.
Comparison Operators
You often need to compare two values to learn about them. For example, you may need to
add an additional shipping charge if the total weight of an order is more than 20 pounds. All
comparison operators result in a Boolean value.
FileMaker can compare things in several ways:
▪ = tells you if two values are the same.
▪ ≠ or <> tells you if the two values are different.
▪ > tells you if the first value is greater than the second.
▪ < tells you if the first value is less than the second.
▪ ≥ or >= tells you if the first value is greater than or equal to the second.
▪ ≤ or <= tells you if the first value is less than or equal to the second.
