Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometric
functions aren't common in business-related databases. But engineers and sci-
entists know what to do with this bunch: sine, cosine, and tangent. They can also convert
between radians and degrees. And if you need to, you can get pi out to 400 decimal places.
Logical Functions
Logical
functions are a powerful grouping. These functions can make
decisions
based on cal-
culated values (if the due date is more than 3 months ago, add a late fee of 10 percent).
FileMaker has functions to evaluate
other
calculations inside your calculations; functions to
figure out if fields are empty or contain invalid data; performance-enhancing functions to
create and use variables; and functions to perform lookups inside calculations.
Chapter 16
is
where you learn when and how to use these big dogs of the function world.
Get Functions
Get
functions pull up information about the computer, user, database, or FileMaker Pro itself.
They make up the largest group (111 in all). You can, for example, find out the computer's
screen resolution, the current layout's name, the computer's network address, the current
user's name, or the size of any database window. This list just scratches the surface, though.
If you're looking for information about the current state of the database, FileMaker, the com-
puter, or the user, then you can probably find it with a
Get()
function.
Design Functions
Design
functions tell you about your database's structure. You can get a list of tables, fields,
layouts, or value lists, or details about any of these items. You won't need most of these
functions until you become an advanced database designer indeed.
ValueListItems()
is
one notable exception, which gives you a list of the values in a value list, separated by para-
graph breaks.
Mobile Functions
Mobile
functions are used with FileMaker Go to get the current latitude, longitude, and alti-
tude of the iOS device being used, as well as the horizontal and vertical accuracy of the val-
ues returned and the number of minutes since the values were returned.
Custom Functions
If you have FileMaker Pro Advanced, then you can create your very own
custom
functions
and have them show up on the list. Once you have them, you (or anyone you let create fields
in your database) can choose them just like the built-in functions. (See
Chapter 16
for details
on creating and using custom functions.)
