Database Reference
In-Depth Information
5.
From the View pop-up menu (above the function list), choose “Trigonometric
functions.”
The function list changes to show just the relevant options.
6.
In the function list, double-click the
Pi
function and then click the * operator
button (or type
*
)
.
The function calculation area now reads
Pi *
.
7.
Finally, in the parameter list, double-click
diameter
.
FileMaker adds the word
diameter
to the end of the calculation, like so:
Pi * dia-
meter
.
When you're done, click OK and then OK again to close the Edit Custom Function and Man-
age Custom Functions dialog boxes. The database has a brand-new function called Circum-
ference. To use the Circumference function, create a calculation field that uses it, and point
the parameter to a field that contains a diameter value.
NOTE
The standard setting in the Availability options lets anyone who accesses your database see and use
the custom function in her own calculations. If you turn on “Only accounts assigned full access priv-
ileges,” the function still works for everybody, but only superusers (
Privilege Sets
) can see the func-
tion in the functions list.
Editing Custom Functions
You probably feel like a pro at the Manage Custom Functions window already, since it works
a lot like other FileMaker dialog boxes. But even you could end up with a custom function
that needs adjustment or repair. To edit an existing custom function, either double-click its
name, or select it from the list and then click Edit. In the Edit Custom Function window (
Fig-
ure 13-16
), you can modify the definition of a function as follows:
▪ To change its name, in the Function Name box, type a new name.
You can add new parameters, just like you added the “diameter” parameter in the Cir-
cumference function. If you no longer need a function parameter, select it and then click
the Delete Parameter button.
▪ To change a parameter's name, first select it in the parameter list. When you do,
FileMaker puts the parameter in the Parameter Name box, where you can edit it. When
you're done, click the Edit Parameter button to apply your change to the one in the list.
