Creating a Database File

In FileMaker, a database file is a document with a “fmp12” extension that contains a schema definition of structural elements and data entered by users. Files contain the “full stack” of a database, including presentation front end, process logic middleware, and data storage back end. Unlike the traditional approach where these components are physically separated and built with different languages, FileMaker folds all three into a familiar, document-based user experience with a built-in low-code development environment. Experienced software developers familiar with multitier architectures that employ command-line languages may find this arrangement initially disorienting. However, FileMaker expertly achieves the best of both worlds by uniting ease of use with powerful standards-based technologies. This chapter covers the basics of creating, configuring, and maintaining a database file, including