Hello.

How do I do a simple query against a .fp7 file on my desktop?

By this I mean,

- Where do I type the SQL statement?

- How do I execute it?

Very basic questions from a complete novice who finds FM very, very frustrating and the help files useless. Searching for "Query", "SQL", or "Create Query" returns irrelevant (at least to my newbie eyes) results about external data sources.

10 years ago I was an accountant. I then taught myself MS Access and got good enough at it that I've been an IS&T professional since 2000. The point I'm making is that I'm not new to database software. I just can't get to square one with FM other than opening files, finding records, and exporting records to text. I actually work at Apple in the IS&T department and I still can't get an answer to this.

Please pardon my username. I'm sure I've offended someone and I apologize. I'm just really frustrated. Any help would be very greatly appreciated.

Find Mode.

You don't need to create an SQL query to locate a group of records in FileMaker. Just select View>Find Mode (you'll be presented with a screen of blank fields to enter criteria into). Type what you are searching for into the field you want to search (if it's a text feld, part of a word will do) and then press Return (or click the "Find" button in the Status Area at the left).

If there are any records matching your criteria, they will be isolated in a found set and presented to you in Browse mode.

BTW you'll find details of this process in the online help entry titled Finding Records. That's what the process is called in FileMaker. :wink2: