New Record / Request with scripted default values

Beginner

Create new records programmatically and populate default values immediately to ensure data integrity and a smooth user experience.

What you'll learn

How to create a new record and set initial field values in a script
How to set defaults that depend on runtime context (current user, related records)
When to commit immediately vs leave the record in edit mode
How to navigate to the new record after creation
How to handle commit errors on newly created records

FileMaker's auto-enter field options handle simple defaults, but scripted record creation lets you set defaults that depend on runtime context -- the current user, a related record value, a calculated date, or a value passed from another script. The pattern is: New Record/Request, Set Field for each default, then either commit immediately or leave in edit mode for the user to complete.

1/3

Create a new record and set context-aware defaults

After New Record/Request, FileMaker is in record-edit mode on a blank new record. Use Set Field steps to populate defaults. These can reference Get functions, related fields, variables, or script parameters -- not just literal values.

FileMaker Script

# Script: New Project from Client
# Parameter: clientID
Set Variable [ $clientID ; Value: Get ( ScriptParameter ) ]

Go to Layout [ "Projects" (Projects) ; Animation: None ]
New Record/Request

Set Field [ Projects::ClientID ; $clientID ]
Set Field [ Projects::CreatedBy ; Get ( AccountName ) ]
Set Field [ Projects::CreatedDate ; Get ( CurrentDate ) ]
Set Field [ Projects::Status ; "Active" ]
Set Field [ Projects::DueDate ; Get ( CurrentDate ) + 30 ]

Open URL from a FileMaker script Complex multi-request finds with Find mode scripting