Most types of fields have options that you set when you define or change a field definition. The options available depend on the field type. (Calculation and summary fields have formulas rather than options.)

To set field options:

1	Choose Define Fields from the Layout menu.
2	Select a field in the list, then click Options.
	For some field types, the Options dialog box appears automatically when you click Create.
3	Select options (see the table below).

Tip: For more information about controls in the dialog box, choose Show Balloons from the Help menu.

Common field options

	Option		Function
	Cannot Be Empty		Field must always contain data.
	Must Be Unique		Field will not accept a value that exists in the same field in another record.
	Automatically Enter		Automatically inserts specified text whenever you create a new record.
	Must Be In Range		Field will not accept a value outside the specified number range.
	Current Date or Time		Automatically inserts the current date or time whenever you create a new record.
	User's Name		Automatically inserts the name of the registered AppleWorks owner whenever you create a new record.

Pop-up Menu and Radio Button options

	Option		Function
	Items for control		Lists items that appear in the pop-up menu or next to radio buttons.
	Item Label		Lets you add, edit, and delete items in the "Items for control" list.
	Automatically Choose		Specifies which item from the "Items for control" list is selected as the default.
	Label for control		Displays the specified text as the name of the menu or list.

Checkbox options

	Option		Function
	Label for Checkbox		Lets you edit the text next to the checkbox.
	Initially Checked		Determines whether the checkbox is selected when you first create a new record.

Serial Number options

	Option		Function
	Next Value		Specifies the serial number to be added in the field for the next record you create.
	Increment		Specifies the increment to be added to the serial number in each successive record you create.

Value List options

	Option		Function
	Items for control		Lists items that will appear in the scrolling value list.
	Item Text		Lets you add, edit, and delete items in the "Items for control" list.
	Alerts for Unlisted Value (in Data Verification area)		Displays a dialog box whenever you enter a value that doesn't appear in the scrolling value list.

Multimedia options

	Option		Function
	Crop Image to Frame		Inserts the image in the field at its full size (to see the entire image, you might need to resize the field)
	Scale Image to Fit Frame		Resizes image so that all of it is visible in the field
	Maintain Original Proportions		Keeps a resized image's aspect ratio
	Alignment		Determines where the image is placed inside the field

Record Info options

	Option		Function
	Date Created or Time Created		Inserts the date or time the record is created.
	Name of Creator		Inserts the name of the registered AppleWorks owner whenever you create a new record. (This name can't be changed later.)
	Date Last Modified or Time Last Modified		Inserts the date or time whenever the record is modified.
	Name of Modifier		Inserts the name of the registered AppleWorks owner each time the record is modified.

Related topic

Defining and working with database fields