Filemaker Calculation Find

Easily generate find request strings for FileMaker Pro using literal values, operators, and even FileMaker calculations with our FileMaker Calculation Find tool.

Find String Generator

Understanding FileMaker Find Operators

Operator	Meaning	Example Value	Example Find String	Use Case
=	Finds records with values that match the entire field content (often for text, but can be used for dates/numbers depending on field type and context).	John	=John	Finding exact name “John”.
==	Finds records with values that exactly match the entire field content (case-sensitive for text if field is indexed as such, otherwise often case-insensitive). More explicit exact match.	John Smith	==John Smith	Finding exact full name “John Smith”.
>	Finds values greater than.	100	>100	Finding prices above 100.
<	Finds values less than.	50	<50	Finding quantities below 50.
>=	Finds values greater than or equal to.	1/1/2024	>=1/1/2024	Finding dates on or after Jan 1, 2024.
<=	Finds values less than or equal to.	12/31/2023	<=12/31/2023	Finding dates on or before Dec 31, 2023.
… or ..	Finds values within a range (inclusive).	100…200	100…200	Finding prices between 100 and 200.
@	Finds one character (wildcard).	J@hn	J@hn	Finding “John”, “Jahn”, etc.
#	Finds one digit (wildcard).	1#3	1#3	Finding 103, 113, 123, etc.
?	Finds invalid dates, times, or timestamps.	?	?	Finding records with incorrectly entered dates.
*	Finds zero or more characters (wildcard).	*son	*son	Finding names ending in “son” (Johnson, Wilson).
== (Calculation)	Finds based on a FileMaker calculation.	Get(CurrentDate)-7	==Get(CurrentDate)-7	Finding records from the last 7 days.

Table 1: Common FileMaker Find Operators and their usage.

Illustrative Operator Usage

Chart 1: Illustrative relative frequency of find operator usage in typical FileMaker development.

What is a FileMaker Calculation Find?

A FileMaker Calculation Find refers to the technique used in FileMaker Pro’s Find mode where you enter a calculation prefixed by ‘==’ into a field to dynamically determine the criteria for finding records. Instead of searching for a static value like “100” or “John”, you can search for records based on the result of a FileMaker calculation, such as `Get(CurrentDate) – 7` (to find records within the last week) or `”>” & SomeOtherField` (to find records where the current field is greater than the value in `SomeOtherField` on the same record – though this latter example is more for within-record logic, the `==Get(CurrentDate)-7` is a classic find mode calculation).

This method provides immense flexibility, allowing users and developers to create find requests based on dynamic data, the current date, or other calculated conditions without hardcoding specific values into scripts or manual finds. The FileMaker Calculation Find is a powerful feature for advanced searching.

Who Should Use It?

FileMaker developers and advanced users who need to perform dynamic searches benefit most from the FileMaker Calculation Find. For example, finding records relative to the current date (e.g., “past due,” “due this week”), or based on complex criteria that combine multiple fields or functions. It’s essential for building robust and user-friendly find interfaces.

Common Misconceptions

A common misconception is that you can use complex calculations involving related fields directly in Find mode in the same way you do in a calculation field definition within a record. While you can use `Get()` functions and simple date/number arithmetic in a FileMaker Calculation Find entered directly in find mode, more complex finds involving related data often require scripting to set fields with calculated results before performing the find.

FileMaker Calculation Find Formula and Explanation

The “formula” for a FileMaker Calculation Find is quite straightforward when entered directly in Find mode:

== [FileMaker Calculation Expression]

Where `[FileMaker Calculation Expression]` is any valid FileMaker calculation that resolves to the value or condition you want to find. For other find operators, the format is generally:

[Operator][Value] or [Value1]...[Value2]

For example, `>100`, `<1/1/2024`, `100...200`, `="Apple"`, `*berry`, `==Get(CurrentDate)+30`.

Variables (Components)

Component	Meaning	Example	Notes
Field Name	The target field for the find.	“OrderDate”, “CustomerName”	The field on the current layout where the criteria are entered.
Operator	The symbol defining the comparison type.	>, <=, …, ==, *	Determines how the ‘Value’ is compared to field data.
Value / Expression	The literal value or FileMaker calculation.	“100”, “1/1/2024”, “Get(CurrentDate)”	What the field’s content is compared against.

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Example 1: Finding Orders Due in the Next 7 Days

You want to find all orders with a “DueDate” within the next 7 days, including today.

• Field Name: DueDate
• Operator: == (Calculation)
• Value 1 (Expression): Get(CurrentDate) & “…” & Get(CurrentDate)+7
• Generated Find String: ==Get(CurrentDate) & "..." & Get(CurrentDate)+7
• Interpretation: In Find mode, in the DueDate field, you would enter ==Get(CurrentDate) & "..." & Get(CurrentDate)+7 to find records where the DueDate falls between today and 7 days from today, inclusive.

Example 2: Finding Products with “Pro” in the Name, Excluding “Promo”

You want to find products with “Pro” but not “Promo”. This requires multiple requests or a more complex single request if possible, but let’s illustrate finding “Pro” and then omitting “Promo” as separate steps conceptually, though the calculator focuses on single requests.

Request 1 (Find “Pro”):

• Field Name: ProductName
• Operator: * (Wildcard)
• Value 1: *Pro*
• Generated Find String: *Pro*

After performing this find, you could enter Find mode again, enter `*Promo*` in ProductName, select “Omit” in the status toolbar, and perform the find to constrain the set.

Using the calculator for a basic FileMaker Calculation Find related to finding names:

• Field Name: ProductName
• Operator: =
• Value 1: Pro*
• Generated Find String: =Pro*
• Interpretation: Finds product names starting with “Pro” if “=” is used with wildcards in some contexts, though `*Pro*` is more common for “contains”.

How to Use This FileMaker Calculation Find Calculator

1. Enter Field Name: Input the name of the FileMaker field you are targeting with your find request (e.g., `OrderDate`, `CustomerName`).
2. Select Operator: Choose the appropriate find operator from the dropdown list. If you want to use a FileMaker Calculation Find, select “== (Calculation)”.
3. Enter Value(s)/Calculation:
   • If you selected a range operator (“…” or “..”), enter the start and end values in “Value 1” and “Value 2” respectively.
   • If you selected “== (Calculation)”, enter your FileMaker calculation expression into “Value 1”.
   • For other operators, enter the value to search for in “Value 1”.
4. Generate and View: The “Generated Find Request” section will update in real time, showing the string you would enter into the specified field in FileMaker’s Find mode.
5. Interpret Results: The “Interpretation” explains what the generated find request will search for.
6. Copy: Use the “Copy Results” button to copy the find string and other details.

To use the generated string in FileMaker: Go to your layout, enter Find mode (View > Find Mode), go to the specified field, and type or paste the generated string. Then click “Perform Find”.

Key Factors That Affect FileMaker Calculation Find Results

• Data Type of the Field: Whether the field is Text, Number, Date, Time, or Timestamp affects how operators and values are interpreted. A FileMaker Calculation Find needs to result in a type compatible with the field.
• Indexing: Field indexing can significantly speed up finds, especially on large datasets. Some find operations (like using wildcards at the beginning of a word) may be slower if the field is not fully indexed or if using unindexed calculations.
• Operator Choice: The selected operator directly dictates the comparison logic (e.g., greater than, range, exact match, wildcard).
• Calculation Complexity: Very complex calculations within a FileMaker Calculation Find might slow down the find process, especially if they are unstored calculations used across many records.
• Locale Settings: Date and number formats used in values or calculations should be compatible with the file’s locale settings or entered in FileMaker’s internal format (e.g., m/d/yyyy for US dates) to avoid errors.
• Use of Wildcards: Wildcards like `*` and `@` can broaden the search but can also slow it down if used improperly, especially at the start of the search term.
• Context: The find is performed on the records in the current table occurrence context of the layout you are on.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between = and == in FileMaker finds?

A1: `=` finds records where the field matches the word or phrase (e.g., “=apple” finds “apple”, “apple pie” if “apple” is the first word, depending on indexing). `==` finds records where the field exactly matches the entire content specified (e.g., “==apple” only finds fields containing exactly “apple”).

Q2: Can I use Get() functions in a FileMaker Calculation Find?

A2: Yes, `Get(CurrentDate)`, `Get(CurrentTime)`, `Get(AccountName)`, etc., are commonly used within the `==` calculation find to make searches dynamic.

Q3: How do I find records with an empty field?

A3: In Find mode, enter just the `=` operator in the field and perform the find. This finds fields that are empty.

Q4: Can I search for multiple criteria in different fields at once?

A4: Yes, in Find mode, you can enter criteria in multiple fields on the same find request form before clicking “Perform Find”.

Q5: How do I perform an OR find (e.g., find “Apple” OR “Banana”)?

A5: Enter “Apple” in the field in Find mode, then create a New Request (Requests > Add New Request), enter “Banana” in the same field in the new request, and then Perform Find.

Q6: Can my FileMaker Calculation Find refer to other fields?

A6: Directly in find mode using `==`, you typically refer to `Get()` functions or static values/dates. Referring to other fields within the same record as part of the criteria for *another* field in the same find request is generally not how it works. You’d usually script this or use relationships.

Q7: Why is my FileMaker Calculation Find slow?

A7: It could be due to unindexed fields, complex calculations, searching a large number of records, or using leading wildcards (*text).

Q8: How do I find duplicate values in a field?

A8: Enter `!` in the field in Find mode to find records with duplicate values in that field across the found set you are searching within.