This chapter illustrates how to create a simple database from scratch.

As an example, let us create a simple book database.

Creating New Database

To create a new database, click the New Database tab on the welcome screen or select File > New... from the main menu:

1. Specify the file name in which the database will be stored (use the Browse... button). Additionally, you can set a password for administrator's access, and then nobody except you will have access to your database.
2. Click the Finish button, and a new empty database will be created.
3. There should be at least one form in the database. The form defines the type of records with which you want to work. Therefore, after you create a database, the form editor will be displayed. Click Next to pass to it:
   
   
4. In the list of form templates, select the one you need. If there is no suitable template, use the 'Blank' one. Let us select the 'Book' template.
5. Click the Next button and check the correctness of the form name; then click the Finish button. You will see the created database with one working folder and the only record in it:
   
   

Form Editor

The form editor is a key tool in database creation. It allows creating new forms and editing already existing ones. To access it, as well as other database editors, use the Design DB menu:

Let us open it and edit the form according to our requirements:

The interface of the form editor is fixed and can be divided into the following parts:

• In the upper left part of the window there are toolbars and a palette of fields that can be added on the form.
• Under them there is a list of forms that already exist in the database. Right now we have only one form.
• In the central part there is the form itself.
• Over the form there is the properties window for the selected object (the form or some field).

Deleting Fields

Let us delete unnecessary fields 'Year', 'ISBN', 'Notes' and their labels. To do this:

1. Select an element by clicking it;
2. Select Edit > Delete from the menu or click the corresponding button ();
3. Confirm deletion.

The form will take the following shape:

Creating Fields

We want to add the following fields - 'Acquisition Date', 'Cost' and 'Location' - to memorize where the book is located.

To add a field:

1. On the elements palette on the left, click the button of the field type that you want to add (for example, - date, - number, - drop-down list).
2. Click on blank area on the form;
3. In the displayed window, enter the field name;
4. In the element properties window (at the top), edit field parameters (font, colors, behavior, access and so on).

Newly added elements will appear on the form:

Field Properties

Element properties are distributed over 8 tabs. The content of 7 tabs is the same for all elements (color, font, tooltip, scripts and so on). The first tab 'Individual Properties' is unique for every field type and allows setting its specific properties, for example:

• For a date:
  
• For a number:
  
• For a list:
  

Adding Labels

You can create labels for fields as well as fields themselves (by selecting the 'Label' element on the palette of elements). But it is easier and faster to make it via the menu of an element:

1. Right-click a field;
2. In the displayed menu select the 'Create label for the element' command:
   
   
3. The label will automatically appear on the left of the field.

Conclusion

Therefore, our field will take the following shape:

Close the form editor. You will see that the record in the database has been changed. So, we learned how to edit forms and create simple fields. In a similar manner, you can add images, buttons, flags, relational fields on the form and so on.