To open a file

1.	If you haven't started the FileMaker program, do so now by either choosing All Programs > FileMaker Pro from the Start menu (Figure 3.30) or double-clicking the FileMaker Pro icon in the FileMaker Pro 8 folder (Mac). Figure 3.30. To launch FileMaker, navigate to the icon from the Start menu (Windows) or double-click its icon (Mac).
2.	A dialog box will appear asking whether you want to create a new file using a template, create a new empty file, or open an existing file (Figure 3.31). Make your choice and click OK. Figure 3.31. When FileMaker's opening dialog box appears, you may open a new template-based file, a new empty file, or an existing file.
3.	Depending on your choice in step 2, a dialog box will appear asking you to create and name a copy of the selected template (Figure 3.32), open an existing file, or create and name a new file.

Figure 3.32. If you use one of FileMaker's templates, a dialog box will ask you to create and name a copy of the selected template.

Tips

• If you'd rather not see the dialog box that asks whether you want to open a template, a new file, or an existing file every time you launch FileMaker, check the No longer show this dialog box (Figure 3.33). In the future, when FileMaker starts up, you can then go directly to the File menu.

  Figure 3.33. To skip FileMaker's opening dialog box, check the No longer show this dialog box.

  

• If you've turned off the opening dialog box (see the previous Tip), you still can open an existing file by choosing File > Open (Figure 3.34). Or use your keyboard: (Windows) or (Mac).

  Figure 3.34. You also can open an existing file using the File menu.