You can either create a brand new database from scratch (the most common starting point) or, if available, open a pre-loaded database design.
Create a new database from scratch
Use one of these methods to open the Create Database window:
Click the Phocas menu button > Databases > New Database.
Click the Phocas menu button > Administration > Databases > Create.
Enter a name for the database. This name should be user-friendly, as this is name that displays in Phocas. You can change this name later. The real, underlying database name is generated automatically and will be something like company name, an underscore and a number. This can't be changed and is not displayed to typical Phocas users.
If you are creating a financial database, select the Financial Database checkbox.
Click Save. The Design screen opens on the Design tab, where you can proceed to add the data and ‘design’ the database. See Take a tour of designer to get an overview of this screen.
Open a pre-loaded design (if available)
Some Phocas sites will have one or more 'empty' database designs pre-loaded. These designs provide a typical basic structure, into which you simply drag your data. To open a design, click the name. This opens a summary screen, shown below, where you can change the title, or display name.
Select Design to start designing your database.
Next step in the design a database process: Set up the database.