QuickList.New
-------------

Creates a new list.

| Component | Version | macOS | Windows | Linux | Server | iOS SDK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [List](component_List.md) | [4.4](newinversion44.md) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |

MBS( "QuickList.New" { ; Text; Separator; RefNum } ) 

**MBS**( **"QuickList.New";** /\* Creates a new list. \*/  
**$Text**; /\* Optional; Initial list content.e.g. "Hello¶World¶Test" \*/   
**$Separator**; /\* Optional; The separator to use.   
Can be ASCII character number (e.g. 9 for tab) or a text where we use first character as separator.   
Default is newline.e.g. "|" \*/   
**$RefNum**) /\* Optional; The desired reference number.  
Leave empty for default.e.g. "IDs" \*/ 

### Parameters

| Parameter | Description | Example | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text | Initial list content. | "Hello¶World¶Test" | Optional |
| Separator | The separator to use.    Can be ASCII character number (e.g. 9 for tab) or a text where we use first character as separator.    Default is newline. | "\|" | Optional |
| RefNum | The desired reference number.   Leave empty for default. | "IDs" | Optional |

### Result

Returns reference number or error.

### Description

Creates a new list.  
You can provide whatever separator you need. Default is new line characters. But works also fine with comma, semicolon or tab characters.  
Please use [QuickList.Release](QuickListRelease.md) to release the list later.  
QuickList reference numbers are starting at 12000 and counting up for each new list.  
  
QuickLists can have multiple million of entries without problems. Just be aware of FileMaker's standard loop/recursion limit of 50000, which can be raised with SetRecursion function.  
### Examples

Creates new list:

 MBS ( "QuickList.New"; "Hello¶World¶Test" )  
Create list with | as separator:

 MBS ("QuickList.New"; "Hello|World"; "|")  
Parse with newline as separator:

 MBS ("[QuickList.GetList](QuickListGetList.md)"; MBS ( "QuickList.New"; "1¶2" &amp; Char(10) &amp; "3" &amp; Char(13) &amp; "4" ))  
\# accepts CR and LF as delimiter.   
### See also

- [QuickList.And](QuickListAnd.md)
- [QuickList.Not](QuickListNot.md)
- [QuickList.Serialize](QuickListSerialize.md)
- [QuickList.SetList](QuickListSetList.md)
- [QuickList.SetValue](QuickListSetValue.md)
- [QuickList.Shuffle](QuickListShuffle.md)
- [QuickList.SubList](QuickListSubList.md)
- [QuickList.Trim](QuickListTrim.md)
- [QuickList.ValueIndex](QuickListValueIndex.md)
- [QuickList.XOr](QuickListXOr.md)

### Release notes

- **Version 8.1**
    - Added RefNum parameter to [QuickList.New](http://www.mbsplugins.eu/QuickListNew.shtml).
- **Version 7.1**
    - Fixed [QuickList.New](http://www.mbsplugins.eu/QuickListNew.shtml) to handle empty element on the end correctly.

### Example Databases

- [DynaPDF/Find and Replace Text](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/MBS-FileMaker-Plugin-Examples/DynaPDF/Find%20and%20Replace%20Text.shtml#9ScriptAnchor_)
- [DynaPDF/Invoice/Invoice](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/MBS-FileMaker-Plugin-Examples/DynaPDF/Invoice/Invoice.shtml#3ScriptAnchor_)
- [List/QuickList Test](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/MBS-FileMaker-Plugin-Examples/List/QuickList%20Test.shtml#2ScriptAnchor_)
- [List/Sort Benchmark](https://www.mbsplugins.eu/MBS-FileMaker-Plugin-Examples/List/Sort%20Benchmark.shtml#10ScriptAnchor_)

### Blog Entries

- [New in MBS FileMaker Plugin 15.5](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2025-11-25/New_in_MBS_FileMaker_Plugin_15/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [Retract text from a PDF with DynaPDF](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2025-11-01/Retract_text_from_a_PDF_with_D/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [QuickList.JSONArray vs. QuickList.JoinJSON](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2024-08-09/QuickListJSONArray_vs_QuickLis/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [News in MBS FileMaker Plugin 14.2](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2024-05-21/News_in_MBS_FileMaker_Plugin_1/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [Data structures in MBS Plugin](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2023-11-27/Data_structures_in_MBS_Plugin/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [MBS FileMaker Plugin, version 8.1pr6](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2018-03-02/MBS_FileMaker_Plugin_version_8/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [Comparing Base Elements Plugin to MBS FileMaker Plugin](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2017-10-24/Comparing_Base_Elements_Plugin/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [Data structures in FileMaker with MBS Plugins](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2017-10-19/Data_structures_in_FileMaker_w/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [Evaluate vs. Script Trigger](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2016-03-04/Evaluate_vs_Script_Trigger/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)
- [Quicklist - Fast lists for FileMaker](https://www.mbsplugins.de/archive/2014-09-29/Quicklist_-_Fast_lists_for_Fil/monkeybreadsoftware_blog_filemaker)

### FileMaker Magazin

- [Ausgabe 1/2015, Seite 19 bis 20](https://filemaker-magazin.de/neuigkeit/3785-Appetithappen-FMM_201501)

This function checks for a license.

Created 21st September 2014 , last changed 14th December 2023

  
[QuickList.MatchesSubString](QuickListMatchesSubString.md) - [QuickList.Not](QuickListNot.md)

[HTML Version](QuickListNew.shtml)