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New Book
Learn FileMaker Pro 8.5 is designed to teach the fundamentals of this cross-platform relational database program to both Macintosh and PC users, while also providing more advanced topics for intermediate users. Because FileMaker Pro 7 was easily the most dramatic upgrade to the software in its history, experienced users of versions previous to 7 will benefit from this book as much as beginners.
Beginners learn the basic elements of FileMaker in a straightforward, logical manner, complete with hands-on exercises.
Intermediate to Advanced users will be able to get up to speed immediately on hundreds of changes that lie below the familiar surface of FileMaker Pro 8.5.
Coverage
includes:
* Working with multiple tables and windows in a single
file
* The totally revamped
relationships model
* Working with the new
scripting tools
* The completely redesigned
security interface
* Sharing databases across the
Internet using the newly enhanced Instant Web
Publishing
* Automated
reporting
* Building and testing complex
calculations
*
Working
with ODBC/JDBC, XML and XSL style sheets, and FileMaker
Mobile.
* The all new Web Viewer
For those who have experience with FileMaker, the book includes information on troubleshooting and debugging scripts, creating a report based on a date range, and how to turn a field into a button. By the time readers complete this book, they will have a set of files they can use to keep track of customers and invoices.
The appendixes address issues such as network error messages and technical support. In addition, an extensive index with more than 3,000 entries guides the reader to specific FileMaker topics.
Example files in both Windows and Macintosh formats, along with other FileMaker developer solutions and plug-ins can be downloaded from www.wordwarecom/files/fmpro7
Learn how to:
* Use the
alignment tools to quickly align objects on your layout.
* Set up fields for
auto-complete and create tooltips to assist users.
* Attach a calendar to a date
field to efficiently enter dates.
* Import tables and their data
in a single step.
* Print your files as a PDF and
save or send your files as Excel files.
* Organize information in
different layers on a single layout using the Tab Control
feature.
* Export the contents of a
field and attach it to an e-mail.
* Use the Web Viewer to display
information from the web inside your database.
Also...
* Plan, create, and format a
database.
* Find and sort
data.
* Define relationships and work
with related tables and files.
* Create layouts using the
Layout Assistant.
* Use validation options to
make sure data is entered
properly.
* Build and test complex
calculations.
* Apply record-level
security.
* Automate your database and
fly between tables with
scripts.
* Design screen and report
layouts.
* Share FileMaker databases on
the Internet using Instant Web
Publishing.
* Use and synchronize files
with FileMaker Mobile for the Palm
OS.
* Protect your data with
scripts and calculations.
* Import and Export using XML
and XSL style sheets.
* Back up your database and
recover your data.
About his book, Jonathan
says:
"I
wrote this book as if I were writing it for myself when I
started out. I remember how confusing it was trying to
figure out all the things left out of the manual and the
other books I'd bought to help me learn. I consider myself
of normal intelligence. So this book is not written by some
genius who assumes you know everything. I tried very hard
not to skip any of the steps you need to know. That makes
this book sort of 'For Dummies by a
Dummy.'
"I
also included information about how to figure things out for
yourself. Instead of just telling you how to solve 10
special problems, I show you how to solve almost any problem
you might come up against. You know, 'Give a man a fish, and
you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you
feed him for a lifetime.'
"One
other example of how I approached this whole project is that
it took me 70 hours to create the index for the first
version of this book. I'm told most indexes take about 16
hours. I wanted this to be the index I wish was in the back
of every other technical book I've ever read. It's just so
frustrating to look for something you know you just read
about, but you can't find it. I spent my time so you won't
have to waste yours.
"And
finally, I had my mother do all the exercises in the book to
make sure it was clear enough for anybody else to learn. To
be fair to her, she's pretty sharp, but she had never worked
with FileMaker before. I rewrote quite a bit of the text as
a result of her suggestions. That's how important it was for
me to make this as good a book as I could."
--
Jonathan Stars
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