FileMaker® Pro 13 Absolute Beginner’s Guide

FileMaker® Pro 13 Absolute Beginner’s Guide

Released December 2014
Publisher(s): Que
ISBN: 9780133416749

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Book description

Make the most of FileMaker Pro 13–without becoming a technical expert! This book is the fastest way to create FileMaker Pro databases that perform well, are easy to manage, solve problems, and achieve your goals! Even if you’ve never used FileMaker Pro before, you’ll learn how to do what you want, one incredibly clear and easy step at a time. FileMaker Pro has never, ever been this simple!

Who knew how simple FileMaker® Pro 13 could be?

This is the easiest, most practical beginner’s guide to using the powerful new FileMaker Pro 13 database program…simple, reliable instructions for doing everything you really want to do!


Here’s a small sample of what you’ll learn:

•    Get comfortable with the FileMaker Pro environment, and discover all you can do with it

•    Create complete databases instantly with Starter Solutions

•    Design custom databases that efficiently meet your specific needs

•    Identify the right tables, fields, and relationships; create new databases from scratch

•    Expand your database to integrate new data and tables

•    Craft layouts that make your database easier and more efficient to use

•    Quickly find, sort, organize, import, and export data

•    Create intuitive, visual reports and graphs for better decision-making

•    Use scripts to automate a wide variety of routine tasks

•    Safeguard databases with accounts, privileges, and reliable backups

•    Share data with colleagues running iPads, iPhones, Windows computers, or Macs

•    Take your data with you through FileMaker Go

•    Master expert tips and hidden features you’d never find on your own

•    And much more…

Table of contents

  1. About This eBook
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents at a Glance
  5. Table of Contents
  6. About the Author
  7. Dedication
  8. Acknowledgments
  9. We Want to Hear from You!
  10. Reader Services
  11. Introduction
    1. About This Book
  12. Part 1: Getting to Know FileMaker Pro
    1. 1. Welcome to FileMaker Pro
      1. What Is a Database?
      2. Differences Between Databases and Spreadsheets
      3. The Power of Databases
      4. Why FileMaker?
      5. Understanding the FileMaker Platform
      6. What Can FileMaker Do for You?
    2. 2. Creating Your First Database
      1. Getting Started Tour
      2. FileMaker Quick Start
      3. Creating a Database Using a Starter Solution
      4. Saving and Closing a Database
      5. Quitting FileMaker
    3. 3. Exploring FileMaker Pro
      1. Opening a FileMaker Pro Database
        1. Opening a Recently Used Database
        2. Opening Other Databases
      2. Menu Commands
        1. The File Menu
        2. The Edit Menu
        3. The View Menu
        4. The Insert Menu
        5. The Format Menu
        6. The Records Menu
        7. The Scripts Menu
        8. The Window Menu
        9. The Help Menu
      3. The Status Toolbar
        1. Moving Between Records
        2. Information About the Found Set
        3. The Status Toolbar Buttons
        4. Quick Find
        5. Additional Tools
        6. The Content Area
    4. 4. Working with Records
      1. Changing an Existing Record
      2. Adding a New Record
      3. Duplicating a Record
      4. Canceling Changes to a Record
      5. Moving Between Fields
      6. Moving Between Records
      7. Deleting a Record
      8. Deleting Multiple Records
      9. Moving Between Layouts
      10. Changing Layout Views
    5. 5. Importing Records
      1. Preparing for the Import
      2. Selecting the Source File
      3. File Types Supported
      4. Field Mapping
      5. Selecting an Import Action
      6. Importing the Sample Data
      7. Import Options Dialog Window
      8. Import Summary Window
    6. 6. Finding Records
      1. Using Quick Find
      2. Entering Find Mode
      3. Performing Basic Finds
      4. Performing “and” Finds
      5. Performing “or” Finds
      6. Performing Finds That Omit Records
      7. Finds That Return No Records
      8. Modifying the Last Find
      9. Using Saved Finds
      10. Using Fast Match
      11. Showing Omitted Records
      12. Finding All Records
      13. Updating Multiple Records at One Time
    7. 7. Sorting Records
      1. The Sort Records Command
      2. The Sort Records Window
      3. Impact of the Sort Order
    8. 8. Exporting Records
      1. Preparing to Export
      2. Performing the Export
      3. Supported File Types
      4. Excel Options Window
        1. Specify the Field Order for the Export Window
      5. Additional Export Options
      6. The Export Progress Window
  13. Part 2: Beyond the Basics
    1. 9. Working with Fields
      1. Understanding Field Types
      2. Adding Fields
      3. Changing the Field Order
      4. Field Options
        1. Auto-Enter Options
        2. Validation Options
      5. Naming Fields and Tables
      6. Changing Fields
      7. Deleting Fields
      8. Field Storage Options
        1. Global Fields
        2. Repeating Fields
        3. Indexing Options
        4. Indexing Calculated Fields
    2. 10. Working with Calculations
      1. What Are Calculations?
      2. Why Calculations Are Important
      3. The Specify Calculation Dialog
      4. Adding a Calculation Field
      5. Types of Calculation Functions
        1. Aggregate Functions
        2. Container Functions
        3. Date Functions
        4. Design Functions
        5. Financial Functions
        6. Get Functions
        7. Logical Functions
        8. Mobile Functions
        9. Number Functions
        10. Text Functions
        11. Text Formatting Functions
        12. Time Functions
        13. TimeStamp Function
        14. Trigonometric Functions
      6. Custom Functions
      7. FileMaker Plug-Ins
    3. 11. Working with Layouts
      1. What Are Layouts?
      2. Exploring Layout Mode
      3. Adding Layouts
      4. Understanding Layout Parts
      5. Resizing Layout Parts
      6. Setting Layout Widths
      7. Adding Objects to Layouts
        1. Adding Fields
      8. Specifying the Tab Order
      9. Selecting and Modifying Objects
      10. Using the Layout Inspector
        1. The Position Tab
        2. The Styles Tab
        3. The Appearance Tab
        4. The Data Tab
        5. Understanding Value Lists
      11. Adding Basic Objects
      12. Adding Graphics
      13. Adding Advanced Objects
        1. Buttons
        2. Tab Controls
        3. Slide Controls
        4. Popovers
        5. Web Viewers
      14. Changing Layout Options
      15. Managing Layouts
      16. Layout Tips and Tricks
        1. Undoing Layout Changes
        2. Icons on Layout Objects
        3. Duplicating Layouts
    4. 12. Creating Reports and Charts
      1. Planning Your Report
      2. Understanding Sub-Summary Reports
      3. Creating Report Layouts
      4. Improving Report Layouts
      5. Changing Found Sets
      6. Adding Multiple Sub-summary Parts
      7. Importance of the Sort Order
      8. Removing Body Parts
      9. Previewing and Printing Reports
      10. Printing Labels and Envelopes
      11. Creating Charts
    5. 13. Automating Tasks with Scripts
      1. What Is a Script?
      2. The Manage Scripts Window
      3. Creating Scripts
      4. Script Steps
        1. Control Script Steps
        2. Navigation Script Steps
        3. Editing Script Steps
        4. Field Script Steps
        5. Record Script Steps
        6. Found Set Script Steps
        7. Window Script Steps
        8. File Script Steps
        9. Account Script Steps
        10. Spelling Script Steps
        11. Open Menu Item Script Steps
        12. Miscellaneous Script Steps
      5. Interacting with Users
      6. Managing Scripts
        1. Grouping Scripts into Folders
        2. Creating a Default Script
        3. Adding a Field Separator
        4. Duplicating Scripts
        5. Importing Scripts
        6. Deleting Scripts
        7. Printing Scripts
      7. Performing Scripts
        1. Subscripts
        2. Buttons
        3. Script Triggers
        4. Install OnTimer Script
      8. Script Parameters and Results
      9. Handling Script Errors
      10. Running Scripts with Full Access
  14. Part 3: Caring For and Sharing a Database
    1. 14. Protecting a Database
      1. The Importance of Security
      2. The FileMaker Security Model
      3. FileMaker’s Default Security Settings
      4. The Manage Security Window
      5. Creating Privilege Sets
      6. Privilege Sets and Scripts
      7. Creating Accounts
      8. Resetting an Account’s Password
      9. Securing New Databases
      10. Additional Security Features
        1. Custom Extended Privileges
        2. File Access Control
        3. Encryption at Rest
        4. FileMaker Server Security Options
    2. 15. Backing Up a Database
      1. The Importance of Backing Up
      2. Challenges of Backing Up Databases
      3. Performing Backups
      4. Backing Up with FileMaker Server
      5. Creating Backup Strategies
      6. Restoring from Backups
      7. Recovering Damaged Databases
      8. Performing Consistency Checks
    3. 16. Sharing a Database
      1. Hosting with FileMaker Pro
      2. Connecting with FileMaker Pro
      3. Closing Hosted Databases
      4. Sharing Via ODBC
      5. Hosting with FileMaker Server
        1. Increased Support for Concurrent Users
        2. Support for FileMaker WebDirect
        3. Custom Web Publishing
        4. ODBC/JDBC Connections
    4. 17. Taking Data with You
      1. The Role of FileMaker Go
      2. Designing for FileMaker Go
      3. Deployment Options
        1. Accessing Hosted Databases
        2. Using Local Databases
      4. Security Considerations
      5. Other Considerations
  15. Part 4: Building Your Own Database
    1. 18. Planning Your Database
      1. Defining Your Goals
      2. Identifying Tables
      3. Identifying Fields
      4. Identifying Relationships
    2. 19. Creating Your Database
      1. Creating Databases from Scratch
      2. Adding Fields Using the Field Picker
      3. Changing a Table’s Name
      4. Naming Tables and Fields
    3. 20. Expanding the Database
      1. Adding Additional Tables
      2. Understanding the Relationship Graph
      3. Setting Up Relationships
      4. The Importance of Context
      5. Working with Related Records Via Portals
      6. Understanding External Data Sources
  16. Index
  17. Code Snippets

Product information

  • Title: FileMaker® Pro 13 Absolute Beginner’s Guide
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: December 2014
  • Publisher(s): Que
  • ISBN: 9780133416749