Book description
FileMaker Pro 10 Bible provides information that grows with you no matter what your level when you start. Topics range from the general (how databases fit into real life and your business needs; comparisons with other database development tools; a broad discussion of integration with existing systems and software) through the building-blocks of FileMaker solutions, and on up to state-of-the-art advice on concepts of optimization, modularization, innovative and sophisticated user-interface design, dynamic elements, logic, cutting-edge calculations, publishing your database to the Web, and integrating tightly with SQL databases via "ESS". The book also includes the special developer tools available in FileMaker Pro Advanced, and covers topics too oft skipped over in other books on the market -- backup how-to's and strategies, must-read information about good database husbandry and file recovery, and so on. Much of the information in the book is documented nowhere else. This is the one must-have FileMaker book!
Table of contents
- Copyright
- About the Author
- Credits
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
-
I. The Fundamentals
- 1. Databases: The What, Why, and How
- 2. Putting FileMaker Pro in Perspective
- 3. Getting Acquainted with FileMaker
-
4. What's New in FileMaker 10
- 4.1. Embracing Change
- 4.2. Status Area Redesign
- 4.3. Live Reports/Sub-summaries
- 4.4. Maintain Record Sort Order
- 4.5. Saved Find Requests
- 4.6. Set Field by Name
- 4.7. Script Events Triggers
- 4.8. New Calculation Functions
- 4.9. External SQL Data Sources (ESS) Enhancements
- 4.10. Bento Integration
- 4.11. File Recovery Improvements
- 4.12. Layout Mode Enhancements
- 4.13. Send Mail by SMTP
- 4.14. Quick Start Screen Enhancements
- 4.15. Import/Export Enhancements
- 4.16. Save Target Printer
- 4.17. The Manage Scripts Interface
-
4.18. Other Useful Enhancements
- 4.18.1. IPv6 Support
- 4.18.2. Format changes for automatically generated log files
- 4.18.3. Updated templates and themes
- 4.18.4. FileMaker Pro Advanced Script Debugger enhancements
- 4.18.5. Relookup Replace and Field Contents no longer commit
- 4.18.6. Only a single sharing error for multiple files
- 4.18.7. Script error codes and control commands
-
II. Introduction to Database Design
- 5. Creating a Database
-
6. The Interface: Layout Mode
- 6.1. Initial Layouts
- 6.2. The Importance of Visual Structure
- 6.3. Defining Tooltips
- 6.4. Different Kinds of Layout Objects
- 6.5. FileMaker as a Graphical Environment
- 6.6. Interacting with Layout Objects
- 6.7. The Tab Control and Its Uses
- 6.8. Displaying Related Data
- 6.9. The Magic of Buttons
- 6.10. The Web Viewer: Inviting in the World
- 6.11. Reports and Data Output
-
7. The Structure: The Manage Database Dialog
- 7.1. Working with Tables
- 7.2. Specifying Fields
-
7.3. Basic Calculations
- 7.3.1. Creating a Calculation field
- 7.3.2. Defining a calculation formula
- 7.3.3. Entering literal text
- 7.3.4. Referencing fields
- 7.3.5. Understanding calculation functions and their syntax
-
7.3.6. Doing some simple calculations
- 7.3.6.1. Commission on earnings above a threshold
- 7.3.6.2. Calculating initials from a person's name
- 7.3.6.3. Compound interest at a known rate over a given period
- 7.3.6.4. Current quarter of the calendar year
- 7.3.6.5. Changing ampersands to "and" in a block of text
- 7.3.6.6. Record navigation text (record n of nn)
- 7.4. The Relationships Graph
- 7.5. Working with External SQL Data Sources
- 7.6. The Concept of Data Relationships
-
8. The Processes: FileMaker Scripting
- 8.1. Scripting: What It Is and What It Offers You
- 8.2. Defining and Editing Scripts
- 8.3. Using the Scripts Menu
- 8.4. Controlling Script Execution
- 8.5. Some Notable Script Uses
- 8.6. Ease of Editing in FileMaker Scripting
- 8.7. Organizing Scripts
- 8.8. Some Examples to Start With
-
8.9. Calling Your Scripts
- 8.9.1. The Scripts menu
- 8.9.2. Script hotkeys
- 8.9.3. Scripts assigned to custom menu commands
- 8.9.4. Layout buttons
- 8.9.5. Calling scripts from other scripts
- 8.9.6. On Timer Script Triggers
- 8.9.7. File Open and File Close scripts
- 8.9.8. Layout event Script Triggers
- 8.9.9. Object event Script Triggers
- 8.9.10. External script calls
-
III. Beyond the Basics
- 9. The FileMaker Power User
-
10. Building Advanced Interfaces
- 10.1. Developing for Mac and Windows Users
- 10.2. Using Dynamic Screen Elements
- 10.3. Working with Sub-Summary Parts and Part Controls
- 10.4. Designing for Print
- 10.5. Using Multiple Windows and Views
- 10.6. Employing Custom Dialogs as an Interface Tool
- 10.7. Looking at Anchors and Resizable Layout Objects
- 10.8. Implementing Shortcut Navigation
- 10.9. Building Depth and Dimensionality
- 10.10. Working with Tab Controls
- 10.11. Recognizing the Flexibility of Portals
- 10.12. Using Advanced Web Viewer Techniques
- 10.13. Progress Bars and Native Charting Techniques
- 10.14. Using Interface Elements
- 10.15. Handling User Preferences
-
11. Data Modeling in FileMaker
- 11.1. Background in Relational Theory
- 11.2. FileMaker Relationships Graph Symbols
- 11.3. Relationship Operators
- 11.4. Alternative Relationship Techniques
- 11.5. Working with Data Arrays
- 11.6. Graph Techniques — Spiders, Squids, and Anchor-Buoy
- 11.7. Documenting the Database Structure
- 11.8. The Concept of Layers
- 11.9. File Architecture versus Data Structure
- 11.10. Separation and External SQL Sources
- 11.11. Implementing Separation in an Existing Solution
- 11.12. Deployment Considerations
-
12. Calculation Wizardry
- 12.1. Compound Calculation Expressions
- 12.2. Order of Operations
- 12.3. Boolean Operations
- 12.4. Variables — Calculation, Script, and Global
- 12.5. Text Processing and Parsing Functions
- 12.6. Text Formatting Operations
- 12.7. Dates, Times, and Timestamps
- 12.8. Summary Data
- 12.9. Lists and Arrays
- 12.10. Layers of Abstraction
- 12.11. Unstored Calculations
- 12.12. Calculation Fields versus Auto-Enter Calculations
- 12.13. Global Calculations
- 12.14. Environment and Metadata
- 12.15. Calculations Using Custom Functions
- 12.16. Documenting Your Code
-
13. Scripting in Depth
- 13.1. Scripting the Control of Objects and Interface
- 13.2. Trapping for Errors
- 13.3. Scripts and Access Privileges
- 13.4. Automating the Automation
- 13.5. Harnessing the Power of Parameters, Results, and Variables
- 13.6. Dynamic and Indirect Controls in Scripts
- 13.7. Using Nonlinear Logic
- 13.8. Modular Script Code
- 13.9. Scripted Window Management
- 13.10. Scripting Data Import and Export
- 13.11. Pivoting Data between Tables
- 13.12. Going over Some Practical Examples
-
IV. Integrity and Security
-
14. In Control with FileMaker Security
- 14.1. Concepts of Security
- 14.2. The Privilege Set
- 14.3. Granular Security
- 14.4. User Authentication
- 14.5. Scripted Account Management
- 14.6. Creating a Custom Logout Option
- 14.7. How Much Security Is Enough?
- 14.8. The Importance of Physical File Security
- 14.9. Security in Deployment: FileMaker Server
- 15. Maintaining Referential Integrity
-
16. Making FileMaker Systems Fail-Safe
- 16.1. Expecting the Unexpected
- 16.2. A Comprehensive Approach to Error Trapping
- 16.3. Opening Remote Files
- 16.4. Temporary Edit Interface Techniques
- 16.5. Field Masking, Filtering, and Error Rejection
- 16.6. Built-In Logging Capabilities
- 16.7. Script Logging
- 16.8. Capturing User Edits in Detail
- 16.9. Managing the Accumulation of Log Data
- 16.10. Implementing Roll-Back Capabilities
- 16.11. Alternative Logging Approaches
- 17. Maintaining and Restoring Data
-
14. In Control with FileMaker Security
-
V. Raising the Bar
-
18. FileMaker Pro Advanced Features
- 18.1. Script Debugger
- 18.2. Data Viewer
- 18.3. Database Design Report
- 18.4. Creating Custom Menus
- 18.5. Custom Functions
- 18.6. Custom Functions and Recursion
- 18.7. Creating Runtime Applications
- 19. Efficient Code, Efficient Solutions
-
20. Extending FileMaker's Capabilities
- 20.1. External Scripting Calls
- 20.2. Rendering HTML and JavaScript
- 20.3. Web Viewer Widgets
- 20.4. FileMaker Plug-Ins
- 20.5. Web Deployment Options
- 20.6. Finding Third-Party Tools
-
18. FileMaker Pro Advanced Features
- VI. Appendixes
Product information
- Title: FileMaker® Pro 10 Bible
- Author(s):
- Release date: May 2009
- Publisher(s): Wiley
- ISBN: 9780470429006
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