FileMaker Pro 5 Advanced for Windows and Macintosh

Cynthia L. Baron wrote Creating a Digital Portfolio and co-authored Windows for Mac Users and Web Animation for Dummies. A designer and typographer, she teaches computer-related design courses at Northeastern University in Boston. Daniel Peck has been using FileMaker Pro since its first release to create contact and mailing-list management for the graphic design industry and non-profit community, permissions systems for publishers, and other customized business applications. His clients include Encyclopedia Britannica, Wine Spectator, Lippincott & Margulies, The Performing Arts Center of New Jersey, New Directions Publishing, and Living Traditions, Inc.

1. About FileMaker Pro 5.0.


FileMaker 5.0: Highlights of New Features. FileMaker 5.0 Editions. About Upgrading to FileMaker 5.0. Using This Book.



2. Organizing Data Efficiently.


About Relational Databases. Gathering Information. Creating a Field List. Developing a Data Structure Strategy. Creating a Data Structure Chart. Field Design Tactics. Implementing Relationships. Testing Your Database.



3. Layout Enhancements.


Usability, Legibility, and Logical Grouping. Cross-Platform Issues. Using Graphic Text. Formatting Elements as Buttons. Reusing Graphics. Entering Data in a Standard Layout. Creating and Formatting Value Lists. Validating Formats with Value Lists. Working with Conditional Value Lists. Using Calculated Field Labels. Creating Field Masks. Copying Layouts.



4. Calculation Fields.


Merging Fields Using Calculations. Formatting Labels or Envelopes. Formatting Form Letter Modules. Augmenting a Form Letter.



5. Creating Data Reports.


Using Search Operators. Creating an “Inverted” Search. Creating Summary Layout Parts. Using Counts and Averages. Creating Running Totals. Creating Sub-summary Reports. Sorting Data for Sub-summary Reports. Exporting Summary Data.



6. Creating Relationships.


About Relationships. Creating a Match Field in a Master File. Lookup vs. Related Fields. Using a Match Field to Choose a Related Record. Using Calculated Match Fields. Field Formatting with a Calculated Match Field. About Repeating vs. Related Fields. About Portals. Sorting Data in Portals. Summarizing Related Data. About Self-Relationships. Using a Portal for Navigation. Searching for Self-Relationship Data. Creating a Lookup with a Self-Relationship.



7. Creating Simple Scripts.


Planning a Simple Script. Storing Settings Before Scripting. Using ScriptMaker. Creating a Basic Script. Creating Sub-Scripts. Combining Sub-Scripts. Retaining Multiple Settings in a Script. Using Sub-scripts for Multiple Export Settings. Adding Comments to a Script. Using External Scripts.



8. Working with Conditional Script Steps.


About Conditional Steps. Using the If Command. Using If with Else. About Status Functions. Using Status Functions with If Steps. Using Loop in a Script. Using Counters to Control Loops. Controlling Scripts with User Input. Customizing Documents with If Steps.



9. Extending the Interface with Scripts.


Making a Find Layout with a Script. Creating Script Buttons. Deleting Records in a Related File. Creating a Main Menu Layout. Linking to the Main Menu. Running Scripts from Fields. Creating Interactive Error Messages.



10. Script Troubleshooting.


Testing Finished Scripts. Fixing Typical Errors. Creating an Error Trap Script. Debugging Scripts. Printing Scripts. Changing and Adapting Scripts.



11. FileMaker and Other Programs.


Using Scripts to Send Email. Using Scripts to Send Bulk Email. Using a Script to Open URLs. Exporting Data to Static HTML Tables. Exporting Formatted Text. Using Excel Data in FileMaker. Working with ODBC. Sharing Databases Using ODBC. Using AppleScript with FileMaker Scripting.



12. Data Importing and Repairing.


Migrating to FileMaker 5.0. Importing Data from Other Sources. Cleaning Up Text Data Before Importing. Finding and Eliminating Duplicates. Importing Data without Duplications. Troubleshooting Problem Data. Replacing Inconsistent Formatting. Separating Parts of Data.



13. Multi-User Files on a Network.


Setting Network Protocols. Setting Up Multi-User Files. Hiding Related Files. Creating an Opening Script. Accessing Databases Over the Internet. Testing Scripts for Access Problems.



14. Using FileMaker Pro Server.


Hosting Files on FileMaker Server. Optimizing Server Settings. Setting Up a Usage Log. Managing Server Remotely.



15. Web Publishing.


Instant Web Publishing. Configuring Databases for Web Access. Choosing a Layout Style. Tracking Activity and Access. Accessing a File with a Browser. Enabling Remote Administration. Restricting Database Access. Creating a Custom Home Page. Creating a Guest Book. Testing Your Web Database. About Custom Web Publishing. Setting Up Custom Web Publishing. Creating a Template Format File. Prompting User Input with CDML. Providing Visitor Feedback. Searching for Data with CDML. Editing Data with CDML. Browsing Records. Using the Web Security Database. XML and JDBC. FM Developer's Edition.



Appendix A: FileMaker and Third-Party Software.


Appendix B: FileMaker Resources.


Index.