FileMaker Pro 14: The Missing Manual

by Susan Prosser, Stuart Gripman

Overview

You don’t need a technical background to build powerful databases with FileMaker Pro 14. This crystal-clear, objective guide shows you how to create a database that lets you do almost anything with your data so you can quickly achieve your goals. Whether you’re creating catalogs, managing inventory and billing, or planning a wedding, you’ll learn how to customize your database to run on a PC, Mac, web browser, or iOS device.

The important stuff you need to know:

• Dive into relational data. Solve problems quickly by connecting and combining data from different tables.
• Create professional documents. Publish reports, charts, invoices, catalogs, and other documents with ease.
• Access data anywhere. Use FileMaker Go on your iPad or iPhone—or share data on the Web.
• Harness processing power. Use new calculation and scripting tools to crunch numbers, search text, and automate tasks.
• Run your database on a secure server. Learn the high-level features of FileMaker Pro Advanced.
• Keep your data safe. Set privileges and allow data sharing with FileMaker’s streamlined security features.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781491917480
Publisher:	O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/23/2015
Pages:	970
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.20(h) x 2.10(d)

About the Author

Susan Prosser is a reformed journalist who's stopped trying to bring information to the people and now helps them manage the data they already have. She is a FileMaker Certified Developer and has developed FileMaker databases for 12 years, and also trains and writes curricula for other developers.

Stuart Gripman is the founder of Crooked Arm Corp, a full-service FileMaker Pro consulting and development firm based in Berkeley, California. A FileMaker Certified Developer, he has written for both Macworld and MacLife.

Table of Contents

The Missing Credits; About the Authors; About the Creative Team; Acknowledgments; The Missing Manual Series; Introduction; Why FileMaker Pro?; About This Book; Macintosh and Windows; About the Outline; What’s New in FileMaker Pro 14; The Very Basics; About the Online Resources; Safari® Books Online; Part 1: Getting Started with FileMaker Pro; Chapter 1: Working with Your Database; 1.1 A Very Quick Database Tour; 1.2 Opening and Closing Database Files; 1.3 Adding Data to Your Database; 1.4 Navigating Your Database; 1.5 Finding Records; 1.6 Sorting Records; 1.7 Same Database, Different Views; 1.8 Saving Your Database; 1.9 Using FileMaker’s Help Menu; Chapter 2: Organizing and Editing Records; 2.1 Views; 2.2 Advanced Find Techniques; 2.3 Editing the Contents of Your Fields; 2.4 Changing Text Appearance; 2.5 Checking Spelling; 2.6 Preview Mode and Printing; Chapter 3: Getting to Know FileMaker Go; 3.1 Hello Go; Part 2: Building Your First Database; Chapter 4: Creating a Custom Database; 4.1 Creating a New Database; 4.2 Creating and Managing Fields in Form View; 4.3 Understanding Layouts; 4.4 Customizing a Layout; 4.5 Creating a New Layout; 4.6 Arrange and Align Tools; Chapter 5: Adding Power to Your Database; 5.1 Creating a Simple Calculation; 5.2 Creating a Related Table; 5.3 Creating and Using Portals; 5.4 Using Tab Controls; 5.5 Adding Merge Fields; 5.6 Writing a Basic Script; 5.7 Creating a Dynamic Report with the Assistant; 5.8 Creating a Trailing Group Report; 5.9 Creating Charts in Table View; 5.10 Changing the Default Account; 5.11 Summing Up; Part 3: Thinking Like a Developer; Chapter 6: Creating and Managing a Relational Database; 6.1 Understanding Relational Databases; 6.2 Modeling Your Database; 6.3 Creating a Relational Database; 6.4 Using Relational Database Power; 6.5 Lookups; 6.6 Reviewing Relationship Concepts; Chapter 7: Field Options; 7.1 Understanding Field Types; 7.2 Auto-Enter Field Options; 7.3 Validation Options; 7.4 Storage Options; 7.5 Beyond Text: Container Fields; Chapter 8: Layout Mechanics; 8.1 Layout Types; 8.2 Layout Parts; 8.3 Formatting Fields; 8.4 Field Behavior; 8.5 Data Formatting; 8.6 Tab Order; 8.7 Creating Layouts for Printing; Chapter 9: Layout Design; 9.1 Layout Themes; 9.2 Styles; 9.3 Formatting Object States; 9.4 Alignment Tools; 9.5 Screen Stencils; 9.6 Merge Fields; 9.7 Merge Variables; 9.8 Tooltips; 9.9 Autosizing; 9.10 Buttons; 9.11 Slide Controls; Chapter 10: Understanding Calculations; 10.1 Understanding Calculations; 10.2 Using a Related Field in a Calculation; 10.3 Understanding the Specify Calculation Dialog Box; 10.4 Auto-Enter Calculations; 10.5 Validate Data Entry with a Calculation; 10.6 Commenting in Calculations; Chapter 11: More Calculations and Data Types; 11.1 Number Crunching Calculations; 11.2 Going Beyond Basic Calculations; 11.3 Text Calculations; 11.4 Date and Time Calculations; 11.5 Containers in Calculations; Chapter 12: Understanding Scripts; 12.1 Understanding Scripts; 12.2 Your First Script; 12.3 Shortcuts to the Script Workspace; 12.4 The Importance of the Layout; 12.5 Running Scripts; 12.6 Organizing Your Scripts; 12.7 Branching and Looping in Scripts; 12.8 Script Triggers; Chapter 13: Exploring Script Steps; 13.1 Go to Layout; 13.2 Go to Object; 13.3 Scripting for Fields; 13.4 Working with Records; 13.5 Finding Records; 13.6 Sorting Records; 13.7 Working with Windows; 13.8 Working with Files; 13.9 Printing; 13.10 Working with FileMaker Go; 13.11 Other Script Steps; Part 4: Becoming a Power Developer; Chapter 14: Applying Developer Utilities; 14.1 Copying Database Structure; 14.2 Script Debugger; 14.3 The Data Viewer; 14.4 Disable Script Steps; 14.5 The Database Design Report; 14.6 Custom Functions; 14.7 Custom Menus; 14.8 Developer Utilities; 14.9 File Maintenance; Chapter 15: Advanced Relationship Techniques; 15.1 Advanced Relationships; 15.2 Portal Filtering; 15.3 Understanding Table Occurrences; 15.4 Table Occurrence Groups; 15.5 Understanding Graph Arrangements; 15.6 Connecting Database Files; 15.7 Using Multiple Relationship Techniques; Chapter 16: Reporting and Analysis; 16.1 Summary Fields and Subsummary Parts; 16.2 Web Viewer Objects; 16.3 Conditional Formatting; 16.4 Basic Charting; 16.5 Chart Formatting; 16.6 Charting and Reports; 16.7 Advanced Charting; Chapter 17: Advanced Calculations; 17.1 Understanding Boolean Functions; 17.2 Using Storage Options; 17.3 Logical Functions; 17.4 The Let() Function and Variables; 17.5 Recursion; 17.6 Plug-Ins; Chapter 18: Advanced Scripting; 18.1 Commenting Scripts; 18.2 Communicating with Database Users; 18.3 Creating Modular Scripts; 18.4 Script Parameters; 18.5 Script Variables; 18.6 Handling Errors; 18.7 Advanced Script Triggers; 18.8 Putting a Complex Script Together; Part 5: Security and Integration; Chapter 19: Adding Security; 19.1 How Security Works; 19.2 Managing Accounts; 19.3 Managing Privilege Sets; 19.4 Extended Privileges; 19.5 Managing External File Access; 19.6 Scripts and Security; Chapter 20: Sharing Data Using FileMaker Server; 20.1 Understanding Database Sharing; 20.2 FileMaker Network Sharing; 20.3 Setting Up a Host Computer; 20.4 Opening a Shared File; 20.5 FileMaker Server; 20.6 Server Hardware; Chapter 21: Sharing Data with WebDirect and FileMaker Go; 21.1 Understanding WebDirect; 21.2 Enabling WebDirect in a Database; 21.3 Opening a Database in FileMaker Go; 21.4 Designing for WebDirect and FileMaker Go; 21.5 Designing for Go; 21.6 Designing for WebDirect; 21.7 Sharing Databases on the Internet without WebDirect; Chapter 22: Sharing Data with Other Systems; 22.1 Sharing Your Data with Others; 22.2 Snapshot Link; 22.3 External SQL Sources; 22.4 Exporting Data; 22.5 Importing Data; 22.6 Import Data Sources; 22.7 Importing and Exporting in a Script; Part 6: Appendixes; Getting Help; Getting Help from FileMaker Pro; FileMaker’s Installed Extras; Getting Help from the Community; Layout Badges; Using the Insert Commands with Container Fields; Notes; FileMaker Error Codes;