Que using filemaker 8 special edition may 2006 ISBN 0789735121

SpecialEditionUsingFileMaker®8
BySteveLane,ScottLove,BobBowers
...............................................
Publisher:Que
PubDate:May12,2006
PrintISBN-10:0-7897-3512-1
PrintISBN-13:978-0-7897-3512-6
Pages:912

TableofContents|Index

Ifyou'relookingfortheinsidescooponthelatestversionofFileMaker,you'vecometothe
rightplace.AuthorsScottLoveandSteveLaneareFileMakerexpertswhowereinvolved
inthedevelopmentofFileMaker8,andtheybringthatknowledgetoyouinSpecialEdition
UsingFileMaker8.Frequenttips,casestudies,andthoroughexamplesshowyouhowto
avoidmistakesandsavetimeindevelopingdatabaseswithFileMaker8.Thisisthe
comprehensivereferencethateverydatabasedeveloperneedsontheirshelf.


SpecialEditionUsingFileMaker®8
BySteveLane,ScottLove,BobBowers
...............................................
Publisher:Que
PubDate:May12,2006
PrintISBN-10:0-7897-3512-1
PrintISBN-13:978-0-7897-3512-6
Pages:912

TableofContents|Index

Copyright
AbouttheAuthors
Acknowledgments
WeWanttoHearfromYou!
ReaderServices
Introduction
BestofThreeWorlds
HowThisBookIsOrganized
WhoShouldUseThisBook
PartI:GettingStartedwithFileMaker8
Chapter1.FileMakerOverview
FileMakerandItsMarketplace
IntroductiontoDatabaseSoftware
OverviewoftheFileMaker8ProductLine
FileMakerDeploymentOptions
What'sNewinFileMakerPro8
Chapter2.UsingFileMakerPro
GettingStarted

WorkinginFileMakerPro
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:BecomingaFileMakerProPowerUser
Chapter3.DefiningandWorkingwithFields
WorkingUndertheHood
WorkingwithFields

WorkingwithFieldTypes
AssigningFieldOptions
Troubleshooting

FileMakerExtra:IndexinginFileMaker
Chapter4.WorkingwithLayouts
What'saLayout?
CreatingandManagingLayouts
WorkingwithParts
WorkingwithObjectsonaLayout
WorkingwiththeTabControlObject
WorkingwithFields
Portals
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:DesigningCross-PlatformFriendlyLayouts
PartII:DevelopingSolutionswithFileMaker
Chapter5.RelationalDatabaseDesign
UnderstandingDatabaseDesign
DatabaseAnalysis
WorkingwithEntitiesandAttributes
UnderstandingRelationships
RelationshipOptionality
UnderstandingtheRoleofKeysinDatabaseDesign
Many-to-ManyRelationships:SolvingthePuzzle
TheBasicsofProcessAnalysis
FileMakerExtra:ComplexMany-to-ManyRelationships
Chapter6.WorkingwithMultipleTables
MultitableSystemsinFileMakerPro
CreatingaOne-to-ManyRelationshipinFileMaker
WorkingwithKeysandMatchFields
UnderstandingTableContext
WorkingwithRelatedData
CreatingaMany-to-ManyRelationship
RelationalIntegrity

RapidMultitableDevelopment
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:BuildingaThree-WayJoin
Chapter7.WorkingwithRelationships
RelationshipsGraphsandERDs
RelationshipsasQueries

CreatingSelf-Relationships
CreatingRangedRelationships
CreatingCross-ProductRelationships

WorkingwithDatafromDistantTables
WorkingwithMultipleFiles
HowandWhentoUseMultipleFiles
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:ManagingtheRelationshipsGraph
Chapter8.GettingStartedwithCalculations
UnderstandingHowandWhereCalculationsAreUsed
ExploringtheCalculationDialogBox
EssentialFunctions
UsingConditionalFunctions
AggregateFunctions
LearningAbouttheEnvironment
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:TipsforBecomingaCalculationMaster
Chapter9.GettingStartedwithScripting
ScriptsinFileMakerPro
CreatingScripts
CommonScriptingTopics
TriggeringScripts
WorkingwithButtonsonLayouts
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:CreatingaScriptLibrary
Chapter10.GettingStartedwithReporting
DerivingMeaningfromData
WorkingwithListsofData
SummarizedReports
DeliveringReports
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:IncorporatingReportsintotheWorkflow
PartIII:DeveloperTechniques

Chapter11.DevelopingforMultiuserDeployment
DevelopingforMultipleUsers
"Sessions"inFileMakerPro
Concurrency
AuditTrailsinFileMakerPro
LaunchFiles

Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:DevelopmentwithaTeam

Chapter12.ImplementingSecurity
ApproachingSecurity
User-LevelInternalSecurity
File-LevelAccessSecurity
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:WorkingwithMultipleFiles
Chapter13.AdvancedInterfaceTechniques
UserInterfacesinFileMakerPro
Navigation
MultiwindowInterfaces
WorkingwithCustomMenus
Showing/HidingLayoutElements
DedicatedFindLayouts
DataPresentation
WorkingwithTableView
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:UserInterfaceHeuristics
Chapter14.AdvancedCalculationTechniques
What'sanAdvancedCalculationTechnique?
LogicalFunctions
TextFormattingFunctions
ArrayFunctions
The"Filter"-ingFunctions
CustomFunctions
GetNthRecord
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:CreatingaCustomFunctionLibrary
Chapter15.AdvancedScriptingTechniques
WhatIsAdvancedScripting?
ScriptParametersandScriptResults

ScriptVariables
WindowManagementTechniques
GotoRelatedRecord
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:RecursiveScripts
Chapter16.AdvancedPortalTechniques
PortalsinFileMakerPro

PortalBasics
"NewRecordOnly"Relationships
HorizontalPortals
UsingPortalstoCreateCalendars
SelectionPortals

FilteredPortals
DynamicPortalSorting
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:PortalsandRecordLocking
Chapter17.DebuggingandTroubleshooting
WhatIsTroubleshooting?
StayingOutofTrouble
PlanningforTrouble
TroubleshootingScriptsandCalculations
TroubleshootinginSpecificAreas:Performance,Context,Connectivity,and
Globals
FileMaintenanceandRecovery
FileMakerExtra:OtherToolsoftheTrade
Chapter18.ConvertingSystemsfromPreviousVersionsofFileMakerPro
MigrationChoices
ConvertingFiles
Pre-ConversionTasks
Post-ConversionTasks
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:ConvertingWeb-EnabledDatabases
PartIV:DataIntegrationandPublishing
Chapter19.ImportingDataintoFileMakerPro
WorkingwithExternalData
Flat-FileDataSources
ImportingMultipleFilesfromaFolder
ImportingPhotosfromaDigitalCamera
ImportingfromanODBCDataSource
ImportingfromanXMLDataSource
UsingaScripttoImportData
Troubleshooting

FileMakerExtra:ExploitingtheFileMaker-to-FileMakerImport
Chapter20.ExportingDatafromFileMaker
GettingOutWhatYouPutIn
TheBasicMechanicsofExporting

ExportFileFormats
FormattingExportedData
ExportingRelatedFields
ExportingGroupedData
ExportingtoFixed-WidthFormats

WorkingwithLargeFieldsandContainerFields
ScriptedExports
AccessingFileMakerDataUsingODBCandJDBC
UsingFileMakerProasanODBCClient
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:AccessingFileMakerDataviaJDBC
Chapter21.InstantWebPublishing
AnOverviewofInstantWebPublishing
EnablingandConfiguringIWP
DesigningforIWPDeployment
UsinganIWPSolution
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:BuildingYourOwnNextandPreviousPageButtons
Chapter22.FileMakerandWebServices
AboutWebServices
FileMakerandXML
TransformingXML
XMLImport:UnderstandingWebServices
WorkingwithWebServices
UsingFileMakerasaWebServicesSource
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:WriteYourOwnWebServices
Chapter23.CustomWebPublishing
AboutCustomWebPublishing
CustomWebPublishingVersusInstantWebPublishing
CustomWebPublishingVersusXMLExport
GettingYourDatabasesReadyforCustomWebPublishing
SettingUptheServer-SideComponentsforCWP
PublishingFileMakerDataasXML
UsingXSLTwithCustomWebPublishing

BuildingWebApplicationswithXSLT-CWP
OtherCustomWebPublishingCommandsandParameters
AbouttheFileMakerXSLTExtensions
AboutSessions

Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:AbouttheCustomWebPublishingTools
PartV:DeployingaFileMakerSolution
Chapter24.DeployingandExtendingFileMaker
FileMakerDeploymentOptions
SingleUser
Peer-to-PeerHosting
FileMakerServer

WebPublishing
ODBC/JDBC
Citrix/TerminalServices
RuntimeSolutions
DeployingtoHandheldDevices
CustomizedDeploymentOptions
Plug-ins
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:TheLimitsofCustomization
Chapter25.FileMakerServerandServerAdvanced
AboutFileMakerServer
InstallingFileMakerServer
RunningFileMakerServer
UsingtheServerAdministrationTool
ConfiguringandAdministeringFileMakerServerUsingtheSAT
ManagingClients
ManagingDatabases
AdministrationfromtheCommandLine
WorkingwithExternalServices
AutomaticallyUpdatingPlug-ins
ScheduledTasks
MonitoringFileMakerServer
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:BestPracticesChecklist
Chapter26.FileMakerMobile
FileMakerMobile8Overview
UsingFileMakerMobileonYourHandheldDevice
SynchronizingwithaFileMakerDatabase
Troubleshooting
FileMakerExtra:PublishingRelatedData

Chapter27.DocumentingYourFileMakerSolutions
WhyIsDocumentationImportant?
DevelopingNamingConventions
UsingCommentsEffectively
DocumentingtheRelationshipsGraph
UsingtheDatabaseDesignReport
UsingThird-PartyDocumentationTools

PuttingtheFinishingTouchesonYourDocumentation
FinalThoughtsonDocumentation
FileMakerExtra:SoliantDevelopmentStandards
Index


Copyright
SPECIALEDITIONUSINGFILEMAKER®8
Copyright©2006byQuePublishing
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookshallbereproduced,
storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmittedbyanymeans,
electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise,
withoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher.Nopatent
liabilityisassumedwithrespecttotheuseoftheinformation
containedherein.Althougheveryprecautionhasbeentakenin
thepreparationofthisbook,thepublisherandauthorassume
noresponsibilityforerrorsoromissions.Norisanyliability
assumedfordamagesresultingfromtheuseoftheinformation
containedherein.
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:2006920311
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
FirstPrinting:May2006
090807064321

Trademarks
Alltermsmentionedinthisbookthatareknowntobe
trademarksorservicemarkshavebeenappropriately
capitalized.QuePublishingcannotattesttotheaccuracyofthis
information.Useofaterminthisbookshouldnotberegarded
asaffectingthevalidityofanytrademarkorservicemark.

FileMakerisaregisteredtrademarkofFileMaker,Inc.


WarningandDisclaimer
Everyefforthasbeenmadetomakethisbookascompleteand
asaccurateaspossible,butnowarrantyorfitnessisimplied.
Theinformationprovidedisonan"asis"basis.Theauthorsand
thepublishershallhaveneitherliabilitynorresponsibilitytoany
personorentitywithrespecttoanylossordamagesarising
fromtheinformationcontainedinthisbookorfromtheuseof
theDVDorprogramsaccompanyingit.

BulkSales
QuePublishingoffersexcellentdiscountsonthisbookwhen
orderedinquantityforbulkpurchasesorspecialsales.For
moreinformation,pleasecontact
U.S.CorporateandGovernmentSales
1-800-382-3419

ForsalesoutsidetheUnitedStates,pleasecontact
InternationalSales

AssociatePublisherGregWiegand
AcquisitionsEditorStephanieJ.McComb
DevelopmentEditorLauraNorman
ManagingEditorCharlotteClapp
ProjectEditorTonyaSimpson
CopyEditorCheriClark
IndexerKenJohnson
ProofreaderMikeHenry

TechnicalEditorJayWelshofer
PublishingCoordinatorSharryLeeGregory
MultimediaDeveloperDanScherf
BookDesignerAnneJones
PageLayoutBronkellaPublishingEricMiller

Dedication
TomycrewoutintheWildWest...withoutallofyou,each
ofyou(eventhecurmudgeons!),I'dbelost.You'rean
amazinggroupofcolleaguesandI'mgratefulwe'rehere
buildingacompanytogether.
ScottLove
ToSigne,Erlend,andRona:Iguessthisdoesn'tquite
countas"neveragain"?
SteveLane
ToEleanor,mynewprojectmanagementchallenge.
BobBowers


AbouttheAuthors
SteveLanehasworkedwithrelationaldatabasesfor16years.
HehaswrittenforFileMakerAdvisormagazineandco-authored
twootherbooks,AdvancedFileMakerPro6WebDevelopment
andSpecialEditionUsingFileMaker7,aswellasthisbook's
companionvolume,FileMaker8FunctionsandScriptsDesk
Reference.HeisafoundingpartnerwithSoliantConsultingand
hasledtrainingclassesinFileMakertechnologiesalloverthe
country,bothinopensessionsandinonsiteclient

engagements.HeregularlyspeaksattheannualFileMaker
Developer'sConference,wherein2003hewasawardedthe
FileMakerFellowshipAwardfor"pushingtheboundariesof
FileMakerPro."
ScottLovehasbeenworkingwithFileMakerformorethana
decade.HeisoneoffourfoundingpartnersatSoliant
Consulting,acompanydedicatedtocustomsoftware
development;isaspeakerattheFileMakerDeveloper's
Conference;andisanAuthorizedFileMakerTrainer.Heserved
atMacUser/MacWEEKasanonlinemanagingeditor,andat
AppleComputerasitsWebPublishingTechnologyEvangelist,
followedbydirectingtheTechnicalMarketingteamat
Macromedia.Hehaswrittendozensoffeatureandreview
articlesonFileMakerandInternet/webtopicsandco-authored
SpecialEditionUsingFileMakerPro7,aswellasthisbook's
companionvolume,FileMaker8FunctionsandScriptsDesk
Reference.
BobBowers,CEOofSoliantConsulting,isacolumnistand
contributingeditorforFileMakerAdvisormagazineandhascoauthoredthreeotherbooks:AdvancedFileMakerPro5.5
TechniquesforDevelopers,AdvancedFileMakerPro6Web
Development,andSpecialEditionUsingFileMakerPro7.Atthe
2002FileMakerDeveloper'sConference,whereheisaperennial


speaker,hewasawardedtheFileMakerFellowshipAwardfor
"developingoutstandingtechnicalandeducationalresourcesfor
FileMaker."


Acknowledgments

Thisbookcouldnotexistwereitnotforthehardworkand
supportofourcolleaguesandfriends.Writingitwouldhave
beenimpossibleotherwise,andwe'dliketoshareourgratitude
withthosewhohavetoiledwithus.
Firstoff,StephanieMcCombatQuePublishinggaveusan
impossibletasksomemonthsago:Sheaskedthatweupdate
SpecialEditionUsingFileMaker7fortheupcomingreleaseof
FileMaker8andthatwecutitslengthby10%.Fullofpluck,we
suggestedanalternative:Allowustoadd50%andcreatetwo
booksinstead.Theresultwasthis(slimmer)book,alongwith
thecompanionFileMaker8FunctionsandScriptsDesk
Reference.We'redeeplygratefultoStephanieforturningwhat
startedasalongshotintoreality.
TherestoftheteamatQuePublishingisnolessdeservingof
thanks.It'sourdeeppleasuretoworkwithdevelopmenteditor
LauraNormanagain;hergoodhumorandsteadywisdom
provideastrengthofsupportthatcannotbeoverstated.Tonya
Simpson,ourprojecteditor,andCheriClark,ourcopyeditor,
haveworkedthroughourdensematerialdiligently,and
contributedcountlessimprovementstoourwork.It'san
immeasurablereliefthatthey'vebeenbyoursidethroughthis
wholeprocess.
Takingapagefromourownworkinsoftwaredevelopment,
MickeyBurnsjoinedourteamasaprojectmanagerwhofound
aperfectblendbetweenbullyingandbabyingashehelpedus
through(andattimespast)eachdeadline.LizKinsella,July
Belber,andWillDanfordputintirelesshourspullingtogether
demofiles,screenshots,facts,andfigures.JanJunglenther
tremendousdesignskills.CarlosRamirezmadevitaltechnical
contributions,especiallytotheMobilechapter.

Noacknowledgmentwouldbecompletewithoutmentioningall
theworkourfriendsatFileMaker,Inc.,dotomakeeverythingin
ourcareerspossible.FileMaker8isafantasticsuiteofproducts
andwe'reterrificallyexcitedbythecontinuedpromisethe
FileMakerplatformshows.
Finally,we'dliketothanksomeofthefolksatFileMakerfrom
whomwe'velearnedagreatdeal,andwhomit'sourpleasureto
knowandworkwith:JayWelshofer,ourtechnicaleditor,along
withAndyLecates,BillHeizer,andTonyMillerallhave
contributedtothisworkandtoourunderstandingofFileMaker,
inwayslargeandsmall,andit'sourpleasuretohavetheir
supportandadvice.




WeWanttoHearfromYou!
Asthereaderofthisbook,youareourmostimportantcritic
andcommentator.Wevalueyouropinionandwanttoknow
whatwe'redoingright,whatwecoulddobetter,whatareas
you'dliketoseeuspublishin,andanyotherwordsofwisdom
you'rewillingtopassourway.
AsanassociatepublisherforQuePublishing,Iwelcomeyour
comments.Youcanemailorwritemedirectlytoletmeknow
whatyoudidordidn'tlikeaboutthisbookaswellaswhatwe
candotomakeourbooksbetter.
PleasenotethatIcannothelpyouwithtechnicalproblems
relatedtothetopicofthisbook.WedohaveaUserServices

group,however,whereIwillforwardspecifictechnical
questionsrelatedtothebook.
Whenyouwrite,pleasebesuretoincludethisbook'stitleand
authoraswellasyourname,emailaddress,andphonenumber.
Iwillcarefullyreviewyourcommentsandsharethemwiththe
authorandeditorswhoworkedonthebook.

Email:



Mail:

GregWiegand
AssociatePublisher
QuePublishing
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ReaderServices
Visitourwebsiteandregisterthisbookat
www.quepublishing.com/registerforconvenientaccesstoany
updates,downloads,orerratathatmightbeavailableforthis
book.




Introduction

Inthisintroduction
BestofThreeWorlds2
HowThisBookIsOrganized2




BestofThreeWorlds
WelcometotheworldofFileMakerPro.Bysimplybrowsing
throughthisbook,you'resuretohaveheardtheword
database.We'llcoverwhatdatabasesareadnauseaminthe
restofthisbook,butoneofthefirstthingsyou'llneedto
understandaboutFileMakerProisthatitisfarmorethanjusta
databaseapplication.
FileMakerProisnearlyuniqueintheworldofsoftware.Itisa
powerfuldatabasesystemthatcanmanageandstoreawide
rangeofinformation;it'sanapplicationforendusers(like
MicrosoftExcelorIntuit'sQuicken);andit'salsoarobustrapid
applicationsoftwaredevelopmentplatform.
WhenyouhearsomeonespeakaboutFileMaker,keepinmind
theymaybeviewingitfromanyoneofthesedifferent
perspectives.AnITprofessionallikelyseesFileMakerasa
databaseenginethatfitsintoalargersecurityandnetwork
infrastructure.Anenduserisprobablythinkingaboutaspecific
solutionbuiltinFileMakerProandhowthatsolutionhelps(or
doesn'thelp)makeherworkmoreefficient.Asoftware
developermayseeFileMakerasoneofmanytoolsheemploys
inbuildingawiderangeofapplications.
Ourpreviousbook,SpecialEditionUsingFileMaker7,waswell
received,butwedidhearoneconsistentconcern;namely,that

thebookwasfelttobetooadvancedbysomereaders.Sowe'll
trytobeclearonouraimsupfront.Thisbookwaswrittenwith
aneyetowardtheFileMakerdevelopercommunity.Ifyou'rean
ITprofessionalwhosupportsFileMakerapplications,you'll
probablyfindafewchapters(suchastheoneonFileMaker
Server)tobeofinterest.Ifyou'remostlyinterestedinlearning
howtousetheessentialfeaturesoftheFileMakerapplication,
though,thisbookmaynotbeforyou.Althoughwe'veincluded
someintroductorychaptersinordertobeascomprehensiveas


possible,we'vechosentofocusonanaudiencethatweassume
islargelyfamiliarwiththeessentialoperationsofFileMaker
already,andisinterestedmostlyintopicsforthebeginningto
advanceddeveloper.
Wehavealsowrittenacompanionwork,FileMaker8Functions
andScriptsDeskReference.Asareference,itismeanttobe
useddailyasdeveloperslookupfunctionsyntax,refreshtheir
memoriesonhowspecificscriptstepswork,peruseuseful
customfunctions,oruncoverwhataspecificerrorcodemeans.
Eachbookisintendedtocomplementtheother,butthetwoare
notinterdependent.Someofthefeedbackwereceivedfor
SpecialEditionUsingFileMaker7notedthatitcombinedboth
referencematerialanddeeper,conceptualtopicsandwas
perhapsservingtwoaudiences.Inthisupdatedversionof
SpecialEditionUsingFileMaker8,we'vefocusedonthe
explorationofvariousdevelopmenttopics,andleftthe
referencematerialtoourcompanionvolume.

HowThisBookIsOrganized
SpecialEditionUsingFileMaker8isdividedintofiveparts,
organizedintosomethinglikeatree.PartI,"GettingStarted
withFileMaker8,"andPartII,"DevelopingSolutionswith
FileMaker,"constitutethe"trunk"ofthetree;theycover
fundamentalmaterialthatwerecommendeveryoneread.If
you'refamiliarwithpreviousversionsofFileMaker,youmay
needonlytoglancethroughPartI,butwestillrecommendyou
readPartIIcarefully.
Subsequentpartsbranchoutfromthisbase.PartIII,
"DeveloperTechniques,"focusesonusingFileMaker'sfeatures
todevelopcomplete,robustdatabaseapplications.PartIV,
"DataIntegrationandPublishing,"coversgettingdataintoand
outofFileMaker.AndPartV,"DeployingaFileMakerSolution,"
coversoptionsformakingaFileMakersolutionaccessibleto
others.
ThefivepartsofSpecialEditionUsingFileMaker8,andthe
topicstheycover,aredescribedinthefollowingsections.

PartI:"GettingStartedwithFileMaker8"
ThechaptersinPartIintroduceyoutoFileMakeranditsuses
andfeatures,andgetyoustartedwiththebasicsofdefining
databases.
Chapter1,"FileMakerOverview,"situatesFileMakerPro
withinthewiderworldofdatabaseandproductivity
software.ItprovidesanoverviewofthenewFileMaker8
productline,andmentionsthemostimportantnewfeatures
inFileMaker8.Thischapterisappropriatebothforthose
whoarenewtoFileMakerProandforthosewhohaveused

previousversionsandwantaquicktourofthemajor
innovations.
Chapter2,"UsingFileMakerPro,"isintendedasan
introductiontothesoftwarefromtheperspectiveofa
databaseuserratherthanadatabasedeveloper.We
introducethemajorcomponentsandfunctionsofthe
FileMakerinterface,suchastheStatusArea,layouts,
FileMaker'smodes,andthebasicsofrecordcreation,
editing,anddeletion.NotethatFileMakerPro8hasadded
significantend-userfunctionalitytotheproductline.
Chapter3,"DefiningandWorkingwithFields,"providesa
thoroughoverviewofallofFileMaker'sfieldtypesandfield
options,includinglookups,validation,storagetypes,and
indexing.Thischapterisintendedtohelplaythe
groundworkfortalkingaboutdatabasedevelopment,andto
serveasathoroughreferenceonFileMakerfieldtypesand
options.
Chapter4,"WorkingwithLayouts,"coversallofFileMaker's
layout-buildingoptionsindetail.Wecoverallaspectsof
layoutbuilding,andofferguidelinesforquickerandmore
efficientlayoutwork.

PartII:"DevelopingSolutionswithFileMaker"
PartIIisintendedtointroduceyoutothefundamental
techniquesofdatabaseapplicationdevelopmentusingFileMaker
ProandFileMakerProAdvanced.Chapters5through7cover
thetheoryandpracticeofdesigningandbuildingdatabase
systemswithmultipledatatables.Chapters8through10
introduceyoutofoundationalconceptsinapplicationand

reportinglogic.


Chapter5,"RelationalDatabaseDesign,"introducesyouto
relationaldatabasedesignconcepts.Weproceedbyworking
"onpaper,"withoutspecificreferencetoFileMaker,and
introduceyoutothefundamentalvocabularyand
techniquesofrelationaldatabasedesign(keysand
relationships)throughaseriesofmodelingexercisesbased
onfictionalbusinessandorganizationalproblems.
Chapter6,"WorkingwithMultipleTables,"beginsthetask
oftranslatingthegenericdatabasedesignconceptsof
Chapter5intospecificFileMakertechniques.Weshowhow
totranslateapaperdiagramintoanactualFileMakertable
structure.Weshowhowtomodeldifferentrelationship
typesinFileMakerusingmultipledatatables,andhowto
createfieldsthatfunctioneffectivelyasrelationalkeys.
Chapter7,"WorkingwithRelationships,"buildsonthe
conceptsofChapter6.RatherthanfocusingonFileMaker's
relationshipsfromthestandpointofdatabasedesign,we
focusontheirpracticalimplementationinFileMaker
programming.Welookindetailatthenewcapabilitiesof
FileMaker8,anddiscussnonequalityjoinconditions,file
references,andsomestrategiesfororganizingamultitable
system.
Chapter8,"GettingStartedwithCalculations,"introduces
FileMaker'scalculationengine.Thechapterdelvesintothe
majortypesofFileMakercalculations.Wecoveranumberof
themostimportantfunctions,anddiscussgeneral
strategiesandtechniquesforwritingcalculations.

Chapter9,"GettingStartedwithScripting,"introduces
FileMaker'sscriptingengine.Liketheprecedingchapter,this
onecoversthefundamentalsofanimportantskillfor
FileMakerdevelopers.Wecoversomecommonscripting
techniquesandshowhowtouseevent-drivenscriptstoadd


interactivitytoauserinterface.
Chapter10,"GettingStartedwithReporting,"illustratesthe
fundamentaltechniquesofFileMakerProreporting,suchas
listviewsandsubsummaryreports,aswellassomemore
advancedsubsummarytechniques,andsomedesign
techniquesforimprovingthelookandusabilityofyour
reportinglayouts.

PartIII:"DeveloperTechniques"
ThechaptersinPartIIIdelvedeeperintoindividualtopicsin
advancedFileMakerapplicationdevelopment.Webuildon
earlierchaptersbyexploringmorecomplexusesofportals,
calculations,andscripts.Wealsoofferchaptersthathelpyou
readyyourFileMakersolutionsformultiuserdeployment,and
weexaminethestill-importantissueofconversionfrom
previousversions.
Chapter11,"DevelopingforMultiuserDeployment,"
explorestheissuesandchallengesofdesigningFileMaker
systemsthatwillbeusedbyseveralormanypeopleat
once.WediscusshowFileMakerhandlesconcurrentaccess
todataanddiscusstheconceptofusersessions.
Chapter12,"ImplementingSecurity,"isathorough
overviewoftheFileMaker8securitymodel.Wecoverthe

role-basedAccountsfeature,ExtendedPrivileges,andmany
ofthecomplexitiesofserver-basedexternalauthentication
(againstWindowsorMacOSuserdirectories,forexample).
Chapter13,"AdvancedInterfaceTechniques,"provides
detailedexplanationsofanumberofmorecomplex,applied
techniquesforworkingwithlayoutsanddatapresentation