FileMaker Pro Introduction

This 2-day Introduction course helps you learn about the tools and features available in FileMaker Pro. We will help you understand how this industry-leading program takes database management to a new level. We will guide you in learning the work area, and then move on to showing you how to create your own database with its own custom fields. Together, we will discuss the concept of 'relationships' in databases, as well as covering issues relating to database security and access privileges.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Navigate the FileMaker Pro environment
• Define field formats and database tables
• Create and modify design layouts
• Add data, sort data, and delete data
• Import and export data
• Understand the scripting interface
• Produce database reports

The following is a general outline. The range of topics covered during your training is dependent upon student level, time available and preferences of your course booking.

• Understanding database terms and concepts opening and browsing a FileMaker Pro database
• Different working modes and data views
• Menus and tools
• FileMaker Pro version compatibility

• Entering and deleting data in a record
• Adding new records
• Copying and pasting data and using view index
• Deleting and sorting records
• Finding data using multiple search requests and search
• Operators for more complex searching omitting records from a found set
• Previewing and printing records
• Importing data
• New Table Import features

• Planning the database
• Different field types
• Field options such as auto-entry, validation and storage
• Creating value lists for a field
• Renaming and duplicating fields
• Adding calculation and summary fields
• Importing data from text/spreadsheet files and other FM Pro databases
• Integration with Microsoft Office
• How FileMaker Pro saves information

• Creating new Form and Columnar list layouts
• Using the layout tools
• Aligning elements accurately and sliding items
• Formatting fields on the layout
• Setting the field tab order
• Adding text and graphics to the layout
• New Field & Object Alignment Tools
• Adding header and footer parts
• Creating summary layouts
• Creating envelope and label layouts
• Adding buttons to a layout
• Linking commands to buttons

• Relational vs flat file databases
• File lookups or related fields
• Creating relationships between files
• Setting relationship behaviour
• Adding lookup properties to fields
• Using fields from related databases in a layout
• Creating and using portals on a layout

• About ScriptMaker
• Understanding the power and scope of scripts
• Modifying scripts
• Creating simple finding and sorting scripts
• Importing scripts from other databases
• Linking scripts to buttons
• Using sub-scripts and scripts from other files
• Creating conditional scripts

• Multi-user database sharing on a network
• Publishing FileMaker Pro databases on the Internet or an intranet
• Configuring Browser options Styles, data views, search
• Layouts and sort behaviour
• Controlling access privileges

• Append to PDF for data reporting
• Send Link feature for database sharing
• Conditional Formatting of Fields
• FileMaker Web Viewer
• FileMaker Learning Center
• Visual Spell checks