Contents
Introduction Welcome to FileMaker 12
I Getting Started with FileMaker 12
FileMaker Is a Seasoned Platform
Introduction to Database Software
Overview of the FileMaker Product Line
FileMaker Server Advanced Hosting
Extending the Functionality of FileMaker Pro
Understanding FileMaker Pro Features
Understanding FileMaker Databases
Understanding Records and Fields
The FileMaker Pro User Interface
Customizing the Status Toolbar (OS X)
Customizing the Status Toolbar (Windows)
Understanding the Mechanics of a Portal
Using Find Mode to Perform a Find Request
Omitting and Showing All Records
Presenting Data with Summary and Subsummary Reports
Saving PDF and Excel Documents
FileMaker Extra: Becoming a FileMaker Pro Power User
Technique 1: Using Your Keyboard for More Speed
Technique 2: Working with Table View
Technique 4: Inserting Specific Information
Technique 5: Getting to Know Your Entire Database
Technique 6: Using Multitiered Sorts
Technique 7: Using Multiple Windows
Technique 8: Applying Text Styling and Tabs
3 Defining and Working with Fields and Tables
Using the Manage Database Dialog
FileMaker Extra: Indexing in FileMaker
Using Multiple Layouts Automatically
Working with the Layout Status Toolbar
Using the Customizable Status Toolbar Tool Groups
Using the Status Toolbar Items
Inspecting Appearance Settings
Working with Objects on a Layout
Positioning Objects on a Layout
Working with the Tab Control Object
Adding a Tab Control Object to a Layout
II Developing Solutions with FileMaker
Working with Entities and Attributes
Entities Versus Attributes: A Case Study
Design as an Iterative Process
Representing Relationships in a Diagram
Understanding the Role of Keys in Database Design
Keys That Determine Uniqueness
Keys That Refer to Other Tables
Using Checkboxes and Multiple Values
Normalizing Data: What Goes Where
First Normal Form: Eliminate Repeating Groups
Second Normal Form: Eliminate Redundant Data
Third Normal Form: Eliminate Fields Not Dependent on the Key
FileMaker Extra: Complex Many-to-Many Relationships
6 Working with Multiple Tables
Multitable Systems in FileMaker Pro
Creating a One-to-Many Relationship in FileMaker
Creating the First Table in a Multitable System
Adding a Table to a Multitable System
Working with Keys and Match Fields
Using a Portal to View Related Child Data
Using a Portal to Add Related Records
Working with Related Parent Data in a Child File
Creating a Many-to-Many Relationship
Adding a Table Occurrence to the Relationships Graph
Defining a Relationship with Multiple Match Criteria
Creating a Relationship with a Global Value
Creating Cross-Product Relationships
Creating an External Data Source
Adding an External Table to the Relationships Graph
FileMaker Extra: Managing the Relationships Graph
Using Formatting Tools to Manage the Relationships Graph
Using Table Occurrences to Manage the Relationships Graph
8 Getting Started with Calculations
Understanding How and Where Calculations Are Used
Exploring the Specify Calculation Dialog
Learning About the Environment: Introspective Functions
Device Identification Functions
FileMaker Extra: Tips for Becoming a Calculation Master
9 Getting Started with Scripting
Starting and Triggering Scripts
Working with Buttons on Layouts
FileMaker Extra: Creating a Script Library
10 Getting Started with Reporting and Charting
Generic Versus Specific Report Structures
Working with Reports, Layouts, View As Options, and Modes
Using the New Layout/Report Assistant
Calculations Involving Summary Fields
Customizing Layouts and Reports
FileMaker Extra: Incorporating Reports into the Workflow
11 Developing for Multiuser Deployment
User Accounts and Session Data
Commit Versus Create and Serial IDs
FileMaker Extra: Development with a Team
Server Administration Security
FileMaker Extra: Working with Multiple Files
Exploring the Web Viewer in Contacts
Creating and Editing a Web Viewer
Setting a Web Viewer to a Constant URL
Constructing a URL Dynamically Based on a Search
Setting Up a Web Viewer with the Templates
Controlling the Web Viewer with the Set Web Viewer Script Step
FileMaker Extra: Using the Web Viewer for Files
14 Advanced Interface Techniques
What’s New in the Interface World
Using FileMaker Formatting Tools
Using GetLayoutObjectAttribute
Specifying Custom Menu Elements
Set Up Accessibility Attributes in Layout Mode
Turn On Accessibility Features
FileMaker Extra: User Interface Heuristics
15 Advanced Calculation Techniques
Working with Return-Delimited Data Arrays
FileMaker Extra: Creating a Custom Function Library
16 Advanced Scripting Techniques
Passing Multivalued Parameters
Strategies for Using Script Parameters
Final Thoughts on Script Input/Output
Other Ways to Work with Variables
FileMaker Extra: Recursive Scripts
17 Working with FileMaker Triggers
Introducing FileMaker Triggers
FileMaker Triggers Before FileMaker Pro 10
Triggers in FileMaker Pro Today
The Get (TriggerKeystroke) and Get (TriggerModifierKeys) Functions
FileMaker Extra: Using Triggers for an Interactive Interface
18 Advanced FileMaker Solution Architecture
Creating a Modal Dialog with a Window Style
Creating a Modal Dialog Using a Script Pause State
Jumping to Disconnected Table Occurrences
19 Debugging and Troubleshooting
Understand Software Requirements
Troubleshooting Scripts and Calculations
Troubleshooting in Specific Areas: Performance, Context, Connectivity, and Globals
Connectivity and Related Issues
Using the Database Design Report
20 Converting Systems from Previous Versions of FileMaker Pro
Updating and Upgrading FileMaker Software
Migrating to New FileMaker File Formats
IV Data Integration and Publishing
21 Connecting to External SQL Data Sources
Setting Up FileMaker Databases for ODBC
Setting Up and Administering ODBC
Example: Setting Up a DSN on OS X to Connect to MySQL
Example: Setting Up a DSN on Windows to Connect to FileMaker
Importing ODBC Data into FileMaker
Using External ODBC Data Sources with the Relationships Graph
Adding the External Data Source to the Relationships Graph
22 Importing Data into FileMaker Pro
The Import Field Mapping Dialog
Updating Records with Imported Data
Updating Records Without Using Match Fields
Importing from Another FileMaker Pro File
Using an Import to Create a New Table
Importing from a Microsoft Excel File
Setting Import Options and Reviewing Status
Importing Multiple Files from a Folder
Scripting Imports with FileMaker
Creating Automatic Recurring Imports
FileMaker Extra: Exploiting the FileMaker-to-FileMaker Import
23 Exporting Data from FileMaker
The Basic Mechanics of Exporting
Choosing an Output File Format
Exporting to Fixed-Width Formats
Working with Large Fields and Container Fields
Overview of Instant Web Publishing
Configuring FileMaker Pro for IWP
Configuring FileMaker Server Advanced for IWP
Sharing and Securing Files via IWP
25 Custom Web Publishing with PHP and XML
Understanding the Three Parts of FileMaker Web Publishing
Custom Web Publishing Versus Instant Web Publishing
Preparing for Custom Web Publishing
Getting Your Databases Ready for CWP
Getting FileMaker Server Ready for Custom Web Publishing
Choosing a Custom Web Publishing Technology
Using Custom Web Publishing with PHP
Getting Your Databases Ready for Custom Web Publishing with PHP
Getting FileMaker Server Ready for Custom Web Publishing with PHP
Placing Files on the Web Server
Writing the PHP code for the FileMaker PHP API
Using Custom Web Publishing with XML
Introduction to XML Publishing
Performing Specific Searches with CWP URLs
Applications of Custom Web Publishing with XML
V Deploying a FileMaker Solution
26 Deploying and Extending FileMaker
Polishing Your Custom Solution
Configuring and Enabling Plug-Ins
27 FileMaker Server and Server Advanced
The FileMaker Server Product Line
FileMaker Server Versus Peer-to-Peer Database Hosting
Installing and Deploying FileMaker Server
Starting and Stopping FileMaker Server
FileMaker Extra: Best Practices Checklist
Determine Network Infrastructure
Deploy Databases and Schedule Backups