Special Edition Using FileMaker Pro 5

Coulombre, Rich; Price, Jonathan

ISBN 10: 0789722011 ISBN 13: 9780789722010

Publisher: Que, 2000

Synopsis

Special Edition Using FileMaker Pro focuses on experienced developers who are looking for expert advice. The book provides you with in-depth techniques and helps you solve real-life problems. The book assumes a basic knowledge of FileMaker, but no knowledge of relational database theory or planning and designing a relational database. Topics covered include (all topics are taught with hands-on usage of FileMaker Pro): Understanding, planning and designing a relational database; maintaining the database; crafting a user interface; putting your database on the Web; and reporting.

About this title

Review

Rich Coulombre and Jonathan Price, the authors of Special Edition Using FileMaker Pro 5, fight two battles. In the first, they strive to overcome dullness, complexity, and other traditional challenges of technical writers. They undoubtedly prevail here, with careful organization, clear prose, excellent sample material (both printed and on the companion CD-ROM), and helpful schema diagrams. The outcome of the secondary battle--the one for developers' minds, in which Coulombre and Price promote FileMaker Pro as a platform for serious work--remains to be determined, but there's no question that these two men make a strong case for the FileMaker environment. Read this volume if you're familiar with FileMaker and want to extend your knowledge, or if you're considering multiple database solutions and want to see what this one can do for you.

This top-quality technical book acknowledges that relational databases intimidate many people, and explains them with extreme clarity. Having done that, they proceed to unlock a library of FileMaker wisdom: Coulombre is a FileMaker consultant with a lot of experience. The coverage in this book is full of attention to the practicalities that make database programming interesting. A section on picking surnames out of long Spanish name strings is interesting and typical, as is a section called "Dumb Portal Tricks" that explains how to use portals to make interfaces much more capable without a lot of extra effort. Throughout, the authors emphasize detail and accuracy, and never forget that most of their readers are out to make a buck as developers for hire. --David Wall

Topics covered: FileMaker Pro 5 for Windows and Mac OS computers, and explained in terms that intermediate-level developers will understand and advanced developers will appreciate. Database planning, UI design, reporting, scripting, and Web integration. The authors emphasize programmers' tricks, miscellaneous hacks, and doing a high-quality job under commercial pressures.

About the Author

Rich Coulombre is Director of FileMaker Pro Services and co-owner of a database design, development, and training organization specializing in FileMaker Pro whose clients include: Apple, FileMaker, Bell Atlantic, Raytheon, Harvard, and MIT. He has taught literally thousands of people how to develop databases using the FileMaker Pro, and is an award-winning trainer.Jonathan Price designs online information systems and consults with teams at companies such as Apple, Canon, Claris, FileMaker, Epson, GO, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, IBM, Nikon, Ricoh and others.Jonathan and Rich wrote the two bestselling FileMaker 2 books for Addison Wesley, both of which are still being used by FileMaker managers as assigned reading for new company hires. Jonathan and Rich are often asked at conferences and via email when their next book will be released.

Edition details

• Publisher: Que
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0789722011
• ISBN 13: 9780789722010
• Binding: CD-ROM
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 560