FileMaker Pro 10 In Depth [1st edition] 9780789739469, 0789739461

Table of contents :
Table of Contents......Page 5
How This Book Is Organized......Page 23
Part II: Developing Solutions with FileMaker......Page 24
Part III: Developer Techniques......Page 25
Part IV: Data Integration and Publishing......Page 26
Special Features......Page 27
Who Should Use This Book......Page 28
FileMaker and Its Marketplace......Page 29
You’re Not Alone......Page 30
Introduction to Database Software......Page 31
Database Software......Page 32
What Database Software Does......Page 33
Overview of the FileMaker 10 Product Line......Page 36
Peer-to-Peer Hosting......Page 38
Extending the Functionality of FileMaker Pro......Page 39
New Features......Page 40
FileMaker Database Architecture......Page 41
Technical Specifications......Page 43
Getting Started......Page 45
Registration......Page 46
Activation......Page 47
Using the Quick Start Screen......Page 49
Understanding FileMaker Databases......Page 51
Understanding Tables......Page 52
The FileMaker Pro User Interface......Page 53
Introducing the Status Toolbar......Page 57
Customizing the Status Toolbar (Mac OS X)......Page 59
Customizing the Status Toolbar (Windows)......Page 60
Working in FileMaker Pro......Page 61
Opening a Database......Page 62
Working with Records......Page 66
Working with Fields......Page 67
Field Types......Page 70
Data Validation......Page 73
Working with Related Data......Page 75
Finding Data with FileMaker......Page 78
Using Find Mode to Perform a Find Request......Page 80
Omitting and Showing All Records......Page 86
Saving Find Requests......Page 87
Sorting......Page 88
Printing......Page 89
Presenting Data with Summary and Subsummary Reports......Page 90
Using the Web Viewer......Page 91
Troubleshooting......Page 92
Technique 3: Replacing Data......Page 93
Technique 4: Inserting Specific Information......Page 94
Technique 8: Applying Text Styling and Tabs......Page 95
Using the Manage Database Dialog......Page 97
Table Naming Conventions......Page 99
Creating New Tables......Page 100
Field Naming Conventions......Page 101
Adding Field Comments......Page 103
Working with Field Types......Page 104
Time......Page 105
Container......Page 106
Calculation......Page 107
Summary......Page 109
Auto-Entry Field Options......Page 111
Field Validation......Page 116
Storage and Indexing......Page 118
Troubleshooting......Page 122
FileMaker Extra: Indexing in FileMaker......Page 124
What’s a Layout?......Page 125
Creating a New Layout......Page 127
Layout Context......Page 130
Layout Setup......Page 132
Hiding and Reordering Layouts......Page 136
Layout Naming Conventions......Page 137
Working with Parts......Page 138
Adding and Ordering Parts......Page 139
Part Definition......Page 140
Using the Layout Bar......Page 142
Using the Customizable Status Toolbar Tool Groups......Page 143
Adding Objects to a Layout......Page 145
Positioning Objects on a Layout......Page 147
Automatically Resizing Objects on a Layout......Page 151
Arranging Objects......Page 152
Aligning Objects......Page 154
Adding a Tab Control Object to a Layout......Page 155
Adding Fields to Layouts......Page 157
Field/Control Setup......Page 158
Field Behavior......Page 159
Setting the Tab Order......Page 160
Merge Fields......Page 161
Tooltips......Page 162
Troubleshooting......Page 163
FileMaker Extra: Designing Cross-Platform–Friendly Layouts......Page 164
Database Analysis......Page 165
Working with Entities and Attributes......Page 166
Entities Versus Attributes: A Case Study......Page 168
Representing Relationships in a Diagram......Page 170
Relationship Types......Page 171
Keys That Determine Uniqueness......Page 173
Keys That Refer to Other Tables......Page 174
Many-to-Many Relationships: Using Join Tables......Page 175
Attributes in a Join Entity......Page 176
Second Normal Form: Eliminate Redundant Data......Page 177
FileMaker Extra: Complex Many-to-Many Relationships......Page 178
Multitable Systems in FileMaker Pro......Page 181
Creating the First Table in a Multitable System......Page 182
Adding a Table to a Multitable System......Page 183
Adding a Relationship......Page 185
The Database So Far......Page 186
Using a Portal to View Related Child Data......Page 187
Using a Portal to Add Related Records......Page 190
Working with Related Parent Data in a Child File......Page 193
Building the Structure......Page 194
Creating Value Lists......Page 195
Designing the Interface......Page 196
Rapid Multitable Development......Page 197
Troubleshooting......Page 198
Relationships as Queries......Page 199
Nonequijoins......Page 200
Adding a Table Occurrence to the Relationships Graph......Page 201
Defining a Relationship with Multiple Match Criteria......Page 202
Creating Self-Relationships......Page 206
Creating a Relationship with a Global Value......Page 207
Working with Multiple Files......Page 209
Creating an External Data Source......Page 210
Adding an External Table to the Relationships Graph......Page 213
Troubleshooting......Page 214
Using Formatting Tools to Manage the Relationships Graph......Page 215
Using Table Occurrences to Manage the Relationships Graph......Page 216
Understanding How and Where Calculations Are Used......Page 219
Writing Calculation Formulas......Page 220
Uses for Calculation Formulas......Page 221
Writing the Formula......Page 222
Options......Page 226
Specifying Context......Page 229
The Parts of a Function......Page 232
Text Operations......Page 234
Nested Functions......Page 237
Number Functions......Page 238
Working with Dates and Times......Page 240
Using Conditional Functions......Page 242
Aggregate Functions......Page 243
Get Function......Page 244
Design Functions......Page 246
Troubleshooting......Page 247
FileMaker Extra: Tips for Becoming a Calculation Master......Page 248
Scripts in FileMaker Pro......Page 251
Creating Scripts......Page 252
The Scripting Interface......Page 254
Script Editing......Page 255
Full Access Privileges......Page 256
Commenting Scripts......Page 257
Using a Script Template......Page 258
Using Subscripts......Page 259
Managing the Scripts Menu......Page 260
Error Management......Page 261
Setting and Controlling Data......Page 263
Providing User Navigation......Page 265
Saved Script Options......Page 266
Using Conditional Logic......Page 269
Using Loops......Page 270
Working with Custom Dialogs......Page 272
Starting Scripts......Page 273
Working with Buttons on Layouts......Page 274
Troubleshooting......Page 275
FileMaker Extra: Creating a Script Library......Page 277
Deriving Meaning from Data......Page 279
Determine Report Requirements......Page 280
Generic Versus Specific Report Structures......Page 281
Working with Reports, Layouts, View As Options, and Modes......Page 282
Using the New Layout/Report Wizard......Page 284
Using Summarized Reports......Page 287
Working with Subsummary Parts......Page 288
Calculations Involving Summary Fields......Page 290
Maintaining Sort Order......Page 292
Modifying Table Views......Page 293
Working with Dynamic Reports......Page 294
Alternating Row Color......Page 296
Sorting by Columns......Page 298
Sliding Objects......Page 299
Save/Send as PDF......Page 300
Save/Send as Excel......Page 302
Send Mail......Page 303
Troubleshooting......Page 304
FileMaker Extra: Incorporating Reports into the Workflow......Page 305
Sessions in FileMaker Pro......Page 307
Session-Specific Elements......Page 308
User Accounts and Session Data......Page 309
The ACID Test......Page 310
Commit Versus Create and Serial IDs......Page 312
Record Locking......Page 313
Launch Files......Page 315
Troubleshooting......Page 316
FileMaker Extra: Development with a Team......Page 317
Approaching Security......Page 319
Identifying Risks......Page 320
Planning Security......Page 321
Maintaining Security......Page 324
User Accounts......Page 325
Privilege Sets......Page 328
Extended Privileges......Page 336
Server Administration Security......Page 338
Security over the Network......Page 339
User Authentication......Page 340
External Authentication......Page 341
Troubleshooting......Page 343
FileMaker Extra: Working with Multiple Files......Page 344
Adding a Web Viewer to Contact Management......Page 347
Setting Web Viewer Options......Page 350
Setting Up a Web Viewer with the Templates......Page 351
Controlling the Web Viewer with the Set Web Viewer Script Step......Page 352
GetLayoutObjectAttribute with Web Viewer......Page 353
FileMaker Extra: Using the Web Viewer for Files......Page 354
User Interfaces in FileMaker Pro......Page 357
Building Your Own Interface......Page 358
A Happy Medium......Page 359
Interface Look and Feel......Page 360
Single File Interface Versus Distributed Interface......Page 361
Working with Custom Menus......Page 362
Menu Sets Interface......Page 364
Customizing a Menu......Page 366
Loading and Activating Menu Sets......Page 368
Creating a New Menu from Scratch......Page 369
Conditional Formatting......Page 370
FileMaker Extra: User Interface Heuristics......Page 371
The Let Function......Page 373
The Choose Function......Page 376
The Evaluate Function......Page 378
The Lookup Functions......Page 381
Text Formatting Functions......Page 384
Text Style......Page 385
Array Functions......Page 386
Working with Return-Delimited Data Arrays......Page 387
Stepping Through an Array......Page 388
The Filter Function......Page 389
The FilterValues Function......Page 391
Custom Functions......Page 392
Uses of Custom Functions......Page 393
Creating Custom Functions......Page 395
Examples of Custom Functions......Page 397
GetNthRecord......Page 402
Troubleshooting......Page 404
Matching Multiple Values......Page 406
Script Parameters and Script Results......Page 409
Specifying Script Parameters......Page 410
Retrieving a Script Parameter......Page 411
Passing Multivalued Parameters......Page 412
Strategies for Using Script Parameters......Page 415
Script Results......Page 416
Script Variables......Page 418
About Local Variables......Page 419
About Global Variables......Page 421
About Dynamic File Paths......Page 422
FileMaker Extra: Recursive Scripts......Page 423
FileMaker Triggers Before FileMaker Pro 10......Page 425
Trigger Targets......Page 426
Trigger Events......Page 427
Layout Triggers......Page 428
Object Triggers......Page 429
Using a Timer......Page 430
The Self Function......Page 431
Get (TriggerKeystroke) and Get (TriggerModifierKeys) Functions......Page 432
FileMaker Extra: Using Triggers for an Interactive Interface......Page 433
Window Management Techniques......Page 435
Multiwindow Interfaces......Page 436
Tool and Function Palettes......Page 437
Rich Dialog Windows......Page 438
Go to Related Record......Page 442
GTRR Basics......Page 443
Jumping to Disconnected Table Occurrences......Page 444
Dedicated Find Mode Layouts......Page 445
Troubleshooting......Page 446
Understand Software Requirements......Page 449
Avoid Unclear Code......Page 450
Planning for Trouble......Page 453
Handling Errors in Scripts......Page 454
Tracking Down Errors......Page 456
Performance......Page 457
Connectivity and Related Issues......Page 460
Context Dependencies......Page 461
Globals......Page 464
File Maintenance and Recovery......Page 465
Using the Database Design Report......Page 468
Creating a DDR......Page 469
Using the Script Debugger......Page 470
About the Script Debugger......Page 471
Placing Breakpoints......Page 472
Using the Data Viewer......Page 473
Migration Choices......Page 475
Converting Files......Page 476
Converting Single-File Solutions......Page 477
Converting Relational Solutions......Page 478
Document Your Solution......Page 479
Fix File References and External Data Sources......Page 480
Post-Conversion Tasks......Page 482
Security......Page 483
Relationships......Page 484
Scripts......Page 485
Fields and Formulas......Page 487
Troubleshooting......Page 490
Instant Web Publishing......Page 491
Custom Web Publishing with CDML......Page 492
FileMaker Architecture......Page 493
ODBC Architecture......Page 494
Setting Up and Administering ODBC......Page 495
Installing Drivers......Page 496
Administering ODBC......Page 498
Example: Setting Up a DSN on Mac OS X to Connect to MySQL......Page 501
Example: Setting Up a DSN on Windows to Connect to FileMaker......Page 505
Importing ODBC Data into FileMaker......Page 506
Specifying the Data Source......Page 507
Adding the External Data Source to the Relationships Graph......Page 508
Using Supplemental Fields......Page 511
Troubleshooting......Page 514
Flat-File Data Sources......Page 515
The Import Field Mapping Dialog......Page 516
Updating Records with Imported Data......Page 519
Importing from Another FileMaker Pro File......Page 520
Using an Import to Create a New Table......Page 521
Setting Import Options and Reviewing Status......Page 522
Importing Multiple Files from a Folder......Page 523
Importing Text Files......Page 524
Importing Image Files......Page 525
Importing Photos from a Digital Camera......Page 527
Using a Script to Import Data......Page 528
Troubleshooting......Page 530
FileMaker Extra: Exploiting the FileMaker-to-FileMaker Import......Page 531
Moving, Consolidating, and Re-creating Tables......Page 532
Getting Out What You Put In......Page 533
Selecting Fields to Export......Page 534
Exporting Issues to Consider......Page 535
Character Transformations......Page 536
Exporting Related Fields......Page 538
Exporting to Fixed-Width Formats......Page 539
Working with Large Fields and Container Fields......Page 540
Scripted Exports......Page 541
What Is IWP?......Page 543
Getting Started with IWP......Page 545
Configuring FileMaker Pro for IWP......Page 546
Configuring FileMaker Server Advanced for IWP......Page 549
Sharing and Securing Files via IWP......Page 551
Constraints of IWP......Page 554
Scripting for IWP......Page 555
Layout Design......Page 557
Container Fields......Page 559
Application Flow......Page 560
Browse Mode......Page 564
Find Mode......Page 565
Troubleshooting......Page 566
About Custom Web Publishing......Page 567
Custom Web Publishing Versus Instant Web Publishing......Page 568
Preparing for Custom Web Publishing......Page 569
Getting Your Databases Ready for CWP......Page 570
Preparing for XML Publishing......Page 571
Introduction to XML Publishing......Page 572
Understanding Query Strings......Page 574
Performing Specific Searches with CWP URLs......Page 575
Applications of Custom Web Publishing with XML......Page 579
Preparing for XSLT Publishing......Page 580
Build the Site with the Site Assistant......Page 581
Explore the Generated Site......Page 584
Basic Cleanups......Page 586
Writing Your Own XSLT Code......Page 587
Embedding Query Parameters in a Stylesheet......Page 588
Using Tokens to Share Data Between Stylesheets......Page 589
Other Query Commands......Page 590
Other Query Parameters......Page 591
About the FileMaker XSLT Extensions......Page 593
About Sessions......Page 594
Troubleshooting......Page 595
FileMaker Extra: An XML Interface File......Page 596
Choosing a Custom Web Publishing Technology......Page 597
Getting Your Databases Ready for Custom Web Publishing with PHP......Page 598
Getting FileMaker Server Ready for Custom Web Publishing with PHP......Page 599
Using the PHP Site Assistant......Page 600
Building the Site with the PHP Site Assistant......Page 601
Troubleshooting......Page 608
Renaming Files......Page 609
Runtime Solutions......Page 611
Solution Options......Page 612
Removing Admin Access......Page 615
Error Log......Page 616
Preparing a Kiosk Interface......Page 617
Plug-ins......Page 618
Understanding Plug-ins......Page 619
Installing Plug-ins......Page 620
Configuring and Enabling Plug-ins......Page 621
Troubleshooting......Page 622
The FileMaker Server Product Line......Page 623
FileMaker Server Versus Peer-to-Peer Database Hosting......Page 624
FileMaker Server Capabilities......Page 625
FileMaker Server Requirements......Page 626
Installing and Deploying FileMaker Server......Page 629
The Installation Process......Page 630
The Deployment Process......Page 633
Hosting Databases......Page 638
FileMaker Server Overview......Page 639
Administration......Page 640
Configuration......Page 645
Preparing FileMaker Server......Page 648
Performing the Auto Update......Page 650
Putting It All Together......Page 654
Install Software......Page 655
Monitor Usage Statistics......Page 656
Keep Current with Software Updates......Page 657
A......Page 659
C......Page 661
D......Page 664
E......Page 666
F......Page 668
G......Page 672
I......Page 673
L......Page 675
M......Page 677
N......Page 678
O......Page 679
P......Page 680
R......Page 682
S......Page 684
T......Page 688
U......Page 690
W......Page 691
X-Y-Z......Page 692