Beginners FileMaker Pro 12 Training - A Practical Guide

Learn core database concepts by switching between list, form, and layout views, using find and sort to present the same data in different, meaningful formats.

Transform a flat file database in FileMaker Pro 12 into a relational design by adding a publishers table, linking via publisher ID, and updating related records across tables.

Explore the four FileMaker modes—browse, find, layout, and preview—accessible via the view menu and the mini mode menu, plus the managed database dialog and the managed scripts window.

Explore how a database uses tables, records, and fields, and how publisher and book tables link via a publisher id to form many-to-one and one-to-many relationships.

Define nine tables, add fields, and apply auto entry rules to create a bibliographic database structure, including a hidden header field, a serial number field, and a calculated author ID.

Create and connect tables to form a relational database structure by building joins between publications, quotations, assignments, and authors, using the relationships graph to manage table occurrences.

Create multiple FileMaker layouts to present author data as form and list views. Adjust themes, arrange fields, and duplicate layouts to switch seamlessly between views.

Create on-screen navigation using custom buttons to switch between layouts in FileMaker Pro 12, then format and test bidirectional navigation in layout and browse modes.

Secure your database by implementing backups, password protection, and tiered access. Create privilege sets, manage accounts, and test security prompts to prevent unauthorized changes.

Learn how to create cross-file data links in FileMaker Pro 12 using external data sources, manage databases across files, and enforce security with authorization and full access controls.

Explore FileMaker Pro Advanced features for complex databases, including custom menus, script debugger, data viewer, and developer utilities. Learn to use run-time databases, kiosk applications, and cross-file custom functions.

Explore how FileMaker layouts connect to data by using multiple table occurrences on the relationships graph, duplicating occurrences, and selecting the right vantage point for each layout.

Master layout tools in FileMaker Pro 12 to design screens, create and arrange fields, buttons, tabs, portals, charts, and web viewers, and use selection, resizing, and format painter techniques.

Create and format layout objects in FileMaker Pro 12 by drawing lines, rounded rectangles, and text boxes. Use the selection and formatting bar tools to align attributes, preserve changes.

Master precise object size and position in FileMaker Pro 12 layouts by dragging, using arrow key nudges, adjusting coordinates in the inspector, and applying alignment tools for multiple objects.

Learn to create and customize FileMaker layout parts—header, body, and footer—with optional title header and title footer and subsummary, summary, and grand summary sections for data segmentation and totals.

Discover seven fundamentals of good FileMaker visual design to create consistent, readable layouts. Learn to group related fields, constrain styles and colors, align elements, and guide information left-to-right, top-to-bottom.

Learn how to use visual cues like headers, footers, drop shadows, and panel depth to guide users, create hierarchy, and support accessibility in FileMaker layouts, with tooltips for context.

Refine FileMaker Pro 12's tab order using the set tab order dialog, adjust default sequencing, remove noninteractive fields, and position the save button for keyboard navigation.

Explore dynamic layout objects in FileMaker Pro 12, including fields, date pickers, tab panels, and web views, configured via the inspector for interactive databases.

Create interactive buttons in a FileMaker layout by dragging, selecting a command or script, and labeling them. Click in browse mode to perform the assigned action, such as navigating layouts.

Learn how to use a tab control object in FileMaker Pro 12, add fields and text to each tab, customize labels and layout options, and navigate tabs with the keyboard.

Learn how portals display all related records from the publications table on an author's layout, using table occurrences to show titles, years, and publishers with scrollable content.

Learn to add a web viewer to a layout in FileMaker Pro 12 training and create a dynamic Google search from each author’s first and last name.

Add rollover tooltips to objects by entering text in tooltip field via inspector in layout mode. Return to browse mode to see tooltip on hover, shown as a T icon.

Apply conditional formatting in FileMaker Pro to highlight empty data entry fields with a pale yellow fill, providing visual cues for which fields are empty and require data.

Learn how to autosize objects in FileMaker Pro 12 by anchoring them to window edges, creating dynamic layouts that stay fixed or stretch with the window.

Create a publication summary report by grouping and sorting publications, selecting title, year, author, and publisher, using a wizard to generate and view it.

Explore FileMaker Pro 12 auto entry options to speed data entry, including default values, creation/modification timestamps, calculated and looked-up values, and a practical availability field example.

Discover how to commit or revert changes in filemaker pro 12, keep records unsigned until exit, and manage record locking across windows and propagation to other users' screens.

Learn to speed data entry in FileMaker Pro 12 by creating value lists, applying them to fields with radio button sets, and using an availability list with default values.

Master keyboard shortcuts to speed data entry and navigation in FileMaker Pro 12, including insert actions for the current date and time.

Learn how to perform targeted FileMaker searches using Find mode, data-type aware criteria, and operators to match whole words or exact values, and swap between found and omitted records.

Learn to quickly find matching records in FileMaker Pro 12 by using the context menu's find matching records command, bypassing six or seven steps with a single right-click.

Master compound searches by entering criteria in multiple fields within find mode to narrow results to records that meet all specified criteria.

Widen your search in FileMaker Pro 12 using multi-request finds, range operators, and multiple find requests in find mode to broaden results while refining the found set.

Refine a found set in FileMaker Pro by using modify last find, constrained found set, and extend from set to narrow or combine records based on new criteria.

Sort the found set to group and summarize publications by publisher name, displaying an author count per group, using a summary field and subsummary layout.

Learn to navigate across related data in a FileMaker Pro 12 database by using the go to related record command, buttons, and layouts to jump between authors and publications.

Create dynamic summaries of related data in FileMaker by using a calculation field on the authors table to count related publications and display the total in the author's portal.

Create dynamic bar charts in FileMaker Pro 12 by adding a summary field, selecting related records, and configuring x and y axes to visualize publications by year.

Explore how to import and export data in FileMaker Pro 12, including exporting selected fields, mapping import fields, and using import options and advanced data exchange methods.

Save and send records in FileMaker Pro 12 by exporting the current found set as Excel or a PDA file, sharing via email and using snapshot links to restore layouts.

Explore how tables and table occurrences on the relationships graph create multiple views of data, including self-joins, to access related records without ambiguity in FileMaker Pro.

Explore how to use global fields in FileMaker Pro 12 to store a single value across all records, support per-user temporary storage, and update headers across layouts.

Learn to create calculation fields in FileMaker Pro 12 to multiply quantity by price for totals and to assemble full names using the ampersand and trim.

Explore how FileMaker Pro 12 calculations use logical functions and the IF function to join text from fields, handle middle names with spaces, and ensure reliable results.

Explore stored and unstored calculations in FileMaker Pro 12, and see how calculation field storage, recalculate behavior, and found-set context shape results.

Organize the relationships graph by grouping related table occurrences, aligning elements, and applying color coding for clear connections. Use selection and roll up tools to maintain readability as it grows.

Automate common FileMaker Pro 12 tasks with Pharmac scripting by outlining steps to create a PTF report of titles published since 2000.

Create and automate a FileMaker script named 'available titles' to navigate layouts, set search criteria, perform a find, sort results, and save as a PTF file.

Learn how FileMaker scripts run linearly in a single-threaded engine, with optional screen refreshes. Preempt errors with get last error, if blocks, and error capture to handle finds without dialogs.

Learn to create, organize, and edit FileMaker scripts using the managed scripts window. Apply search, filters, folders, and checkmarks, then copy, paste, and reorder steps with compatibility options.

Discover how FileMaker script commands target fields and layout objects, using select contents, target field, and goto object. Name objects uniquely to guide scripts on correct layouts and controls.

Create and apply scripted navigation in FileMaker to automate routing, perform housekeeping tasks, show all records, and set the active record to the first for consistent, time-saving results.

Learn to create conditional sequences in FileMaker Pro 12 using if, end if, and optional else. Build dynamic author lists filtered by publisher when a modifier key is pressed.

Apply looping and conditional scripting in FileMaker Pro 12 to test active record matches, continue looping through records, and exit to preserve the correct author listing.

Learn to automate FileMaker Pro 12 with button-initiated and layout-triggered scripts, manage script flow (pause, resume, exit), and use triggers to run scripts on navigation.

Learn to pass values with script parameters in triggers, retrieve them via cast script parameter, and use calculations to vary flow based on the calling context.

Master the language of calculations in FileMaker Pro 12, using fields, functions, and operators to form calculation expressions. Use the calculation dialog to set field values.

Explore FileMaker Pro 12 calculation functions, including numeric, text, date, and time operations, with practical examples of get layout name and related functions.

Explore boolean logic in FileMaker Pro 12, learning how nonzero values indicate true and zero or empty values indicate false, with tests, calculations, and Get as boolean.

Discover how FileMaker Pro 12 uses values and lists in calculations beyond arithmetic. Use functions like value count, left values, middle values, and list to manage data.

Learn to create and test calculation expressions in FileMaker Pro 12 using the calculation dialog, including literals, operators, and get functions, with comments and multi-line formatting.

Explore how text literals handle carriage returns in FileMaker Pro 12 calculations, using pilcrow characters and backslash escapes to include quotes and special characters.

Explore compound calculation expressions in FileMaker Pro 12 by nesting functions to feed input to others, enabling advanced text extraction with left, middle, and position from pipe-delimited strings.

Explore how key fields drive relationships in Filemaker using a simple parent and child example, and learn to choose same data type, nonempty, unique, persistent, and indexed keys.

Create and manage primary and foreign keys using auto enter serial numbers to ensure unique keys; link parent and child tables via parent id and child id to control relationships.

Explore FileMaker relationship operators beyond the default equal join, including not equal, less/greater than, and theta joins, plus cartesian and multi-predicate relationships for flexible lookups.

Learn how join tables establish many-to-many links between parent and child records, using an intermediary table to replace multi-key fields. Add relationship and status data to capture join-specific details.

Learn to filter portal displays in FileMaker by using relationship criteria or a portal filter calculation, creating dual portals for gender with a single relationship.

Learn how related records default to creation order and how to apply sorting at the relationship or portal level, such as descending age to display oldest first.

Enable seamless creation of related records by allowing creation of records in the child and join tables through the relationship, using portals and the first empty row for automatic linking.

Create useful database forms for single user access to gather, store, summarize, and analyze data, then deploy portable, standalone files across Mac, Windows, and iOS devices with FileMaker Go.

Understand how distributed copies synchronize with a master file in FileMaker Pro 12, merge data, avoid duplicates, and navigate edit precedence across devices.

Enable live networking connections to a single hosted FileMaker database, sharing data across multiple remote users and ensuring real-time updates with proper access settings.

Design for multi-user FileMaker Pro by shaping relationships and scripts to keep the experience seamless and prevent interference. Use global fields and record locking to manage user-specific selections and edits.

Create a snapshot link to save and share a precise FileMaker view, including layout, found set, sort order, and current record, then open it on another machine to restore context.

Develop a backup strategy for FileMaker Pro 12 files with automated, timestamped backups every 15 minutes, plus recovery options to restore or import data into a clean file.