FileMaker Pro Review

Citation: Trimble, Timothy (2006) FileMaker Pro Design & Scripting for Dummies. John Wiley and Sons.

Key words: FileMaker Pro, creating databases, finding and sorting data, sharing data, databases on web, designing

This book is about (main discussion):
Using Filemaker Pro to easily create, keep and manage information (chapter 1)

The author argues that:
FileMaker Pro provides a point-and-click interface for designing databases without requiring you to have prior database experience. Furthermore, FileMaker Pro allows you to publish your database to the Web in just a few clicks, which means that users on any platform with a compatible browser can use your database. (chapter 1)


The authors make the following statements or sites the following references on support of his/ her argument (provide 2-3 quotes):
Reasons to use FileMaker Pro were suggested: it provides a point-and-click interface for designing databases without requiring you to have prior database experience, you can design your database in one environment and run it in Mac or Windows, you can publish your database to the Web in just a few clicks, you can save data in a number of formats to import and export, comes with 30 Starter Solutions databases that you can put to work right away, easily use it for storing and showing pictures and movies, playing sounds, and linking with many different multimedia file types, provides multi-user support for up to five users without requiring the user to add any additional licenses, has an easy-to-use list of functions that can be assigned to buttons and layout objects (chapter 1)
Some things to keep in mind when designing a layout for the screen: create folder tabs, as they are easy for the user to identify, know your users, be consistent, focus on what is important, always provide help (chapter 4)
FileMaker Pro provides you with ten tools to create the perfect database: making hidden buttons, jazzing up your graphics, making layout titles and text dynamic, reusable layouts, showing movies, using auto start and end script code, sending email, launching a website, changing background colour, running another application (chapter 13)


The authors conclude that:
FileMaker Pro is an excellent cross-platform tool for application development, which gives users the ability to keep and manage information accurately ad creatively. Furthermore, it is great for any user, regardless of level of expertise or understanding (chapter 1)
The author feels that:
FileMaker Pro places the power of information in your hands by giving you the ability to easily create, manage, and view information (chapter 1) . He also argues that FileMaker is great for finding and sorting data, and for retrieving it from a variety of computers that also have the software. Other features that FileMaker possess include the ability to create dropdown lists and pop-up menues. Furthermore, the author believes that FileMaker is an efficient and effective tool for managing data. Lastly, while earlier versions of FileMaker were difficult to create and maintain, recent versions of this software are far more accessible to the average user, and are recommended to anyone who is running either a business or website.