Automating FileMaker Pro: Scripting and Calculations [Paperback]

Jesse Feiler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0122513371 | ISBN-13: 978-0122513374 | Edition: 1

FileMaker Pro, long popular with Macintosh users, is now the leading standalone database for Windows. Automating FileMaker Pro cures the headaches of thousands of developers, administrators, and other users who want to maximize their database projects' efficiency, effectiveness, and ease of use.
Inside, FileMaker users will profit from expert technical instruction in FileMaker's powerful scripting and automation capabilities-mastering techniques for improving performance in areas such as reporting and data validation. Author Jesse Feiler also applies his extensive business and consulting experience to help managers recognize innovative ways to get the most from their database investment.

Key Features
* Written for readers working with all Macintosh and Windows versions, including the latest: FileMaker Pro 5
* Provides in-depth coverage of ScriptMaker, FileMaker Pro's visual tool for developing scripts that can carry out complex tasks
* Teaches automation techniques for entering and validating data, generating reports, customizing the interface, linking to non-FileMaker data sources, making data available on the Web, and more
* Stresses sound approaches that help readers build robust, scalable solutions

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Are you a FileMaker Pro developer? An administrator? A user? No matter what your role, no matter how you depend on FileMaker Pro, this is the book you need if you want to save time, money, and frustration by automating routine tasks and making your database project communicate with other data sources. Inside, you'll find clear, expert instruction focusing on scripting, field calculations, and ODBC configuration, along with all the background you need to get started. As you master specific techniques, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the product as a whole, as well as a sound general approach to FileMaker Pro development that you can apply in every aspect of your work.

Features

• Covers both Macintosh and Windows versions of FileMaker Pro, including the latest release: FileMaker Pro 5.
  
• Provides in-depth coverage of ScriptMaker, FileMaker Pro's visual tool for developing scripts that automate keystroke and command processes: data entry, printing, report generation, and more.
  
• Explains and illustrates how to use calculations and field options to edit, format, and validate data-automatically.
  
• Covers interface customization, allowing you to give users easy access to automated functions.
  
• Teaches you to use ODBC and SQL to enable your database project to import data from, export data to, and synchronize with other data sources.
  
• Includes a glossary of FileMaker Pro and other database terms, and a special chapter on SQL to help you get the most out of FileMaker Pro's ODBC capabilities.

About the Author

Jesse Feiler is Software Director of Philmont Software Mill. Co-author of Finding and Fixing Your Year 2000: A Guide for Small Businesses and Organizations with Barbara Butler, and the author of the upcoming FileMaker Pro and the World Wide Web, Jesse has also written Rhapsody Developer's Guide, Cyberdog, and Real World Apple Guide. He has served as a consultant, author, and speaker for many prestigious businesses, including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Prodigy, Kodak, Young & Rubicam, and Apple Computer, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 1 edition (March 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0122513371
• ISBN-13: 978-0122513374
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,751,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Software developer and author specializing in new technologies, Mac OS X, and FileMaker. Consulting through North Country Consulting focuses on small business and non-profits, helping them use new technologies to manage their operations in retail, production, contact management, and planning.

Active in the non-profit world, treasurer of HB Studio and HB Playwrights Foundation, past-president of Mid-Hudson Library System. Interested in non-profit governance, specializing in trustee training seminars.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit disappointing, April 10, 2000

By 

Angie E. Illhardt "giggles" (SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Automating FileMaker Pro: Scripting and Calculations (Paperback)

I found this book a bit disappointing. Although it does provide some additional information on ODBC and SQL, it still felt like I was reading the Filemaker User's Guide all over again. There are a few scripting, calculation, and data transfer examples, but not enough. From the title "Automating Filemaker" I implied that the book would mostly focus on scripting and calculations. Not so. Too much of the book focuses on the basics of Filemaker (again, this info can be obtained from the User's Guide). A great overall book, but not for the serious developer.

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great reference book..., February 27, 2000

By 

Andy Knasinski - See all my reviews

This review is from: Automating FileMaker Pro: Scripting and Calculations (Paperback)

This book covers FileMaker Pro 4 & 5 and goes in-depth into scripting, calcuations and import/export. While it does not go into scripting like Scriptology, this book is a handy reference.

For those interested in ODBC, there are examples provided for importing/exporting between text files, ms access, ms word, and ms excel on Mac and Windows. It also has a great overvew of the differences between SQL and FileMaker terminology.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not worth it! Stay clear of it!, October 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Automating FileMaker Pro: Scripting and Calculations (Paperback)

I agree with the other reviewers on this one. This book stays very close to what's already in the user manual! I already know what's in the manual! How about some real World examples and such? How about disecting and describing complex and modular scripting. YAWN-a-ri-fic!