Automating FileMaker Pro : Scripting and Calculations (Paperback)

by Jesse Feiler (Author)
Key Phrases: Microsoft Excel, Web Companion, Microsoft Word (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 1 edition (February 15, 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.com Sales Rank: #588,510 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 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)

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 (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews

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

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!