Filemaker Fundamentals Training

In this Filemaker training class, you will be taught on FileMaker version 9 on the Windows operating system, and will learn how to:

Working with Records in Filemaker

Records are the core of any database. FileMaker Pro makes it easy to create and edit records, sort records, and find subsets of records. This section focuses on both basic skills and new tricks for managing these records, including using the Browse mode views and special Find commands. By the end of this section of the FileMaker Pro training class, you will be able to:

• View, create, edit, and delete database records
• Find records by using Find mode and Fast Match

Creating Databases in Filemaker

Now that you have an understanding of database concepts and records, we guide you through creating a new FileMaker database. You will learn about different field types and options to streamline data entry, including using calculated fields and simple value lists. In addition, you will practice importing records to populate a new database with existing data. This part of the training teaches you how to:

• Create a FileMaker database
• Define fields to hold text, numerical and date information
• Define fields that automatically calculate values and define simple value lists for fields.

Managing Layout Design in Filemaker

To make reports look professional and to make data entry screens easy to use, you will need to master layout design techniques. We teach tips and tricks for selecting and moving layout objects and working with layout parts, including coloring backgrounds and adding a tab control. During this section of the FileMaker Pro training class, you will learn how to:

• Adjust a layout by positioning, sizing and aligning layout objects
• Create columnar reports and mailing label layouts

Simple Table Relationships in Filemaker

FileMaker Pro is a full-fledged, relational database. This means that you can create associations between different tables to perform complex analyses of your data. To take advantage of this powerful feature, you'll need to understand table relationships and relationship types. In this section, we will teach you how to:

• Master key terms and concepts describing relational databases
• Create one-to-many and many-to-one relationships

Summarizing & Sharing Data in Filemaker

Some layouts are meant for complex reporting and summarizing across a group of records. For example, you might want a grand total of all purchases per customer within the last year so that you can generate a list of best customers. After this part of our FileMaker Pro training, you will be able to:

• Define summary fields and place subtotals and grand-totals in a report layout
• Summarize portal data
• Export records to Excel or as a PDF

Filemaker: Using Buttons and Scripts

FileMaker Pro allows you to automate a series of actions at the click of a button. For example, when you print a certain report, you might find that you are always performing the same search, performing the same sort, changing to landscape mode, and switching to that report layout. You can save those actions as a script so that FileMaker repeats those actions automatically whenever you want it to. After this training, you will know how to:

• Create buttons to perform simple commands
• Create basic scripts to recall sort and find requests
• Assign scripts to buttons

Filemaker: Advanced Field Options

To be efficient when you create new records or modify existing records, FileMaker Pro provides many advanced field options. These perform actions such as auto-entry of data into new records, validating required fields, and generating dynamic value lists. By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Generate conditional results in calculated fields using logical functions
• Automatically enter data and calculations in a new record

Many-to-Many Table Relationships

Sometimes your database design requires very complex relationships, such as a many-to-many relationship between tables. This section examines how to use a junction table to manage those complex relationships, as well as methods to view fields across many related tables. This section will explore how to:

• Create a many-to-many relationship
• Place fields from related tables in a layout
• Summarize data from related tables in a report

Filemaker training is offered at four locations::

• Filemaker training San Francisco
  
• Filemaker training Los Angeles
  
• Filemaker training San Jose
• Filemaker training Sacramento