Course Description: Learning FileMaker Pro: Intermediate (Windows)
Overview: Students will create a simple relational database to more effectively store, organize and retrieve information, implement higher-level database techniques, and become more familiar with scripting. This class is suitable for FileMaker Pro versions 7, 8, 8.5, 9, 10 and 11.

Prerequisites: Before taking this course, students should have completed the Learning FileMaker Pro: Introduction (Windows) course. In addition, they should be familiar with the basic functions of their computer’s operating system. Students should also have basic word processing skills, such as copying and pasting text, formatting type, and so on. Previous experience with current or previous versions of FileMaker Pro is strongly recommended.

Delivery method: Instructor-led, group-paced, classroom-delivery learning model with structured hands-on activities.

Benefits: Students will learn how to build a relational database with multiple data tables and simple relationships to relate the data. Students will be able to implement field options to help insure data integrity. Students will also gain an understanding how scripting works to automate repetitive tasks and improve the user interface.

Target student: Target student: Learning FileMaker Pro: Intermediate was designed for the student who has some experience using FileMaker Pro but is finding that their needs for managing data exceeds their current capabilities.

What's next: This course, Learning FileMaker Pro: Intermediate, is the second course in this series. Learning FileMaker Pro: Advanced is the next course in this series.

Objectives

Performance-based objectives
Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
  • Access data in an existing database.
  • Determine the need for separating data into related tables.
  • Create a database with multiple data tables and create simple relationships to link them.
  • Take advantage of field options to insure data integrity and improve ease of data entry.
  • Create layouts to display data from single and multiple related records.
  • Use advanced layout techniques to improve and speed the design of layouts.
  • Understand how scripting works and write moderately complicated scripts.
  • Understand how button properties can be attached to layout objects.

Course Content
Lesson 1: Simple Table relationships Understanding relationships
Relating Tables

Lesson 2: Reports
Creating summaries
Summarizing portal data

Lesson 3: Buttons and scripts
Simple Buttons
Creating script

Lesson 4: Field Options
Advanced value lists
Advanced calculations
Field auto-entry
Field validation
Container Fields