FileMaker® Pro 9 Bible -- Contents -- Part I The Fundamentals -- Chapter 1 Databases: The What, Why, and How -- The Many Faces of Databases: Lists, Tables, and Forms -- The Concept of a Relational Database -- The Anatomy of a Database Solution -- How FileMaker Fits In -- Chapter 2 Putting FileMaker Pro in Perspective -- What Makes FileMaker Pro Different from Other Database Development Tools? -- The FileMaker Product Family -- FileMaker's Hidden Talents -- Resources and Exemplars -- Chapter 3 Getting Acquainted with FileMaker -- Getting FileMaker Working for You -- Finding Your Way Around -- Entering and Editing Data -- The Ins and Outs -- Getting to Know the Relatives -- Optimizing the Application -- Chapter 4 What's New in FileMaker 9 -- The FileMaker Quick Start Screen -- The Help Menu -- Learn More Links on Critical Dialogs -- Scheduled Software Update Notification -- New Calculation Functions -- Conditional Formatting -- Append to PDF -- The Send E-Mail Link for Database Sharing -- Script Grouping and Editing Tools -- Automatic Resizing of Layout Objects -- Enhanced Tab Control -- Web Viewer Feature Enhancements -- Field-Specific Enabling of Visual Spell-Checking -- Multiple Levels of Text Undo and Redo in Fields and ScriptMaker -- Additional Toolbar Controls -- Additional Avery Label Formats -- Enhanced External SQL Data Source Support -- Supplemental Fields for ESS Tables -- FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced -- Part II Introduction to Database Design -- Chapter 5 Creating a Database -- Creating a New Database File -- Viewing and Interacting with Data -- Avoiding the Need for Data Duplication -- Getting Started with File Security -- Thinking About Usability -- Chapter 6 The Interface: Layout Mode -- Initial Layouts -- The Importance of Visual Structure -- Different Kinds of Layout Objects -- FileMaker as a Graphical Environment.

Interacting with Layout Objects -- The Tab Control and Its Uses -- Displaying Related Data -- The Magic of Buttons -- The Web Viewer: Inviting in the World -- Reports and Data Output -- Chapter 7 The Structure: The Manage Database Dialog -- Working with Tables -- Specifying Fields -- Basic Calculations -- The Relationships Graph -- Working with External SQL Data Sources -- The Concept of Data Relationships -- Chapter 8 The Processes: ScriptMaker -- ScriptMaker: What It Is and What It Offers You -- Defining and Editing Scripts -- Using the Script Menu -- Controlling Script Execution -- Some Notable Script Uses -- Ease of Editing in ScriptMaker -- Organizing Scripts -- Some Examples to Start With -- Part III Beyond the Basics -- Chapter 9 The FileMaker Power User -- Making Browse Mode Work for You -- Performing Complex Search Operations -- Sorting Records -- Understanding Formatting -- Some Notes on Variables -- Understanding Indexing -- The Table of Dependencies -- Caching Join Results -- Understanding Global Fields -- Chapter 10 Building Advanced Interfaces -- Developing for Mac and Windows Users -- Using Dynamic Screen Elements -- Working with Sub-Summary Parts and Part Controls -- Designing for Print -- Using Multiple Windows and Views -- Employing Custom Dialogs as an Interface Tool -- Looking at Anchors and Resizable Layout Objects -- Implementing Shortcut Navigation -- Building Depth and Dimensionality -- Working with Tab Controls -- Recognizing the Flexibility of Portals -- Using Advanced Web Viewer Techniques -- Progress Bars and Native Charting Techniques -- Using Interface Elements -- Handling User Preferences -- Chapter 11 Data Modeling in FileMaker -- Background in Relational Theory -- FileMaker Relationships Graph Symbols -- Relationship Operators -- Alternative Relationship Techniques -- Working with Data Arrays.

Graph Techniques-Spiders, Squids, and Anchor-Buoy -- Documenting the Database Structure -- The Concept of Layers -- File Architecture versus Data Structure -- Separation and External SQL Sources -- Implementing Separation in an Existing Solution -- Deployment Considerations -- Chapter 12 Calculation Wizardry -- Compound Calculation Expressions -- Order of Operations -- Boolean Operations -- Variables-Calculation, Script, and Global -- Text Processing and Parsing Functions -- Text Formatting Operations -- Dates, Times, and Timestamps -- Summary Data -- Lists and Arrays -- Layers of Abstraction -- Unstored Calculations -- Calculation Fields versus Auto-Enter Calculations -- Global Calculations -- Environment and Metadata -- Calculations Using Custom Functions -- Your Code's Documentation -- Chapter 13 Scripting in Depth -- Scripting the Control of Objects and Interface -- Trapping for Errors -- Scripts and Access Privileges -- Automating the Automation -- Harnessing the Power of Parameters, Results, and Variables -- Dynamic and Indirect Controls in ScriptMaker -- Using Nonlinear Logic -- Modular Script Code -- Scripted Window Management -- Scripting Data Import and Export -- Pivoting Data between Tables -- Going over Some Practical Examples -- Part IV Integrity and Security -- Chapter 14 In Control with FileMaker Security -- Concepts of Security -- The Privilege Set -- Granular Security -- User Authentication -- Scripted Account Management -- Creating a Custom Logout Option -- How Much Security Is Enough? -- The Importance of Physical File Security -- Security in Deployment: FileMaker Server -- Chapter 15 Maintaining Referential Integrity -- Pinpointing Common Causes of Referential Integrity Problems -- Using Unique Keys -- Generating Keys -- Exploring Keys and Data Type -- Retrofitting Keys -- Deleting Redundant Records.

Considering Other Integrity Issues -- Managing Dependencies -- Chapter 16 Making FileMaker Systems Fail-Safe -- Expecting the Unexpected -- A Comprehensive Approach to Error Trapping -- Opening Remote Files -- Temporary Edit Interface Techniques -- Field Masking, Filtering, and Error Rejection -- Built-In Logging Capabilities -- Script Logging -- Capturing User Edits in Detail -- Managing the Accumulation of Log Data -- Implementing Roll-Back Capabilities -- Alternative Logging Approaches -- Chapter 17 Maintaining and Restoring Data -- Some Notes on File Recovery -- Exporting and Importing Data -- Data Cleansing Operations -- Synchronizing Data Sets -- Handling Embedded Images and Stored Files -- Text-Handling Considerations -- Part V Raising the Bar -- Chapter 18 FileMaker Pro Advanced Features -- Script Debugger -- Data Viewer -- Database Design Report -- File Maintenance -- Defining Tooltips -- Creating Custom Menus -- Custom Functions -- Custom Functions and Recursion -- Creating Runtime Applications -- Chapter 19 Efficient Code, Efficient Solutions -- Designing for Scale: Size Considerations -- Eliminating Redundancy -- Designing for Flexibility and Adaptability -- Traveling the Shortest Distance Between Two Points -- Transaction Modeling -- Managing File Size -- Images and Media in Databases -- Chapter 20 Extending FileMaker's Capabilities -- External Scripting Calls -- Rendering HTML and JavaScript -- Web Viewer Widgets -- FileMaker Plug-Ins -- Web Deployment Options -- Finding Third-Party Tools -- Part VI Appendixes -- Appendix A Glossary -- Appendix B Expanding Your Knowledge with Additional Resources -- From the Horse's Mouth -- Professional Consulting and Development Services -- Online Design and DevelopmentTips and Tricks -- Online Forums and Mailing Lists -- Books and Periodicals -- Appendix C About the Web Site -- What's on the Web Site.

Troubleshooting -- Index.