Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1. Working with Your Database
FileMaker Pro databases can be as simple as a list of things you need to pack for a camping
trip (complete with pictures) or as complex as a company-wide system for purchasing, sales,
inventory, invoicing, shipping, and customer tracking. But all of them essentially
work
the
same way. This chapter gives you a tour of FileMaker's major features and gets you ready to
use your very first database.
FileMaker's vast assortment of tools and options can make the program's window as intimid-
ating as a jumbo-jet cockpit. But the program's menu commands, dialog boxes, keyboard
shortcuts, and other options stay largely consistent across all databases, so everything you
learn in the next few pages will apply to almost every database you'll ever use.
TIP
Because a database usually solves a problem of some kind, some FileMaker experts call a database a
solution
, as in, “I can create an inventory solution for your bakery, but it's going to cost you some
dough.” Usually,
database
and
solution
mean the same thing, although the term
solution
sometimes
implies a system of several connected databases.
A Very Quick Database Tour
Every FileMaker Pro database has two major working parts. First, there's the information
(data) you're storing. And second are the tools that help you view and manage this data.
Since data changes radically from file to file, you'll start this tour focusing on the elements
you find in nearly every FileMaker database—the tools. These buttons, controls, and pop-up
menus help you put information into your database or edit the information that's already
there. And once you have data in your file, your tools help you find and manage the specific
data you need.
Every database window has the same basic structure. The
content area
in the middle is
where the data goes, and as you can see in
Figure 1-1
, a handful of special items appear at
the top and bottom of the window.
NOTE
To follow along in this chapter, you'll find it helpful to download the sample database from this
topic's Missing CD page at
www.missingmanuals.com/cds/fmp13tmm
.
