User manual

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96 FileMaker Pro User’s Guide
After you create a relationship, you can do either of the following to display the data from the related table:
1 Design a relational database, which is one or more tables that, when used together, contain all the data
you need for your work. Each occurrence of data is stored in only one table at a time, but can be accessed
and displayed from any related table. You can change any occurrence of your related data, and the
changes appear in all places where that related data is used.
1 Define a lookup to copy data from a related table into a field in the target table. The copied data is now stored
in two places, just as if it were copied and pasted into a target field. Looked up data is current at the time it
is copied, but once copied it remains static unless it is re-looked up or the lookup is triggered again.
For example, a database for a travel agency might have these tables: a Tours table, which stores the products
(tours) and their current prices; a Clients table, which stores client information; an Invoices table, which keeps
a record of each invoice; and a LineItems table, which stores sales data for each line of the invoice, including
the tour being sold and the price at which it is sold. Because invoices are a mix of dynamic and static data, you
use both relational databases and lookups to display your data. Records from the LineItems table are displayed
dynamically, in a portal on the Invoices layout, but the actual sales price of each line item is entered using a
lookup, so the invoice totals remain historically accurate, even if prices change at some future date.
Lookups copy data from the related table into the current table
R20Client ID
NY-ParisRoute
R20Client ID
NY-ParisRoute
In relational databases, data from the related table is
only displayed in the current table, not copied
R20Client ID
NY-ParisRoute
R20Client ID
NY-ParisRoute
Current table Related table
Current table Related table
Invoices table
A-200-61
Invoice No
16-Oct-2010
Date
C100
Client ID
Tour
ID Tour Name
T10
Cost $
NY-Roma 550.00
T20 Roma-Istan 700.00
Williams
Name
1,250.00Total
Clients table
C100
Client ID
Williams
Client Name
408-555-3456
Phone
Tour ID
Tour Name
T10
NY-Roma
T20
Roma-Istan
Tours table
T10Tour ID
NY-RomaTour Name
Route
ID Origin
R200
Destination
NY Paris
R42 Paris Roma
Records from the
LineItems table
displayed in a portal