User manual
Table Of Contents
- Chapter 1 Introducing FileMaker Pro
- Chapter 2 Using databases
- About database fields and records
- Opening files
- Opening multiple windows per file
- Closing windows and files
- Saving files
- About modes
- Viewing records
- Adding and duplicating records
- Deleting records
- Entering data
- Working with data in Table View
- Finding records
- Performing quick finds in Browse mode
- Making find requests in Find mode
- Finding text and characters
- Finding numbers, dates, times, and timestamps
- Finding ranges of information
- Finding data in related fields
- Finding empty or non-empty fields
- Finding duplicate values
- Finding records that match multiple criteria
- Finding records except those matching criteria
- Viewing, repeating, or changing the last find
- Saving find requests
- Deleting and reverting requests
- Hiding records from a found set and viewing hidden records
- Finding and replacing data
- Sorting records
- Previewing and printing databases
- Automating tasks with scripts
- Backing up database files
- Setting preferences
- Chapter 3 Creating databases
- Planning a database
- Creating a FileMaker Pro file
- Creating and changing fields
- Setting options for fields
- Creating database tables
- Creating layouts and reports
- Working with layout themes
- Setting up a layout to print records in columns
- Working with objects on a layout
- Working with fields on a layout
- Working with layout parts
- Working with layout object, part, and background styles
- Creating and editing charts
- Chapter 4 Working with related tables and files
- Chapter 5 Sharing and exchanging data
- Sharing databases on a network
- Importing and exporting data
- Saving and sending data in other formats
- Sending email messages based on record data
- Supported import/export file formats
- Setting up recurring imports
- ODBC and JDBC
- Methods of importing data into an existing file
- About adding records
- About updating existing records
- About updating matching records
- About the importing process
- Converting a data file to a new FileMaker Pro file
- About the exporting process
- Working with external data sources
- Publishing databases on the web
- Chapter 6 Protecting databases
- Protecting databases with accounts and privilege sets
- Creating accounts and privilege sets
- Viewing extended privileges
- Authorizing access to files
- Security measures
- Enhancing physical security
- Enhancing operating system security
- Establishing network security
- Backing up databases and other important files
- Installing, running, and upgrading antivirus software
- Chapter 7 Converting databases from FileMaker Pro 11 and earlier
- Index
Chapter 5 | Sharing and exchanging data 136
Working with external data sources
You can define data sources in a FileMaker Pro file to access data from:
1 other FileMaker Pro files
1 SQL databases that use ODBC technology for sharing information
When you define data sources in FileMaker Pro files, current data from external databases is displayed
in your files. You can use FileMaker
Pro to add, edit, delete, search, and sort data in the external files.
The following procedures provide an overview of how to access data in external FileMaker Pro
files or external ODBC data sources. For detailed information on accessing external data sources,
see Help.
Working with external FileMaker Pro files
To set up a file to access data from another FileMaker Pro file:
1 Add tables from other FileMaker Pro data sources to the relationships graph in the current
FileMaker Pro file.
1 Add fields to layouts to display data from the other FileMaker Pro file.
Working with ODBC data sources
To set up a file to access data in supported ODBC data sources:
1 Install and configure an ODBC driver for the external data sources you want to access.
1 On the computer that hosts the current FileMaker Pro file, define a system Data Source Name
(DSN) for each ODBC data source you want to access.
1 Set options for the ODBC data sources you want to access (for example, whether users are
prompted for a user name and password).
1 Add one or more tables from the ODBC data source to the relationships graph in the current
FileMaker Pro file.
1 Add fields to layouts in the FileMaker Pro file to display external data.
1 Optionally, add supplemental fields to external tables and layouts to display calculation and
summary results based on data stored in external ODBC data sources.
Publishing databases on the web
If you have FileMaker Server, you can use FileMaker WebDirect to quickly and easily publish
layouts from your database on the web. You don’t need to install additional software—anyone with
compatible web browser software and access to the Internet or an intranet can connect to your
FileMaker
WebDirect solution to view, edit, sort, or search records, if you give them access
privileges. With FileMaker
WebDirect, data in the web browser updates automatically as
FileMaker
Server pushes data to the web browser.
For more information, see FileMaker WebDirect Guide.