Quick Start

Lesson 10
Making databases relational
Relational databases let you easily view relationships between files
and streamline data entry. You can enter data once, then view and
use that data in related files.
In this lesson, you will:
1 see how relational databases work
1 define a relationship
1 display data from one related record
1 display a list of related records
The sample files in this lesson are a Members file with records for
individual Corporate Travelers Club members, and a Companies file
for companies where these members work. Each company has many
members.
Note You can install a fresh copy of the tutorial files at any time. For
Windows-based systems, see the Custom setup instructions in
“Installing FileMaker Pro” on page 7. For Mac OS systems, see
“Custom installation” on page 22.
View data from one related record
See how relationships work in the sample files
1. Open the Tutorial folder in the FileMaker Pro folder.
2. Open the Sample Files folder.
3. Open the Sample10 folder.
You should be here:
FileMaker Pro\Tutorial\Sample Files\Sample10.
4. Open Companies10.fp5 and browse through the records.
You see one record for each of the three companies that has members
in the Corporate Travelers Club.
5. Open Members10.fp5 and browse through the records.
6. In Members10.fp5, create a new record for Jane Doe.
7. For Company, choose ABC Company.
8. Notice that the address for ABC Company automatically appears.
About related files
Companies10.fp5 and Members10.fp5 are related files.
When you enter a company name in a record in the Members file,
FileMaker Pro identifies the record for that company in the
Companies file. FileMaker Pro then displays the address from this
matching company record in the Members file.