Quick Start

Lesson 1
FileMaker Pro basics
Welcome to the FileMaker
®
Pro tutorial. This tutorial shows you
how you can manage your information in FileMaker Pro.
You will learn how to use FileMaker Pro software to:
1 locate and sort information
1 create and enter records in a simple database
1 create mailing labels
1 create calculations, buttons, and scripts
1 create and run reports
1 use the relational capabilities of FileMaker Pro
It takes approximately four hours to complete this tutorial, which can
be done in one session or several shorter sessions.
How to use this tutorial
These lessons are based on the membership database of a fictitious
travel firm, The Corporate Travelers Club. Corporate travelers who
are members of this club save their businesses money on travel costs,
and the club’s expenses are offset by an annual membership fee.
FileMaker Pro is used to track the members’ names, addresses, and
membership status, as well as to generate labels and form letters to
contact members.
It’s best to complete these lessons sequentially, as the concepts
introduced in early lessons are assumed to be understood in later
lessons. However, because the lessons are self-contained, it’s
possible to skip lessons entirely, or to complete them later if desired.
This tutorial assumes that you are familiar with your computer’s
operating system. Opening files, locating folders, and other activities
that require some knowledge of your computer’s OS are a necessary
part of completing this tutorial.
Note All persons and companies listed in the sample files are purely
fictitious, and any resemblance to existing persons and companies is
purely coincidental.
Files included with this tutorial are intended to illustrate the features
of FileMaker Pro, and as such, might be unsuitable for use as
templates for further development.
We begin with a demonstration
To show you the goal of each lesson up front, we guide you through
a sample file that illustrates a feature or concept. This way, you will
always know a lesson’s objectives.
We explain how it works
As we introduce new techniques and concepts, we will explain how
to use them in other situations.
You build the structures
Because using FileMaker Pro is the most effective way to learn the
application, each lesson features a hands-on activity designed to
guide you through menus, screens, and concepts step by step.
Where to find the lesson files on your hard drive
The files used in this tutorial are installed as part of a typical
FileMaker Pro installation set.