User manual

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Table Of Contents

Preface Learning how to use FileMakerPro
- Registration and customer support
- Using the FileMakerPro documentation
  - How this guide is organized
  - A note about the illustrations
- Using FileMakerPro Help
Chapter 1 FileMaker Pro basics
- About databases
- About FileMaker Pro files
- Performing menu commands
  - Using toolbars
  - Using context menus
- Managing files
Chapter 2 Adding and viewing data
- About working with records in Browse mode
- Viewing records
- Adding and duplicating records
  - Adding and duplicating related records
- Deleting records
- About entering data in records
- About working with graphics, sounds,andmovies
- About working with text
- Working with OLE objects
Chapter 3 Finding and sorting information
- Finding records
- Sorting records
Chapter 4 Previewing and printing information
- About printing information in a database
- Preparing to print
- Previewing data on a layout
- Printing
Chapter 5 Creating a database
- Planning a database file
- Creating a FileMaker Pro file
- About defining database fields
- Setting options for fields
- Changing field definitions
- Deleting field definitions and data
Chapter 6 Creating and managing layouts and reports
- About layouts and reports
- Creating layouts and reports
- Working with, duplicating, deleting, orrenaming layouts
  - Setting up to print records in columns
  - Setting up View as Form, View as List, and View as Table
- About working with objects on a layout
- About working with fields on a layout
- About layout parts
Chapter 7 Customizing layouts
- Customizing fields on a layout
- Customizing the appearance of a layout
- Arranging objects
- Using tools to precisely position objects
- Controlling how things print
Chapter 8 Working with related files
- Displaying data from related files
- Working with relational databases
- Changing relationships
  - Choosing a different relationship for a portal
  - Summarizing data in portals
- Defining lookups between files
Chapter 9 Protecting databases with passwords and groups
- Defining passwords
- Deleting or changing passwords
- Defining groups
- Deleting or changing groups
- Passwords and groups: a comparison
Chapter 10 Creating scripts to automate tasks
- About scripts
- Creating scripts: an overview
  - Planning scripts
  - Storing settings before creating a script
  - Defining scripts
- About ScriptMaker steps
- Control script steps
- Navigation script steps
- Sort, find, and print script steps
- Editing script steps
- Fields script steps
- Records script steps
- Windows script steps
- Files script steps
- Spelling script steps
- Open Menu Item script steps
- Miscellaneous script steps
- Changing scripts
- Duplicating, renaming, or deleting scripts
  - Deleting scripts
- Importing scripts
  - To import a script
- Listing scripts in the Scripts menu
- Using buttons with scripts
  - Defining buttons
  - Copying, changing, or deleting buttons
- Example of a ScriptMaker script
  - Finding duplicate records
Chapter 11 Using formulas and functions
- About formulas
- About functions
Chapter 12 Importing and exporting data
- About import and export
  - About file formats
- Importing data into FileMaker Pro
  - Importing data into an existing file
  - Converting a data file into a new FileMakerPro file
- Exporting data from FileMaker Pro
  - Exporting subsummary data
Chapter 13 Sharing databases on a network
- About sharing files on a network
  - Working with shared files
- About hosting files
- Opening files as the host
- Closing shared files
- Opening files as a guest
Chapter 14 Publishing databases on the Web
- About publishing databases on the Web
- How users work with databases on the Web
- What you need to publish databasesontheWeb
- Publishing databases on the Web: an overview
- Enabling FileMaker Pro Web Companion
- Configuring FileMaker Pro WebCompanion
- Enabling Web Companion sharing
- Setting up browser views
- Testing your published database
- About browser views for web publishing
Chapter 15 Using ODBC with FileMakerPro
- About ODBC
  - ODBC terminology
  - ODBC support in FileMakerPro
- Sharing FileMakerPro data via ODBC
- Accessing FileMakerPro data from an ODBC client application
  - Configuring the ODBC control panel
- Importing data from other data sources
- An ODBC import example
- Importing ODBC data with a join
  - Specifying a SQL join
- Automating ODBC connections
Appendix A Customizing FileMaker Pro
- Setting application preferences
- Setting document preferences
  - Setting general document preferences
  - Setting document spelling preferences
Appendix B Backing up and recovering files
- Backing up files
  - Using a backup script
- Maintaining files
  - Saving a compressed copy
  - Understanding file damage
- Recovering damaged files
  - When to recover
Appendix C FileMaker Pro Quick Reference (Windows)
- Keyboard and mouse shortcuts
Appendix D FileMaker Pro Quick Reference (Mac OS)
- Keyboard and mouse shortcuts
Index

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FileMaker Pro User’s Guide

ODBC support in FileMaker Pro

You can use the ODBC support in FileMaker Pro to:

1 work with FileMaker Pro data from ODBC-compliant applications

to create charts, construct ad-hoc queries, and analyze your data with

a variety of software applications

1 construct SQL queries in FileMaker Pro to import data from other

ODBC data sources like Microsoft Access or Oracle databases

For a list of SQL commands that FileMaker Pro supports, choose

Help menu > Contents and Index, click the Index tab, and type SQL

support.

Sharing FileMaker Pro data via ODBC

This section provides instructions for sharing FileMaker Pro data

with other ODBC-compliant applications. The process of

constructing SQL queries varies for each ODBC client application.

The FileMaker Pro ODBC driver enables you to access FileMaker Pro

data from other ODBC-compliant applications. For example, you can:

1 perform mail merges with Microsoft Word (Windows only)

1 create charts with Microsoft Excel

1 move or back up FileMaker Pro data to corporate-level DBMSs,

like Microsoft SQL Server

1 further analyze your FileMaker Pro data with query or reporting

tools like BrioQuery or Crystal Reports to create charts, construct ad-

hoc queries, and perform drill-down analysis

1 create a Microsoft Visual Basic application that shares information

with FileMaker Pro

FileMaker Pro shares data via ODBC with the Data Access

Companions. The Data Access Companions are FileMaker Pro plug-

ins that interface between the FileMaker Pro ODBC driver and your

FileMaker Pro database. They respond to SQL queries sent from

other ODBC-compliant applications. Enable the Local Data Access

Companion to share a FileMaker Pro file on the same computer.

Enable the Remote Data Access Companion to share the

FileMaker Pro file across a TCP/IP network.

Sharing data via ODBC: an overview

To share FileMaker Pro databases using ODBC, you:

1. Prepare the database files by enabling the Data Access Companion

plug-ins.

It’s a good idea to review the file’s access privileges to prevent data

from being inadvertently modified or deleted.

2. In the ODBC client application, configure the data source using

the ODBC control panel.

3. Connect to the FileMaker Pro data source, then construct and execute

the SQL query in a client application (like Microsoft Query or BrioQuery).

The procedures are described in more detail below.

Enabling the Data Access Companions

To share your data via ODBC, start by enabling the Data Access

Companion plug-ins:

1. Choose Edit menu > Preferences > Application.

2. Select the Plug-Ins tab.

3. Enable the desired Data Access Companions and click Done.

1 Enable Local Data Access Companion to share the FileMaker Pro

data with ODBC-compliant applications on the same computer.

1 Enable Remote Data Access Companion to share FileMaker Pro data

across a TCP/IP network.

4. In each database you want to share, choose File menu > Sharing,

enable the Data Access Companions, and click OK.

1 Enable Local Data Access Companion to share this FileMaker Pro

database with ODBC-compliant applications on the same computer.