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

Preface

Learning how to use FileMaker Pro

The documentation for the FileMaker

Pro software provides

information, illustrations, and step-by-step instructions to help you

learn the most about FileMaker Pro.

This preface explains how to:

1 register your copy of FileMaker Pro and access customer support

1 use the FileMaker Pro documentation and other tools to help you

work with the product

1 use FileMaker Pro Help

Windows: If you’re new to Microsoft Windows, you need to know

about Windows conventions and using the mouse and keyboard. See

the documentation that came with your computer.

Mac OS: If you’re new to the Mac OS, you need to know about using

the mouse, working with disks, and other Mac OS conventions. See

the documentation that came with your computer.

Registration and customer support

Please take the time to complete and mail the registration card for

your product, or register online at www.filemaker.com/register or by

choosing Help menu > FileMaker on the Web in FileMaker Pro.

For information about technical support and customer service, see:

www.filemaker.com (North American customers)

www.filemaker.com/intl (customers outside North America)

or choose Help menu > FileMaker on the Web. At the web site, you will

find the FileMaker, Inc. Service Directory, which details the service

options available to North American customers, as well as links to

FileMaker, Inc. international sites, answers to frequently asked

questions, and access to extensive software libraries used by

technical support staff. If you do not have access to the Web, please

refer to the Technical Support and Customer Service sheet included

in the software box. North America customers can also call 1-800-

965-9090 to learn about the service options available.

Using the FileMaker Pro documentation

This guide and the other documentation in the set give you the

information that you need to know about installing and using

FileMaker Pro.

The FileMaker Pro documentation includes:

1 this book, the FileMaker Pro User’s Guide

1 FileMaker Pro Help, a comprehensive onscreen help system

1 the FileMaker Pro Getting Started Guide, containing installation

and new features information and a tutorial

In addition, FileMaker Pro includes database template files, and

references and examples to help you with specific tasks. You can

also find more information, tips, and database ideas on the

FileMaker, Inc. web site at www.filemaker.com.

The FileMaker Pro documentation is written for users of either

Windows or the Mac OS. In most instances, information and

instructions are the same for both operating systems. Where they

differ, you see the information for Windows first. In onscreen Help,

you may see separate topics for Windows and the Mac OS.

Note The examples in this documentation show dates and numbers

in U.S. format, such as November 30, 2001 and $1,234.50.