Datasheet
10
Part I ✦ The Fundamentals
or projects that have complex requirements. Another significant advantage of rela-
tional databases is their ability to reuse (or repurpose) data. For example, a high
school might maintain a series of databases for extracurricular activities but draw
all the name and address information from a single, student registration database.
Figure 1-2: Relational database programs can create a report by extracting
information from several tables.
Learning to use a relational database program can be difficult because of the com-
plexity of the relational concept and the fact that much of the program’s power fre-
quently comes from a programming language that you must use to create advanced
databases. In addition, designing relational databases often requires substantial
planning. You must usually decide on the relational (or key) fields ahead of time
and determine what data will be collected in each file. Unlike a flat-file database,
a relational database isn’t easy to toss together.
Introducing FileMaker Pro
Because this book is about FileMaker Pro, you might well be asking yourself where
it fits into the “relational versus flat-file” classification scheme. Up through FileMaker
Pro 2.1, FileMaker Pro was a flat-file database program with some relational capabil-
ities. Specifically, you could use its Lookup feature to look up information in a sec-
ondary file and then copy that information into the current file’s table.
Since version 3.0, however, FileMaker Pro has had full relational database capabili-
ties. In addition to lookups, you can define relationships between tables that merely
display the related data from a secondary table rather than copy it into the primary
table. Depending on the nature and extent of your data, you can save loads of hard
disk space by creating related databases instead of relying on lookups.
I.D. 45016
Jim Smith
18 Oak Street
Shumway, OH 30981
I.D. 45016
Statement
Jim Smith
18 Oak Street
Shumway, OH 30981
Key field
Addresses Orders Statements
Date Amount
3/5/94 .........
4/6/94 .............
$107.00
53.25
3/5/94 .........
4/6/94 .............
$107.00
53.25
Total $160.25
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