FileMaker Pro 10: The Missing Manual by Susan Prosser, Geoff Coffey
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Book Reviews of FileMaker Pro 10: The Missing Manual
Book Review: FileMaker Pro 10 - The Missing Manual
Summary: 5 Stars
Product Review
BY: Sally Donaldson, Alaskan Apple User Group Member
Product: FileMaker Pro 10 The Missing Manual
Author: Susan Prosser & Geoff Coffey
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Company: Pogue Press(tm) - O'REILLY®
[...]
PRO: This book explains well from the beginning to the finished product.
CON: I don't find anything to complain about.
MOOSE RATING: 5
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My experience with spreadsheets has been limited to filling in grade sheets that someone prepared for me.
First I had to begin with vocabulary. Spreadsheets have a vocabulary of their own that is not used for anything else. I'm not working on committing that to memory, but to absorb the meaning of each word and how to apply them to practical use. Fortunately, this book begins with the vocabulary, linked with its use. I was surprised to learn that one must use the numeric pad ENTER key in order to transfer the new data you just entered to the other spreadsheets in the database. That knowledge alone makes my reviewing this book worth my time. I had become very frustrated that the info I inserted into the In-Put Sheet did not flow to the other sheets. I tried several methods that work in other situations, but didn't accomplish this feat until I read instructions in
The Missing Manual.
There is a List of keyboard shortcuts, plus simple instructions to check the View Menu if you forget the shortcut symbols (and who doesn't?).
Fortunately for me, prior Membership Chairpersons had already set the Database up and,
as in my past use of spreadsheets, I had only to in-put information. However, differing a long way from my past use of spreadsheets, which consisted of only one sheet. Our Membership Database has seven separate sheets, each of which is used for a different purpose. However, the basic information which we insert in the In-Put sheet, also needs to flow into all other sheets. That's what I learned to do.
A whole Chapter is devoted to creating and building a new database. I need to understand the process of building layouts, then start by building a basic layout before I move on through The Missing Manual to using Advanced Layouts.
Important features of every spreadsheet are Calculations. After learning about and understanding how to use tables, fields and relationships, we can advance to learn how calculations can make your database total invoices, analyze trends, calculate dates and times, and so on.
Calculations are not only for numbers! They can pick text apart and rearrange it in various forms, such as linking a Web address to a customer's address map. Some other applications for which we can use math and figures together are by using the math to figure how old someone is based on his/her birth date. You can figure how long someone has worked on a job and many other things.
This book covers Advanced Calculations and Scripting plus sharing info. ~END~
Book Review: The closest thing to a teacher
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm no good in using words, especially if they're in English.
But I really wanted to say that this book is more than just a manual. And although it of course can't stand for a human teacher, it's really close to that.
I was recently charged by the company I work for to develop a new DataBase in order to replace the simple Excel file storing all our contacts. In brief, the new DB should have been able to manage companies, addresses and people as well as every future promotional material dispatch.
I never heard about FileMaker before but the charge was to develop the DB using this platform. So I went out to buy a manual and came back with this promising book. I have to say I had a little experience with MS Access some time ago, but also have to precise that while the logic beneath is quite the same, the way the two DB apply it, it's really different.
Well, to make it short, I found this book outstanding. I found in it almost every single doubt coming up to my mind. And in the rare occasions I couldn't find it, it taught the logic beneath every function so well that I could come out with a solution just thinking about it for a while.
I don't want to compare this book to others, as I haven't read any of them (only one in Italian). But as far as I can say, this book will really teach you how FileMaker thinks and acts. As the title plays, the closest thing to a teacher I could imagine.
PS: The DB can now do every single thing it was planned to as well as manage the accounts and keep an archive of every single job that has been made for whatever customer
Book Review: Must Buy For FileMaker Pro Users!!
Summary: 5 Stars
For anyone that uses FileMaker Pro on a daily basis, this book is an absolute steal. With over 750 pages of relevant information, the authors go beyond this applications basic use as digital address book and really get into the details of what makes this a great application. With tons of pictures and clear detail how to follow along, the authors start with the basic use of displaying and inputting people data and go far beyond that, discussing design of databases and learning how to script FileMaker Pro to get this program to do nearly anything you need it to! Reports, exporting data to other formats, or publishing to the web, this book has it all!
A must read for any FileMaker Pro user who wants to get the most out of their experience and learn the ins and outs.
***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Book Review: The best of the bunch.
Summary: 5 Stars
Clearly written and almost complete, including FileMaker Advanced, and better than any of the other book out there from both beginner to advanced users. Very up-to-date. (I have compared it to versions 8 and 9, which I have as well.). A complete itemized list of all of the functions and script steps would be helpful, but the text itself covers the most important ones. These are available and handy in the FileMaker Help setup anyway.Book Review: Excellent -- like the others in series
Summary: 5 Stars
Super overview of Filemaker -- from the basics to the more advanced. I find it -- like others in the Pogue series -- invaluable. Keep it up !!