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FileMaker Pro 8: The Missing Manual: Maximize the Power and Flexibility of FileMaker Pro 8

September 29, 2005

Sebastopol, CA--"More people buy FileMaker Pro than any other database program," report authors Geoff Coffey and Susan Prosser in their new book FileMaker Pro 8: The Missing Manual (O'Reilly, US $34.95). But it's about time people realized how much more it can do than serve as a digital address book. With just a few commands and mouse clicks (and the know-how from this book) users can make FileMaker Pro 8 print corporate reports, plan their retirement, manage a company, or govern a small country.

The authors promise, "you won't have to learn to think like a programmer (or know the arcane terms they use)" to benefit from the program's features. "But you will learn how to bend FileMaker Pro's hidden power to your will and make it tell you everything it knows about your company, your stock portfolio, or how much you've spent on the replacement parts for the '58 Bonneville Sport Coupe you're rebuilding."

Ideal for small business users, home users, school teachers, developers--anyone who wants to organize information efficiently and effectively--FileMaker Pro is an award-winning database program for managing people, projects, images, assets, and other information. FileMaker Pro 8: The Missing Manual is a refreshingly non-technical book for non-technical people (there's very little jargon or nerd terminology here, so readers don't need a computer science degree to understand it). This thorough guide explains how to store heaps of information and then organize and wrestle it into every shape possible with FileMaker Pro 8.

With this book, both Mac and PC users will learn how to create powerful, flexible databases that accomplish more than they dreamed possible. The book explores each FileMaker feature, tool, and option in depth, offers shortcuts and workarounds, and explains everything readers need to know to get the most out of their databases.

FileMaker experts Coffey and Prosser offer seasoned advice, practical guidance, and plenty of illustrations and real-world examples as they cover:

  • Database Basics--Readers will get their first database running in just minutes with this book and FileMaker's professionally designed templates. They'll also learn how to build their own database from scratch.
  • Layout and Design--This book walks users through FileMaker's many layouts and formatting tools, steering them clear of aesthetic pitfalls while revealing timesaving shortcuts.
  • lDemystifying Relational Databases--Linking up tables of information is what makes a database so much more powerful than a spreadsheet. With step-by-step examples using FileMaker Pro 8's intuitive visual tools, this book makes complex relationship building a breeze.
  • Calculations and Scripting--FileMaker comes with dozens of built-in formulas and an easy-to-learn scripting language. This book serves as an encyclopedic reference to all FileMaker formulas and script steps--complete with instructions on how to put them to work.
  • Advanced Topics--The book includes all the details on outfitting databases for the Web, selecting the best security features, importing and exporting data to other formats, and even customizing the menu bar.
  • Readers will be equipped to design and build their own highly useful database--from basic to high-powered--and customize it to meet their most exacting needs and preferences.

    Additional Resources:

    FileMaker Pro 8: The Missing Manual
    Geoff Coffey and Susan Prosser
    ISBN: 0-596-005792, 768 pages, $34.95 US, $48.95 CAN
    order@oreilly.com
    1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000

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