FileMaker Pro 9: The Missing Manual

Opening and Closing Database Files

Each database you create with FileMaker Pro is stored in a file on your hard drive—just like your Microsoft Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and all the PowerPoint presentations you’ve ever created. This file contains all the information about how the database is structured, plus all the information stored inside it, which means you can open, close, copy, or back up a database as you would any other file. But if you need a bit more explanation, this section explains how to do those tasks, including some quirks that are particular to FileMaker files.

UP TO SPEED: A Tour of the Templates

FileMaker Pro’s standard templates make it easy to perform routine tasks found in typical businesses, schools, and homes. Just choose a template and get right to work. Chances are one of the 40 templates built into FileMaker is set up to manage the kind of information you’re working with, so you waste no time on setup. Here’s an overview of the nine basic template categories:

• The Business - Finance set has the bean counters in mind. Track employee expenses and work hours (billable or otherwise), and generate purchase orders.

• The Business - General category is an assortment of useful templates from document management to to-do lists. With this category, you can keep track of computer files, create a searchable and printable product catalog, and more.

• If you need to keep track of real things—physical assets, customers, inventory, or just about anything else—use the ...