FileMaker® Pro Design & Scripting For Dummies®

Chapter 1. Introducing FileMaker Pro

In This Chapter

• Why FileMaker?

• Knowing what to use FileMaker for

• Choosing a version of FileMaker

• Using toolbars

• Configuring FileMaker

How many times have you heard the phrase “information is power”? The ability to keep and manage information accurately is indeed powerful, especially when that information is vital to your business or personal life. FileMaker places that power in your hands by giving you the ability to easily create, manage, and view vital (and sometimes not so vital) information. The good news is that a certificate from High Tech U is not required to tap into all that power!

Why Use FileMaker?

Yes, you can choose from a lot of products designed for keeping track of information. Just off the top of my head, I can think of Microsoft Access, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Acius 4D, FoxBase, MySQL, and dBASE (Yes, it's still around). So, with all these other products out there, why should you use FileMaker? Here are just some of the reasons:

• Through the use of layouts, FileMaker provides a point-and-click interface for designing databases without requiring you to have prior database experience.

• FileMaker allows for cross-platform databases for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. You can design your database in one environment and run it on both platforms.

• You can publish your database to the Web in just a few clicks, which means that users on any platform with a compatible browser can use your database — even Linux users.

• FileMaker lets you save ...