FileMaker Pro 5.5: Basic Skills for Windows

Course Description

Overview:   FileMaker Pro is a powerful database program that allows tremendous flexibility in the entry and manipulation of information. In this course, you will learn the basics of FileMaker Pro so that you can create and use databases to organize your information.

Prerequisites:   We designed for the student who has little or no experience using FileMaker Pro, and who needs to learn the basic skills that are necessary in order to begin to use this program effectively.
  Before taking this course, you should have a basic understanding of your computer's operating system. For example, you should know how to launch an application, create and save files, and copy files from CDs and other media.

Performance-Based Objectives
Lesson objectives help students become comfortable with the course, and also provide a means to evaluate learning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Create a new database.
• Define several types of fields to hold various types of data.
• Use auto-enter options to speed data entry.
• Define and use calculation fields.
• Create check boxes, radio buttons, and pop-up menus from named value lists.
• Find records using single and multiple criteria, including logical searches and AND and OR searches.
• Sort records by various criteria.
• Format text, numbers, fields, and objects in layouts.
• Modify an existing layout and create new layouts.
• Use merge fields to create a form letter layout.
• Summarize data using grand summaries and subsummaries.

Course Content

Lesson 1: Introduction to Databases
          Topic 1A: Database Basics
                   Task 1A-1: Opening a Database
          Topic 1B: Using a Database
                   Task 1B-1: Browsing Records
                   Task 1B-2: Entering Records Manually
                   Task 1B-3: Viewing a Database as a Form, List, or Table
                   Task 1B-4: Finding Records
                   Task 1B-5: Changing Layouts
                   Task 1B-6: Sorting Records

Lesson 2: Creating a Database
          Topic 2A: Defining a New Database
                   Task 2A-1: Creating a New Database
                   Task 2A-2: Creating Fields
                   Task 2A-3: Editing Field Names
          Topic 2B: Advanced Field Options
                   Task 2B-1: Applying Auto-Entry Field Options
                   Task 2B-2: Creating Calculation Fields
                   Task 2B-3: Applying Validation Field Options
                   Task 2B-4: Creating a Pop-Up Menu Value List
                   Task 2B-5: Creating a Radio Buttons Value List
                   Task 2B-6: Applying Check Box Value Lists
          Topic 2C: Importing Records
                   Task 2C-1: Importing Records from Other Sources
                   Task 2C-2: Replacing Field Information

Lesson 3: Complex Find Requests
          Topic 3A: Advanced Single Criterion Searches
                   Task 3A-1: Performing Searches Using Logical Operators
                   Task 3A-2: Performing Range Searches
                   Task 3A-3: Finding Blank Fields
                   Task 3A-4: Omitting Records
          Topic 3B: Multiple Criteria Searches
                   Task 3B-1: Performing an AND Search
                   Task 3B-2: Performing an OR Search

Lesson 4: Designing Layouts
          Topic 4A: Modifying the Default Layout
                   Task 4A-1: Resizing Fields
                   Task 4A-2: Deleting and Changing Field Labels
                   Task 4A-3: Moving Fields
                   Task 4A-4: Drawing Basic Shapes
                   Task 4A-5: Applying Fill Colors
                   Task 4A-6: Formatting Numeric Fields
                   Task 4A-7: Grouping Layout Items
                   Task 4A-8: Changing the Layout Name
          Topic 4B: Creating New Layouts
                   Task 4B-1: Creating a Columnar Report
                   Task 4B-2: Viewing Layout Parts
                   Task 4B-3: Formatting Layout Fields
                   Task 4B-4: Creating Mailing Labels
          Topic 4C: Using Merge Fields
                   Task 4C-1: Creating a Blank Layout
                   Task 4C-2: Inserting the Date Symbol
                   Task 4C-3: Inserting Merge Fields
                   Task 4C-4: Importing Graphics

Lesson 5: Summarizing Data
          Topic 5A: Using Grand Summaries
                   Task 5A-1: Creating a "Count" Summary Field
                   Task 5A-2: Creating Leading Grand Summary Parts
                   Task 5A-3: Creating a "Total Of" Summary Field
          Topic 5B: Using Subsummaries
                   Task 5B-1: Creating Subsummary Parts
                   Task 5B-2: Formatting Items in Subsummary Parts
                   Task 5B-3: Duplicating Fields
                   Task 5B-4: Displaying Summary Information for Found Records