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| FileMaker Pro 9: The Missing Manual | 
 enlarge | Authors: Geoff Coffey, Susan Prosser
Publisher: O'Reilly Media
Category: Book
List Price: $34.99
Buy New: $23.09
You Save: $11.90 (34%)
New (37) Used (12) from $16.87
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 4479
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 799
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.8
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7 x 1.6
ISBN: 0596514131
Dewey Decimal Number: 005.74
EAN: 9780596514136
ASIN: 0596514131
Publication Date: August 2, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 FM 9 December 1, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This manual is thorough and complete. It is clearly written and easy to use.
 FILEMAKER 9 .. MISSING MANUAL November 25, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
The book is as massive and complete as Filemaker 9 software. I found that it was at first intimidating because of the 750 + pages but after you dive in and learn to use the index the book because a lifesaver and close companion. I highly recommend it to anyone trying to use this powerful program.
This book won't end up as a doorstop or a climbing platform for your cat(s) November 3, 2007
27 out of 28 found this review helpful
I've been using FileMaker Pro for over ten years now, pretty much creating simple databases and runtime solutions for myself and fellow workers.
Earlier this year, however, I was commissioned to create a safety-related database (runtime solution) for none other than FedEx and its nine feeder-carriers. Talk about instant panic-attack! When I found out that I'd be the authoring it I immediately perused Amazon.com and bookstores for books that would help me get up to speed very quickly so I could start coding away; I ordered an armful of them, some were "bible" and "idiot"-titled tomes and others were so "up there" technically that my eyes glazed over just reading their Table of Contents. More often than not they made me feel dense because there weren't enough explanations or examples in them for me to fully understand what was trying to be explained.
The book I ended up using the most--and really appreciating its real-world use and easy-to-understand explanations--was "FileMaker Pro 8, The Missing Manual" by Geoff Coffey and Susan Prosser. I can honestly say without any hyperbole that their book, and downloadable practice files, gave me a solid foundation to work from so I could build the database. After some finishing touches supplied by FileMaker developer Matt Lygo of kantala.com, I submitted the database to FedEx...and they LOVED it--so much so I earned their prestigious BZ Award for Excellence.
Since then, I've been working on another project that requires much greater power and flexibility than what FileMaker 8 or 8.5 had to offer, so after upgrading to FileMaker 9.0 _the_ first book I bought was Coffey and Prosser's Missing Manual book for FileMaker 9.0. Still a winner, I'm reading it as both a refresher and to learn the new powers that come with 9.0. It's both time and money well-spent.
So, if you're looking for a book to get you going in FileMaker, make this one your first choice; you'll be glad you did.
Filemaker Pro 9: The Missing Manual October 27, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am very much a beginner using Filemaker Pro. I have heard great things about this product. So far this book has been of great benefit in pointing me in the right direction. The book is well laid out and tremendously easy to follow. Just starting to build my templates and the book is right by my side. Highly recommended.
 Exception to the Missing Manuals Series: Poorly Written and Structured October 23, 2007
26 out of 33 found this review helpful
I am generally an exponent of the "Missing Manuals" series, but this is a notable exception. The book is poorly structured and the writing is largely uninstructive.
The authors rely excessively, if not entirely, on enormous, sparsely annotated examples to explain how FileMaker works. Excessive reliance on giant, lengthy examples has important drawbacks for the reader:
1) You cannot "jump" to a particular topic that interests you, because a) the authors assume you have been following their example scenario throughout the entire book; and b) there is very little clear explanation of concepts and processes, only more working with their example.
2) Because of the book's reliance on an endless example, you must read the book--essentially--from cover to cover, to derive value.
3) There is very little explicit explanation of FileMaker concepts and processes. In most cases, the authors leave the reader to INFER how to use FileMaker by witnessing their examples.
4) The writing quality is very poor compared to other books in Missing Manuals series. The ordering of thoughts and instruction; use of introductions and conclusions; and plain sentence structure make it hard if not impossible to discern anything about Filemaker Pro 9.
Conclusion: The book neither conveys concepts, nor permits the reader to jump to a topic of interest. The delivery of information is minimal and highly inefficient.
Addendum: Several (approximately 5%) of key hyperlinks on the book's website, which are essential to following the book's example were "broken" (nonfunctional) as of 23 Oct 2007. I am certain this will eventually be repaired by the publisher.
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