FMP Books

Well worth the investment


Excellent Resource   November 11, 2000
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

If you feel the best books about a software product are the ones that go beyond the product, then Using FileMaker Pro 5 by Coulombre and Price is a must have read. This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning how to approach creating a database, from the initial interview with a client through a complete solution. This book is as much a manual about good business sense as about using FileMaker Pro and I found that a refreshing change from most software manuals. While lacking indepth information about some of FileMaker's more esoteric features, it gives the reader more than enough good information to get more out of FileMaker.


Excellent resource   November 7, 2000
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I had the pleasure of taking one of Rich Coulombre's classes a few years ago, and I was really looking forward to this book. Most of the other Filemaker books I've read hae great examples of scripts and calculations, but this is the first book I've read that really gets into HOW to think about Filemaker. It's the difference between giving a man a fish and teaching him to fish.


Exceptionally clear, exceptionally useful   November 6, 2000
 15 out of 15 found this review helpful

I guess I'm an intermediate FileMaker Pro user: I've been using the program since before it was called FileMaker but although I use it on a daily basis it's strictly for my own use (we run our medical practice on a self-developed series of databases). I'm not a developer and have no clue how to use some of the most sophisticated capabilities of the program.

Having positioned myself in the middle of the spectrum of users I have to say that this book, like the one the authors wrote on FileMaker version 2, is entirely approachable, full of easy-to-apply tips, and a rock-solid source of inspiration and usable techniques that intermediates like me are likely to find invaluable. I too have Scriptology, but Coulombre and Price have a knack for explaining FileMaker that in my opinion no other authors match.


Holy Smokes!   November 2, 2000
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I have been developing professionally for quite a while now, referring regularly to Scriptology and the manual, and while both are very helpful, Mr. Coulombre has elucidated the development process in ways from the very earliest planning stage to completion. His writing style is very user-friendly, engaging and sometimes even funny ("the joys of self joins and other relationships")!

If I were given only one chance to say something toMr. Coulombre, it would be "Thank you!"

For anyone who is interested in developing professional databases, this book should be your Bible.