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| Special Edition Using FileMaker 7 (Special Edition Using) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Steve Lane, Bob Bowers, Scott Love, Chris Moyer
Publisher: Que
Category: Book
List Price: $44.99
Buy New: $30.89
You Save: $14.10 (31%)
New (22) Used (21) from $0.84
Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 439023
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 1104
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7.4 x 2.5
ISBN: 0789730286
Dewey Decimal Number: 005.7565
UPC: 029236730284
EAN: 9780789730282
ASIN: 0789730286
Publication Date: August 22, 2004
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 10 to 12 days
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| Customer Reviews:
 The BEST Filemaker 7 Book November 17, 2004
16 out of 16 found this review helpful
I sat in Barnes & Noble and compared "the Bible", this book and three others. This one by far had the best examples that really illustrate how intricate features work, and usually more than just one example. I am very experienced with Filemaker and find this book to be an excellent reference. It does have the first couple of chapters for newbies, which I skipped.
Only downside is that it is heavy.
Discursive, Not Step-by-Step, but Good Reference November 15, 2004
25 out of 25 found this review helpful
This book is for advanced programmers only. If you're a beginner or at intermediate level with FileMaker, most of the screen shots will be too small and the techniques too advanced. But advanced users will love the four appendices: Additional Resources, Calculation Function Reference, Script Step Reference, and Documenting FileMaker Pro Systems. The book is worth buying just for the appendices!
Numerous advanced techniques are discussed, but not in a step-by-step fashion. The files on the included CD are rudimentary but helpful. Examples include constructing a "self-join" file, implementing dynamic report columns, extracting values from checkbox fields, highlighting portal rows, and constructing a "back button." There is a good discussion of relational database theory and how to use the new Relationships Graph.
This book is a must-have for all advanced FileMaker 7 developers.
Excellent and Comprehensive Resource November 15, 2004
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
This book offers a complete and thorough coverage of the latest version from Filemaker; version 7. It covers design practices as well as the basics of calculations and scripting. Great sections on security, web publishing and more. But the best are the generous sprinkling of full technique gems such as the audit log, the new Evaluate command, one script navigation for an entire system and much more. Absolutely the best book on Filemaker Pro ever!
 disappointing November 5, 2004
18 out of 25 found this review helpful
When I bought this book, I had absolutely no database experience. I now have some, but no thanks to these 1100 pages. I do have some programming experience, and I am used to using these types of books as reference instead of step-by-step, read-every-page instruction manuals. This book is simply not useful for that approach. An example: I tried to setup a simple form in which the value of one field was determined by the value of two others. I knew that to do this I would have to use conditional statements, but I was unfamiliar with the syntax in FM Pro. Flipping to "IF script step" in the index of this book took me to a page-long description of conditional logic in general. This useless review of very elementary basics ("If today is a weekday, then Dad goes to work") is then followed by a tiny screenshot of an actual FM pro script using conditional logic. I found it frustrating that the authors devoted so much space to the basics, and then made me squint to try to glean some actual information. After a few minutes, I finally gave up and figured it out myself.
I guess maybe what it comes down to is that I paid Borders' price ($45) for this, and for that much money, I expect to use the book more than I use google to find answers. Maybe I'd be a little happier if I paid $30, but I would bet there is a better choice if you are not a computer/programming novice.
Version 7 is a big Upgrade October 19, 2004
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
The Moyer Group, a company founded by Chris Moyer and the employer of all the rest of the authors is a company founded to work with, support and teach about FileMaker. They have been involved with FileMaker for many years, and participated in the definition of the new features needed to past versions, including the leap from 6 to 7. They are arguably the best possible set of people to write this book.
The book is what you'd expect, 1104 wonderful pages that support its claim of being The ONLY FILEMAKER 7 Book You Need. The book is written from the stndpoing of an almost complete beginner needing to use filemaker (i.e. what's a database) through to the advanced user.
Of particular interest are Chapters 21-25 on publishing FileMaker data to the web or across a network using FileMaker as a server. This just well may be the easiest way yet of producing dynamic pages where the form/report capabilities become available to a large number of users.
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