Wow! for FileMaker and Wow! for Feiler's book. I've used FileMaker since Version 1 on an original Mac. I've also worked on large-scale databases. Over the years, FileMaker made a valiant effort to move towards the power and flexibility of the big databases, but I always felt it was somewhat of a compromise. With FileMaker 7, I honestly think that FileMaker is ahead of the big databases.FileMaker's big advantage is its integrated development tools--scripting, layouts, etc. Feiler starts with the concepts and immediately does something I was dubious about--he jumps into the templates and shows you how to modify them. To me, the logical choice would have been to start at the beginning with a blank database. I quickly saw what he was after, and it works. Instead of starting from scratch, you start from databases that work (supplied with FileMaker), and you use them from the beginning. Then you start to modify them. Only then do you start designing your own databases from scratch. Even though I really know FileMaker, this approach taught me some basics that I never knew.
Feiler's description of FileMaker's new relational model is terrific. It not only explains relational databases, but it also explains clearly what FileMaker relationships really are (relationships as well as canned queries).
The book looks good, reads well, and is organized intelligently. In a way, we're all beginners with FileMaker 7. This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn FileMaker 7--whether you have experience with prior versions or not.
