5 comments about FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference.

1. Scott Love, et al, have created a good reference book to supplement their gargantuan effort "Using FileMaker 8 (Special Edition)".
   
   Beginning developers imagine that all the power will be in functions and scripts. This is a slight misconception: scripts and functions will augment, but not replace, database design and interface design. Simple databases will be extensions of flat-file designs that take advantage of relational concepts; occasional functions might improve the user interface, and scripts (which are often point-and-click) can automate many functions.
   
   Eventually, you may wish to buy this book. But you'll very likely buy it and work backward to simply improving the actions in your design. You'll probably need only "SE: Using FileMaker 8...", but you'll feel comforted by this edition, and, perhaps, get your boss to pay for it. Good luck.



2. The authors gloat in their "Special Edition Using FileMaker 8" that they countered their editor's request to cut 10% from their previous book by increasing the content by 50% and creating a second book. In my review of "Special Edition Using FileMaker 8", I noted that it was a hack job; a superficial revision of the previous edition covering Version 7. In fact, the revision was so sloppy that references to Version 7 abound.
   
   "FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference" is little more than a slightly annotated printout of FileMaker's own help file. The language is a bit less terse, but no more informative. There are very few examples and what there are are minimal.
   
   In short, there isn't much more here than you'd find in FileMaker's own help files. You're really paying to have the information in a more convenient format and that's about it. It's a nice book to have on hand but I would have warmer feelings if the authors had done more to help the FileMaker user actually learn about the power the FileMaker's functions and scripting capabilities.
   
   Jerry



3. I bought this book primarily because I was so impressed with Scott's Filemaker 8 book. I have found it useful as an occasional reference to some of the more obscure parts of the Filemaker 8 program. If anything, it helps you realize just how much thought has been put into the program. Some of the functions are quite hard to get your head around, with or without this book, but almost impossible without it.
   
   If you are a developer, and think that there are functions and script steps just waiting for you to understand and use to make your job easier, this book is well worth it. Otherwise, you may not really make use of it.



4. I recieved this book several weeks ago, Being a refernce manual I have not read it cover to cover but I have used the Custom Calculation functios section significantly. The examble are clear and easy to follow. Knowing a programming language certainly helps. I think any programmer or developer working with Filemaker 8 will find this book extermely useful



5. this is a great reference, and the portion on custom functions is great for someone learning more about this wonderful feature of filemaker. the text has a few typos which will have you scratching your head while trying to make your functions work. be careful - some functions are mis-named in the bubblesort section. otherwise this is a great book, but if you have a copy of "Special Edition: using Filemaker", then you don't need this book. just check on Cleveland Consulting and Brian Dunning's websites for your custom function fun.

5 comments about The Book of FileMaker 6: Your One-Stop Guide to FileMaker Pro, Pro Unlimited, Developer, Server, and Mobile.

1. The Book of FileMaker 6 is the first book that I have asked friend to buy and Fedex for me. It's an excellent text book that I've ever had to lead me through my simple database development. Although English is not my native language, I found that the book is written in a very simple way and easily for understanding.
   Another wonderful thing is that the book is covered entire feild on FileMaker 6. For example, the FileMaker Developer, FileMaker Server, FileMaker Mobile and FileMaker Pro etc. You'll find it very useful once you have it. I do looking forward to see the book of FileMaker 7 thatis going to be written by Chirs Kubica.



2. Though it does give elaborate a bit on most ins-and-outs of Filemaker Pro 6, it doesn't go much into scrip wrtiting: a few lines, a few examples, not much 'general' syntax, and all its parameters. Anybody knows of a book that just teach you about (Filemaker Pro 6) scripts and scripwriting?



3. 
   Databases have always been difficult for me, even after 20 years in network design. FileMaker seemed to be the answer - power, clean design - everything a non-database person would love. But there is a learning curve, even with a great program like FileMaker.
   
   Needing additional assistance, I turned to Chris' "The Book of FileMaker 6" because it was a) thick, meaning lots of information, and b) it came with a CD of examples.
   
   After spending some time with his book, I can heartily recommend it as a "must-have" for anyone using FileMaker - beginner to pro. The book is well laid out, lacks the usual techno-jargon that crams other books and causes many reader's eyes to glaze over, and contains wonderful examples that allow even a new user to get working quickly.
   
   Having written many articles and step guides myself, I can appreciate the work it took for Chris to put this book together. The examples, both those in the book and on CD, are useful, straightforward, and practical.
   
   Bottom line - if you use FileMaker, you need this book...



4. Even though this book was written for an earlier version of FileMaker, I am glad to have it in my library as a reference. It is readable and many of the principles described apply to any database, regardless of version.
   
   The writing style won me over. I could pick a quote from nearly any section of the book, but I'll choose one from early on: "Every time you wait in line to get grocery money out of an ATM, you are waiting to access a database."
   
   It could have been written: "Every time you get money out of an ATM, you are accessing a database." Dull! The example was made immediate by including the
   "grocery money" and the "wait in line" parts of the experience.
   
   The style includes humor, of course: "...if you had a degree in mathematics or were, yourself, a robot..." (p. 10, talking about creating unique IDs for your database).
   
   I started at Chapter 0 and worked my way through the entire book. Even with my background, which was not that of a beginner, I learned something from nearly every page.
   
   The most helpful chapters to me have been:
   Chapter 15: Designing, Estimating, Planning, Developing, and Managing FileMaker Projects
   Chapter 5: Developing Relational Databases
   Chapter 12: FileMaker at the Center: Emulating or Integrating FileMaker Pro with Other Software (an eye-opener to me).
   
   The chapters I refer to most often (after 15 and 5) are:
   Chapter 14: FileMaker Pro Development Conventions
   Chapter 7: ScriptMaker
   Appendix A: Useful FileMaker Tips and Tricks
   
   These are the chapters that have tattered the book.



5. I'm developing a database for a local community library using Filemaker version 8. I found this book in a second hand bookstore and this is the most useful book of three books I use. The other two are "Using Filemaker 8" and "Functions and scripts".
   
   This book is on Fimaker 6, so a lot of material is absolete (or incorrect) in version 8, but still the basic functions and concepts are very well structured and presented. Especially I like the description of functions -- when we use them and when we don't. You may buy it for $0.50 or $9 at amazon.com. It is a steel.

5 comments about FileMaker Pro 6 Bible.

1. I am pleased with this book it will take you from beginner to intermediate in just a short while. I was however disappointed that it didn't go into a more advanced section for writing complex calculations and scripts. If you are staring out or need a reference book this will do. If you need to write complex scripts and calculations your better off looking else ware.



2. It says there's a whole chapter on plugins but I only find one plugin covered in depth and that one BRIEFLY. Hmph. I'll look elsewhere.



3. Don't buy this; the tool stinks and book doesn't provide very good example. FMPro is a badly written piece of software.



4. This book was advertised as having a reader level from beginner to advanced; although it was thoughtful and well laid out, it is for beginners only. The author manages no more with 900+ pages then what FileMaker does in roughly 200 pages with their boxed manual.
   If your thinking about making this purchase, reread the manuals that came with FileMaker and spend your money on something useful. I was hoping for a lot more.



5. I looked into several books on FileMaker before purchasing this one. The combination of accessible writing, and clear instruction, make this book a winner. Particularly helpful was an early "quick-start" session, which takes the reader through the building of a contacts database that utilizes all of the most commonly used features of the software to create a working database in a little over an hour. This section alone is worth the price of the book, and provides such clear instruction that other, more advanced concepts are much clearer for having read it. I'm surprised at the relatively weak reviews for this book -- I've turned to it time and again over the course of my FileMaker education. For my money, it's the best thing out there, especially for someone brand new to database design and creation.

1 comments about FileMaker Pro 8 Bible.

1. Hmmm... I'm disappointed by this book ;( I really love the "Bible" series, especially books about Flash. These books has very broad-content, aiming on all from beginers to proffesionals. But the Filemaker Pro 8 is big disappointment... There is almost nothing about advanced techiques, for me it looks like it's intended for users who, for some reason, didn't want to read manuals which came with FM ;(...

4 comments about Creating a Database in FileMaker Pro 8: Visual QuickProject Guide.

1. This is an excellent, concise, self paced beginners tutorial on Filemaker 8. It gets you started immediately in the development of a database (investment minder) covering the main features of the program. It is not a detailed tutorial covering all the aspects of Filemaker 8. Still you will come away with a good enough understanding of the program's basics to create a database of your own design. My only real criticism of the book is that I would have liked to have had more illustrations showing what instructions should actually look like once entered on the computer screen. This is especially the case in the section dealing with scripts. However this is a minor issue in an otherwise excellent book. I would highly recommend the book to anyone wanting to learn the basics of Filemaker 8.



2. Easy to follow, excellent examples. Shows how to create the relational files and the portals.



3. Get a regular FilePro 8 book. This is cumbersome, and expensive for what it does for you.



4. The good: This book was easy to follow. There was enough repetition that I got the hang of how to do things. I know what's available in FileMaker Pro.
   
   The bad: It was tedious to create the database (and I'm a patient person). The book told me mechanically *what* to do (i.e., what steps to follow to create the database), but it didn't explain the big picture of what I was creating or why I was doing certain things thus I'm not walking away with an understanding of what I did. (Maybe I got lost in the tedium of creating the database.)
   
   The ugly: I was shocked that it ended where it did. I was expecting a part on actually *using* the database so that I could get a feel for what a portal is and how it works, see what the scripts do, and so on. Nope. None of that. It left me to fill in records and try it for myself. That doesn't sound so bad except that the context is an investment database, and I don't know enough about money market accounts, stock and mutual funds, CDs, and savings bonds to really do that. I will play around with it some more, but I am disappointed.

5 comments about Special Edition Using FileMaker 7 (Special Edition Using).

1. This is an excellent piece of work. If you are new to FileMaker you should start with the FileMaker Pro7 Bible, but if you are a advanced developer this is the only book you'll need, alongside with a subscription to ISO FileMaker Magazine.



2. Like another reviewer suggested, let's agree that no single book is ever "the only book you'll ever need". (I for one, wish authors/publishers would stop making that claim). However, if you can only buy one, this is it! As we know, FileMaker Inc just released version 8. So why buy a book on version 7? Because 8 is nearly identical to 7 with a few additional bells & whistles and minor enhancements, and because with minimal gap, this book will prepare you for either version. So whether you're still on version 7, considering upgrading or made the move to 8, I believe Special Edition Using FileMaker 7 is a solid investment.
   
   It's a daunting 1032 pages, until you start reading. Big fat computer software books tend to be heavy on theory and concepts, and light on the practical stuff you can use right off the pages. All that text makes me dizzy. Yet, this one is an easy read, almost elementary, but intelligent and in plain english. The authors are human, not engineers (no offense :). They obviously work with real people in real situations. The breadth of material and concepts they cover is made even more impressive by the clarity they bring to each and every topic. There are plenty of demo files provided on the CD, and although basic, sufficiently show off FM's power and flexibility. I had little trouble adapting some of them to my own solutions- very useful in modeling sophisticated schemas. I did have a little difficulty deciphering one or two examples, but I managed. It's more than a how-to users' guide, it also teaches you how to think strategically and build efficient solutions using best practices. It tells you what, how and why, with screenshots that help make sense of it all (you will need a magnifier for half of them, though). You won't find examples of complex full blown databases, but you will walk away with a solid foundation, advanced enough that you could build or manage a database of moderate complexity, assuming of course you keep the book as a reference. I know, because I did.
   
   Exceptional, accessible style, all substance, no doze. Very good layout, logical arrangement, each section a building block for the one that follows. This book meets very high standards, and it's error-free as far as I can tell- and I read every page. FileMaker Pro developers already know that quality FileMaker books are rare, if they exist at all. This one will not disappoint. It may be a stretch for some beginners, but I would say buy this book along with a more rudimentary introduction to FileMaker. For you advanced developers, surely you could glean many useful nuggets from the section on Developer Techniques. Admittedly, that section has less depth than some other subjects in the book, but along with the last two sections, still worth the price if that's all you read. It deals with Developing for Multiple Users, Sessions, Concurrency, Audit Trails, Launching Files, and Team Development. The last two sections cover Data Integration and Publishing, and Deploying a FileMaker Solution, which deals with web issues, FileMaker Server, Plug-ins, and more. I don't deal with FM Server, but my feeling is that the 38 page chapter doesn't really do it justice. There is a pretty good Appendix section which talks about Documenting FileMaker solutions, and contains references on Calculation Functions and Script Steps- which I think every developer hates, but none can live without. These references are only a little better than FileMaker Pro's built in Help References, which only experienced users can decode.
   
   Clearly this book is written for Power Users, Administrators and ambitious Developers. Before this book, my FileMaker databases were so-so, certainly amateurish compared to what I can do now. This book has truly taken me to the next level. I develop commercial quality solutions now, thanks to this book. Whatever your goal, it can almost certainly be achieved from here. For deeper discourse specifically on Server & Developer or Advanced versions of FileMaker, you will want to find good companion books. I wish I could recommend some, but good FileMaker books are few and far between. Beginners might want to take a look at the project oriented "Creating a Database in FileMaker Pro or Pro 8: Visual QuickProject Guide (Visual Quickproject Series)". I've used their series before and they're excellent. Good luck!



3. Although I've been using FileMaker since 1996, to me the difference between version 6 and 7 is a paradigm shift. As in the previously oustanding Special Edition FileMaker books by Que, this one by Chris Moyer and others is steller. How? well, in content and exposition. Although there are a FEW idiosynchroncies, they have been corrected by on-line updates.
   
   In my humble opinion, this book is worth 5 stars.



4. The one aspect of this book that I like very much that is not covered by other comments is that the revised nature of Filemaker's different forms (Mobile, Server and Pro) are well covered as well as is the change made by FilemMaker to the basic underlying methodology of updating a record. I have used it to build a very large workflow automation system for a company and find it unmissable



5. Initially, I found the book a good manual with concise description. However, for the high price of the book, I expected not only a manual but also a set of templates that could be used in the real world. I found the samples a big disappointment both in preparation and design. I would expect from the top notch experts that I would end up with a valuable coherent Filemaker template system that I would be able to use at the end. (For example, a inventory, invoice and shipment tracking that has relational, lookups and multiple files). Instead these guys were jumping from militia to pet store samples.

3 comments about Learn FileMaker Pro 8.5.

1. This book is personably written and a comprehensive introduction to the complexities of Filmaker. The chapters are well laid out and the example scripts, layout and tables are relevant. There is a great deal of explanation which is relevant, and much better than a reference book as it ties in a lot of ideas together. I prefered it to the Filemaker bible 8.5 which I bought at the same time. The only disadvantage I found is that one had to follow the whole chapeter to understand the examples, and often they drew on the previous chapeters to make sense. Well worth it!



2. As a Mac and FileMaker user, I like the visual nature of most applications and books that explain to use them. However, this book only has small, barely legible greyscale screenshots that don't help you understand anything. I bought this book because of the reviews, that, as a result of recently meeting an author, now know must be by friends and family. It didn't even have a CD that provides examples for tutuorials. I recommend looking around.



3. It contain good info for people who want to use this software from fresh to build customers database. It didn't mention much about if people want to import the database from Excel spread sheet and to build a rational database from all different "tables" from the pre-set ones are very complicated. At least not as easy as what it's described in the text that "no programming skills" required.

4 comments about FileMaker Pro Business Applications: For versions 8 and 8.5.

1. A tremendous resource, this book is a must, if you use FileMaker you will not find a better one-stop shop. This is definitely one of the best written and laid out books I have come across. Evans has compiled a book that gives newer users a step by step guide and more experienced users a resource to referrer to when need. In addition the writing style makes it easier for all and the excellent case studies provide scenarios that all users can learn from. Bottom line, get it!



2. This book gets great reviews from enthusiastic readers. I need to wonder how carefully they read it. I have gone through several of the teaching examples in the first section of the book and there are so many editing errors that this book might be a contender for the Guiness Book of World Records. Consistently the author neglects to inform the reader of key details and before you know it, you're lost.
   Warning! This book is so poorly written that you need to have very advanced knowledge of the software to get through it. In that case, I would skip the whole first section and start with the second part of this book where the author explores some interesting examples of Filemaker solutions. Were I the publisher, I would just cut out the whole first section (pages 1-141). Start at page 143.



3. Just popped on to Amazon to see what other books are for Filemaker Pro and thought I would check the rating of the book I am currently using.
   
   Lets me describe the book by chapters:
   1: Describing a DDB
   2: Other Filemaker products you can buy
   3: Installing the program and viewing existing DDB records.
   4: Starting to build a DDB, making fields, adding tables, and lists
   5: Different types of fields; text, number, date, calculation....
   6: Layout types, standard, columnar, table, label
   7: Relational Database Design. How to make relationships
   8: Calculation fields
   9 Using script maker
   10: Planning a business solution
   
   11-22: Part two (starting at page 143), each chapter describes one of the authors DDB's and how he made it. The problem is he says, `put a portal here' but does not tell you how, or how to actually get the data to pop into the windows the way you need it to. He leaves out critical details that prevent you from creating something.
   
   Part III (have not read this part yet)
   Deployment options
   Server 8
   Security issues
   Getting Data into and out of
   FM with other applications
   Web publishing
   
   Ch. 7 was the only chapter that was of any use to me!
   The book:
   Does not describe very well when or why to use various things (portals, look-ups),
   I can not figure out how to make a Portal that works properly
   I can not figure out how to make a Look-up that works properly
   I had to download one of the authors DDB's and dissect it to figure out how to make a relationship work properly.
   
   I'm buying another book!
   Rob



4. I was going to give this book a very enthusiastic five star review, but having read other people's reviews, I can see their point. However, this book has already saved me thousands of dollars simply with its CRM solution (all tutorial files are downloadable unlocked from the author's website). Applications are included for just about every conceivable business need. You can just steal them, or follow along and your FileMaker abilities will take a quantum leap.
   
   This book is aimed at the Filemaker user who has gotten beyond the VERY basic, but who is definitely not a developer. (By "very basic", I can just about use a portal and I know what a global field is, but that's about it.) I often do things in FileMaker that I don't really understand how I did them, or why they work! Plus, I know that I am probably going to run into problems down the road, due to the improvised nature of my "development." (which is, of course, the beauty of FileMaker.)
   
   Simply following along with the author as he shows you how to develop a database correctly, will have you adapting and building complex custom programs for your business in no time. The 15 or so real world solutionsincluded are MUCH more useful than the freebies that FileMaker gives away. They are not as pretty, but once you go into Layout mode you can style them as your heart desires. This is definitely not a book for someone who has never used FileMaker or a database before, but it is a terrific next step, and much more approachable than some of the other "advanced" Filemaker books which were way too advanced for me. Four and a half stars!

5 comments about Special Edition Using FileMaker 8 (Special Edition Using).

1. This book talks about everything imaginable in detail and with deep intent to enlighten the reader on every topic. They achieve it! In short - BUY IT!
   
   I've been developing FileMaker Pro systems since version 3 and have made use of many books. Unfortunately, and as is the case with most technical books these days, all those books fell way short of my technical needs and wishes - at all levels. One book, for example, while being the only useful resource for CDML (custom web enabling of FileMaker databases), was actually frustrating to read and utilize (examples and text content). The 'Bible' series provided some depth to understanding FileMaker but I always felt that they weren't covering something that needed to be said - like the sort of motivation for turning to the book in the first place. Somewhat useful but insufficient.
   
   This book, I'm very happy to declare, IS WORTH IT'S WEIGHT IN GOLD! Even though its a big, thick, heavy book, I can't seem to put it down for wanting more of its enlightenment (its so useful). Their writing style makes it easy to understand the material while providing a sense that you can actually achieve more than you might have attempted otherwise. Its a definite confidence builder (for real this time). I've read chapters in preparation for visiting clients in order to be better prepared. I'm very glad (and so are my clients) that I did.
   
   I've glanced through many of the current books out there and simply returned them to the shelf. They helped somewhat but didn't really go out of their way to sufficiently illuminate the bigger picture or penetrate deeply enough into the details to provide enough insight for real world problems, solutions, or even theory. Most books seem written like they are some sort of cookbook or extended sales brochure. (Click here, read the obvious label and press this button in order to do this topic - yawn!!! - what a waste of paper, time and potential). This book goes all out to prepare any reader for developing anything in Filemaker.
   
   Upon reading this book, it dawned on me that the authors might have developed a Filemaker database (I'm making an educated guess here) for compiling all the information and their associated thoughts. Its so well organized. The consistent delivery of truly useful detailed information, tips, caveats, related material page links, and even general database development theory at all the right spots (without having to revert to the index all the time; actually I've hardly needed to use the index at all) speaks to me of their efforts brilliantly prepared and executed. Its more like they're mentoring their readers than just a book about some topic.
   
   Whatever methodology employed to write this book they sure got it right! I wish other authors would do something similar.
   
   And there's more. The (optional) companion book "FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference" is a 'next step' kind of reference book I'd also recommend highly. I was so impressed with the "Special Edition Using FileMaker 8" that I went out and bought the companion book. Excellent!
   
   Since joining the Yahoo FileMaker user groups I've read postings from way too many people in way over their heads trying to accomplish things they simply aren't trained for (through no fault of their own). And for each posting it occurred to me that they would all greatly benefit reading from "Special Edition Using FileMaker 8". What they were seeking and were greatly in need of is readily available in this book. If only...
   
   Oh, and one more thing - I apologize for understating things!
   
   And in case you're wondering, I've never worked for, met, or even conversed with any of the authors. I'm finally satisfied to have these two great books to assist me in developing more FileMaker systems. YA HOO!



2. "Special Edition Using FileMaker 8," is 890-page book packed with extensive information on FileMaker Pro 8. The book was well written and is well laid out. The publisher makes good uses of icons, colored text, and text boxes to draw your attention to important items throughout the book.
   
   The authors of the book gave the reader a quick introduction to FileMaker and quickly moved on to more advanced features. I highly recommend that beginning users look at a different book if they are not experienced in using FileMaker. The focus of the book is for people who are going to be developing FileMaker Pro databases. A more beginning user might look at the book "FileMaker Pro 8: The Missing Manual" by Geoff Coffey & Susan Prosser.
   
   The book is written for both Mac and Windows users of FileMaker. The authors give short cuts for both operating systems. They also discuss some of the differences between the two platforms and how to make FileMaker cross platform compatible.
   
   Throughout the book the authors point out the difference between FileMaker 7 qne FileMaker 8.0. It is easy to spot the differences because the information usually has icons next to it, in text boxes or in color. The book does not cover the new feature of FileMaker 8.5 which came out the summer of 2006. Some of the additional features of version 8.5 are additional web viewer and Universal Binary for Intel Macs.
   
   On the DVD that is included with the book there is a PDF file of the book. PDF is great if you have a laptop and want to take the book on a trip or if you want to search the book by keywords. The PDF is protected so you cannot cut and past or print the document. The DVD also has projects examples the authors discuss in the book. I was able to view the projects with any problems.
   
   I found the disk instructions for the DVD that came with the book did not work on the Mac. The instructions stated there would be a program that would install something but it did not work. I was able to copy the files to my hard-drive and use them. I did not test the DVD on a Microsoft Windows machine.
   
   In order to do development work you will need a second book for the scripts. According to the authors they decided to split the book into two books for FileMaker 8. One book on FileMaker and the other book is on FileMaker scripts. The title of the script book is "FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference" by Steve Lane, Scott Love and Bob Bowers published by Que. I did not review this book but I am planning on purchasing it.
   
   If you are going to be performing FileMaker Pro development work this book is for you. If you are trying to learn the basics of FileMaker or will be an end user of a database, I would recommend that you look at another book.



3. The tag line reads "The only FileMaker 8 book you need." In the acknowledgement - even before the main text of the book - you learn you have been lied to in a major way.
   
   The authors take pride in having responded to their editor's request to cut the book's length by 10%, they were permitted to add 50%. Of course, that meant taking content out of this book and putting it into a second title. So they effectively "cheated" the reader out of the box.
   
   This book is allegedly an update of the authors earlier "Special Edition Using FileMaker 7" for the UPCOMING release of FileMaker 8. In other words, the book was revised based on a beta version, always a danger sign. Worse, the reader's confidence is shaken by the incredibly shoddy proofreading and editing. There are many references to FileMaker 7 where, hopefully, FileMaker 8 is intended. No excuse for this kind of sloppiness.
   
   The book is a group effort. As is common in such efforts, the quality of writing is uneven. There is an attempt to cover anything - and the attempt fails in terms of detail. And, bear in mind that the authors have essentially omitted an entire area of coverage and created a second (costly) book that you have to buy in order to get full coverage of the subject. (The second book, "FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Referencee" is pretty good, but still the idea that the cover blurb is a lie doesn't sit well with me.)
   
   Overall, my feeling is that the average FileMaker user will be much better served by "FileMaker Pro 8: The Missing Manual". "Special Edition" should be a second choice.
   
   Jerry



4. Whatever part of the brain deals with the logic of handling information is quite a bit larger in Scott Love than most people. I consider myself a middling to advanced developer of Filemaker applications and Scott's book just blew me away! He introduced concepts to me that I had not even considered and did so with clear and detailed explanation and examples.
   
   There is just too much to praise about this book in a review. It's not a lot of money so if you are stuck on Filemaker, feel it's the solution for you but can't seem to move ahead, BUY THIS BOOK! You will be happy. And, no I am not Scott Love's publisher.



5. I bought a couple other Filemaker 8 books before I bought this one (I think the Filemaker 8 Bible was the biggest) and this book is head and shoulder above the rest. I can't put my finger on what makes it better because they all cover the same things, but I could really UNDERSTAND more from the Using Filemaker 8 book than all the rest. Plus the copy I bought came with the entire book on PDF which is nice for searching on specify terms or functions. I strongly suggest you get the Filemaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference that goes along with this book because it goes into good detail on the syntax and purposes of Functions. I only wish the book covered more methods to accomplish more complicated tasks but I suppose every database has it's unique challenges and they can't cover every conceivable thing. Great book, I highly recommend it.
   
   I also have to say that I really love Filemaker 8. If you've never used it, it's very powerful and amazingly easy once you understand a few concepts. I learned Filemaker from scratch with no previous database or scripting experience mostly with the help of this book. Also, you can have Filemaker perform Applescript scripts (provided your a Mac user) which is very cool, but Applescript is another topic all-together.

5 comments about FileMaker Pro 8.5 Bible.

1. THis is not a good reference for people who are experienced with other database systems, or who are technical at all. It is so basic that important concepts are completely omitted. A far better book is "The Missing Manual".



2. I purchased this book in the expectation that it would expand on FMP's online help. However, I was disappointed in that it only covers the basics, doesn't add to what's available in FMP's online help. Index insufficient to quickly access information sought. Lacks sufficient examples of applications.



3. Awesome book....so I gave it four stars. It's a great reference guide.
   
   However, I was looking for some advanced information about reports...how to create fancy formatted reports, rather than the plain vanilla type with totals and subtotals. I don't see a book in publication that addresses reports to that level of detail.
   
   But, the book is really well written and at 800 pages, probably contains 95% of everything you'd ever need.



4. This book makes no mention of Table Occurrences or Table Occurrence Groups, so if you plan to build or modify a database with many complex relationships, buy the Missing Manual book or the Filemaker Pro Business Applications book instead.



5. This book sucks for all users, every level!
   Not only is this book extremely simple, like the previous reviews have said, but it is not updated for the 8.5 version. It is taken word-for-word directly from the FileMaker Pro 8.0 book, including the images of the screen layouts. Which makes it completely inaccurate for FileMaker 8.5.
   For example; In Ch 4, Building Your First Database, this book walks you though starting with setting field options, which won't work with version 8.5. You have to build tables, and then build fields within them.
   
   This book is a waste of money. Don't buy it unless you are running FileMaker 8.0, or older, you want a very simple database, and you have no experience or understanding of databases at all. Even then you should just buy the the 8.0 version; it will be cheaper (being the older version), and exactly the same.