FileMaker Pro 5...6 to 8.5
Upgrading

About the course:

This course is gives each delegate an overview of all the new features and differences present in the new version of FileMaker Pro 8.0 Delegates attending this course should have some knowledge of creating databases in earlier versions.

Duration: 1 day

Prerequisites:

Must have a basic understanding of FileMaker Pro, with regard to writing scripts, simple calculations and building simple relationships.

Topics:

Defining Schema

What's new - an overview of the new features.

New file structure and terminology - Define Database, previously know as 'define fields', Tables, Fields, and Relationships

Global fields, are now Global storage options, what's new...

New possibilities for container fields, and calculated containers.

TimeStamp fields

Field entry options - Comments, Tables, and the relationship graph.

Auto Enter by calculation - re-triggering upon edit, and self joined Auto Enter calculations.

FIle References - the separation model.

Layout Building

Layouts now refer to related tables - discussion about how this works.

The new Tab tool - Creating navigable layers within one layout - discuss features and uses.

Setting up user names and Passwords - Per file as before, but applies to all tables in one file.

Defining portals - new options.

Output - Create PDF, Excel, documents from a layout, and also directly attach to an e-mail

Scripts

Discuss the implications of writing scripts, now that all the tables can be in one file.

Now able to launch new window instances - discuss uses and implications in ScriptMaker.

Review new script steps, and uses.

Script Parameters and Variables

Web Publishing

Instant Web Publishing - IWP - now based on actual layouts in your solution, or, you can build interfaces just for IWP - discuss and show examples.
Custom Web Publishing - CWP - now uses XML, XSLT via FileMaker Server Advanced.

FileMaker Pro 5...6 to 8.5
Migrating Solutions

About the course

This two day course covers all aspects of planning and taking on a migration of larger more complex solutions. It deals with establishing strategies and methods most suited to your solution. The first day is mostly discussion and example led to help establish your own plans for migrating your solution. The second day explores the new features of FileMaker Pro 8 and major structural differences with versions prior to 7.0. The course also explores various methods of importing data and migrating your solutions.

Prerequisites:

Delegates must be proficient users of FileMaker, and able to understand relationship schema, calculation formulae, and writing complex scripts.

Duration:

2 days

Topics:

Day One:

Migration Strategies

Preparation for Migration

The Pros and Cons, when to and not to migrate.

Future plans for your database solutions...

An overview of what happens when you migrate (convert to a new version)

Test conversion exercise Tables, Importing tables and Data,

Day Two:

FileMaker Pro 8 advanced overview of features and new file structure.

Importing Scripts, layouts.

Reviewing migration of tables, field changes, relationship definition.

The separation model

New features and methods to consider over legacy features in converted solutions.

Database Design Reports version 8.0 Advanced and version 6.0 Developer editions.

Starting again, strategies and options.