FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference

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.

The book not only lists all the function and script in a esay to find format, it also includes many custom functions which one usually pays seasoned developer to write. Scott Love, Steve Lane and Bob Bowers are leaders of the FileMaker Pro community and in this book they generously share their expertise. The chapter on XML custom function itself is already worth the price. Their other book, Special Edition Using FileMaker 8, is just simply the best. Filled with extensive techinques and tricks, all clearly written and explained, you just couldn't ask for a better book about FileMaker Pro 8.

Good book but it does not include enough functions and scripts examples.

In my library I have 25+ Filemaker books dating back to Filemaker 2.0. A very few of them are tattered, bookmarked and dogeared and sit withing arms reach of my computer. "Scriptology" is one of them, as is "Filemaker Pro 5.5 Techniques for Developers". "FileMaker 8 Functions and Scripts Desk Reference" joins these. I've only had it a few weeks and it is starting to take on the patina of those stalwarts. A truly useful reference - dare I say "essential"?

I can't believe it took 8 versions of FileMaker for someone to write this book. I've been working with FileMaker for years and have always wanted an easy way to dig up function syntax. The error codes are so useful that I've memorized that page number (it's 374, FYI). In addition to being an excellent reference, the custom functions library has shown me how to do things that I never would have figured out on my own. There's a gold mine of excellent code in those examples. This book has earned a permanent spot on my desk and will only be replaced when the authors write a new one. I strongly recommend it.