FileMaker Pro 9 Bible

I've previously looked at most the of "bible" style books for FileMaker and found them OK or underwhelming. This one is very different. Ray knows his stuff very, very well and his advice is well regarded in various fora. When I received the book, I was concerned that it would only be useful to experienced FileMaker users. However, what I found was that the first two Parts of the book (up to page 260) do a great job of what most how-to style books do in a concise and practical way without needless padding. I really hate the way lots of other books stretch out their content just to bulk up. This book is bulky, but it's all good content. New users will love it. Then Parts 3, 4 and 5 build on the foundations taking new and intermediate users into areas they probably have never considered with lots of stuff they can use immediately. Ray seemingly covers everything most users will experience with FileMaker. I think advanced users will get much out of this too. I've been using FileMaker since 1987 (professionally since 1991) and I'm finding lots of little gems in the book. The examples are actually useful and I confess to including some of the techniques in my work. On two occasions recently, I resorted to this book to find the words to explain some abstract concepts. FileMaker is often considered "quirky", meaning it has particular ways of achieving things. I like the way Ray addresses these concepts, comparing and contrasting the way things are in other environments, then looking at the design decisions of FileMaker to achieve the same. I think anyone using FileMaker should seriously consider buying this book. Congratulations Ray - well done.

Extremely well written and well researched, the FileMaker Pro 9 Bible is an excellent book, and Ray Cologon is an excellent writer. His depth of understanding, both of the product and of the greater database world in general, is awe-inspiring. The FileMaker Pro 9 Bible really does have something for everyone. It covers the topic of FileMaker Pro in a very comprehensive manner that is suitable both for database beginners as well as for seasoned FileMaker veterans. Ray begins with an overview of what makes up a database, independent of the FileMaker paradigm itself. He then moves on to discuss how FileMaker fits into the database world, and then goes into detail on each aspect of the product. And he does it all with a deft touch that never confuses or intimidates the reader. Whether you consider yourself a FileMaker Pro developer or merely use it as a tool to organize your information, this book is the essential reference for FileMaker Pro.

I'm a full time FileMaker developer. I have been for fifteen plus years. I work alone. Most of my clients are wineries or wine retailers with the occasional steel wholesaler and convention bureau to keep me honest. I use a lot of the advanced features of FileMaker. I mention the above to frame my recommendation to buy this book. I bought it because Dr. Cologon's name is on it. His name may not mean anything to you, just yet, but it will after you read and use this book. In FileMaker there are, seemingly, always several ways to accomplish your intentions. The trick is to plan your strategies in advance of doing a lot of needless or imperfect work. The way this book is laid out and the quality of the information will really advance your cause. I decided to read "FileMaker Pro Bible 9" from page 1 to page 735 and overcome the temptation to skip over things I already knew - or thought I knew. It was worth it and not at all painful. If you read this book and know your client's business and objectives, you can't go wrong. Having this book on the end of my desk means that I really don't work alone.

This is an astonishingly good book, independently of its subject matter. Technical books, particularly those within series, must fight to remain interesting, to rise above the constraints imposed by the publisher. This book shows no evidence of such a struggle, and yet it is so comprehensive, while taking such a broad overview, that it ought by rights leave out the '9' in its title. It has become a back-of-the-book cliche to say that a book has something for the beginner and the professional, but it would be more accurate to say that what at first blush seems written for the beginner actually describes Filemaker, and its place in the larger database world, in a view few professionals have grasped. This is a big-picture book that, at the same time, delves into a lot of very advanced detail and both theory and practice. But it is mostly just a good read that made me proud to be a professional Filemaker developer.

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.