Customer Reviews
Good overview, short on details. 
2008-08-17
This book is a solid 'lay of the land' type of overview with a few good examples sprinkled in. As someone who's done a fair amount of coding in other scripting applications (actionScript, lingo, php, mysql, lasso etc) and someone who's purchased this book with the hope of finding a decent treatment of FileMaker Pro's scripting capabilities, I found this book less useful than the manual.
Excellent book 
2008-07-29
I really am enjoying this book a lot. Packed with very deep explanations and very useful tricks and tips. I am only half way through the book, and by now I feel it was an excellent purchase.
Super Genius!!! 2008-07-25
I've been in the FileMaker market for 18 years and accomplished many things but I have never taken a FileMaker class or read a book. For me to purchase a book and read it says a lot about the author and his brilliance. Don't buy any other FileMaker book.
Outstanding book for beginner, intermediate & advanced FileMaker developers 2008-07-16
As an advanced developer, I initially wondered how much I would benefit from this 735 page tome, but was pleasantly surprised; I would even go further and say that I was astounded! There is just so much information here that I still find I'm able to learn something new almost every time that I pick it up.
No familiarity with FileMaker is assumed, although a basic acquaintance would be helpful and you probably wouldn't be reading this book if you hadn't already dabbled with FileMaker at least a little bit. The main sections of this book are as follows: The Fundamentals, Introduction to Database Design, Beyond the Basics, Integrity and Security and finally, Raising the Bar. Each section includes chapters covering pretty much everything you would ever want to know... and then some!
Unlike some other books that I've read about FileMaker, this one is not a repetition of the FileMaker Help file; it does not list every function and script step in alphabetical order, explaining what each one does. Rather it takes those very features and demonstrates ways of using them to help improve your development skills. Furthermore, the author's insights into the way that FMP functions `under the hood' actually appear throughout the book as tips, further enhancing your own knowledge. These demonstrations and tips put you, the developer, in a far better position to then know how best to design and develop your own solutions.
The chapters are well organised, but I'm not keen on some of the arrangements used within chapters; they sometimes seems to wander off on a tangent or two before getting to the point. However, to be fair, FileMaker is a complex beast and as we all know, there are more often than not, twenty seven different ways to address a single challenge. Therefore, praise where praise is due, this book shows you the many different ways to approach any challenge and should arm you with the knowledge to choose which method is the best one.
Worth almost more than the book itself, are the many sophisticated demonstration files that the author refers to throughout the book. These files demonstrate and improve upon the techniques in the book and greatly enhance your ability to understand the concept being presented. Your immediate reaction when downloading many of these files will probably be, "I didn't know you could do that in FileMaker!" and then you'll spend hours ignoring your wife and kids learning exactly how it works and replicating it in your own solution.
The only chapter I felt could have been improved was the one about Custom Functions, a much undervalued feature of our chosen development platform. If you don't already know, FileMaker Pro Advanced is required to create and edit custom functions, although once created they can then be used in FileMaker Pro as well. The author explains what custom functions do, how they work and provides several basic examples, but the examples are of little use in every day database development. Some samples of more useful custom functions would have been beneficial and will hopefully be included in a future edition. No need to wait however, since there is a excellent source of useful custom functions at Brian Dunning's website.
There is a wise saying, "Give a man a fish and you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime". This book is not a fish, it teaches you how to fish, or in FileMaker terms, how to become a knowledgeable and self-sufficient developer. My minor quibbles aside; I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
This book loves FileMaker and developers 2008-06-25
Adding my kudos to the reviews so far...
Ray Cologon is the best mind in FileMaker today, and has been for a long time. Ray's depth of knowledge makes each section of this book riveting. While you might not read it like a novel, it is worth reading every word, because not one is wasted.
The book provides an essential and thorough explanation of both the simplicity and power of FileMaker, making it invaluable for developers at every stage. It also offers the insights of a unique, dedicated, and generous thinker. As I both skimmed and read in depth, I felt that, through this book, Ray wants all FileMaker developers to succeed by knowing both the steps and the thinking behind them, and by using our imagination to apply this knowledge to our own particular situations.
Thanks for all the hard work, Ray!
Get ready to swim 
2008-06-19
FileMaker Pro 9 Bible provides step-by-step procedures for using virtually all FileMaker Pro features and performing all tasks. This best-selling volume has been completely rewritten to focus on FileMaker application development using FileMaker Pro 9, the latest version of FileMaker Pro workgroup database. Applicable to both the Mac and Windows versions of FileMaker Pro, this title shows readers how to create and work with databases and includes detailed ScriptMaker (scripting) explanations for creating customized FileMaker applications. Other topics covered include calculations and computations; data exchange; creating and using templates; linking databases; using FileMaker in workgroups; Web publishing; plug-ins; and advanced database connectivity. This revision features a five-dollar price reduction and removal of the CD-ROM to reflect a fantastic value proposition for the customer.
A great comprehensive tome of FileMaker Pro knowledge 2008-06-17
I have been a fan of the FileMaker Pro Bible Series for quite a few revisions now. The goal of the series, as I've come to understand it, is to provide a comprehensive text covering most of the resources and techniques needed to truly leverage FileMaker Pro. This book takes this to a new level with a thoroughness that I believe must be due to this version's author.
No single book can cover every topic in both the simplicity and the depth that every reader may want, but I think this book covers that range better than most I've read. It has invaluable sections introducing the reader to very necessary basic concepts, such as database design and data modeling for FileMaker Pro, and yet gets into lots of more advanced techniques such as modular code design, logging techniques, recursion through custom functions, and more.
I would not suggest using a book like this for learning a subject, like FileMaker, from start to finish. Rather I'd suggest it, as a very comprehensive tome of FileMaker Pro knowledge -- knowledge that would take many years of developing complex systems to learn for oneself -- all presented in an easy to reference format.
From a seasoned developer standpoint, I think the advanced topics and provided examples (by the master of excellent example files, Ray Cologon), are more than worth the price of entry. I highly suggest this book to anyone who uses FileMaker Pro, at any level.
At last a good FileMaker book! 2008-06-17
The authors of the FileMaker Bible have written the most comprehensive book on FileMaker ever attempted. There are parts of this book that document aspects of FileMaker development that have probably never been documented or explained outside of the actual source code, and this book explains them in a clear, concise and unambiguous language. This book is an essential for every FileMaker developer.
The biggest advantage of this book is that it's very thorough - quite often technical books will explain one side of an issue, or leave out details, or present ideas in ways that could be interpreted ambiguously. When you read a section of the FileMaker Bible, you get with a complete and accurate view of the ideas at hand without confusion or ambiguity.
This book also fills a need from a new developer starting out to someone who's been working with FileMaker for a while. The sections work through from basic to advanced in a way that works well, but also means it's full of snippets of useful information for someone who has a high level of experience in FileMaker.
I'd recommend this book over any other FileMaker book. Most of the other books I've seen either parrot parts of the FileMaker Help (errors, omissions and all), or only cover one aspect of FileMaker. This book is all new material, and leaves no stone un-turned. Well worth the money.
Difficult to Improve Upon 2008-06-15
I've been using FileMaker for almost 20 years and have read most of the books written for this product. The FileMaker Pro Bible stands tall amongst the others. It's extremely well-written with tenacious attention to detail that is quite valuable to developers of all levels.
Ray Cologon gently introduces concepts and best practices to the new developer in a manner that encourages thorough learning. As you progress through the chapters he not only exposes more advanced topics and techniques but also uncovers deep product behaviors that offers value to even the most advanced developers.
I imagine almost any novice could use this book to springboard their learning curve into successful FileMaker Pro database development. I heartily recommend this book to developers of all levels. It should be the first book for any new FileMaker Pro developer and a cornerstone reference piece for all seasoned developers.
Keep this one handy... 2008-06-15
Anyone working with FileMaker Pro will want to keep this book in arms reach.
I'm not one to read a book cover-to-cover or even read a manual and I usually dive right in whenever I install a new program or an update comes out. Only when I get stuck or I look for an answer or an alternative way to approach a problem, do I pick up a book or dig through the manual. When I reach that point with FileMaker Pro, you can bet this will be the book I'll search in first.
One example is the section on keys. It's a great help and explores many options even creating unique identification (UID) values. This is so important in maintaining data integrity.
The book is comprehensive and designed to help you become more productive with FileMaker Pro regardless of your skill level. From the what, why and how of databases to data modeling and Cartesian joins to advanced features and building efficient code and efficient solutions, this book is an excellent reference.
Not only is it a reference, but it includes many short tutorials and examples. Advanced features and in depth areas of the book refer back, and point you in that direction, to previous material already covered.
Whether you read the book cover-to-cover or you search the well-crafted table of contents or the index for specific material, you'll find the FileMaker Pro 9 Bible the best FileMaker Pro companion to help you succeed.
