I'm a building contractor and have developed a database in Excel that tracks employee/customer/material and subcontractor costs.

For any of you familiar with XL, I am wondering if FM could do a similar job for me. I used FM once to create a membership database a couple years ago and it worked great for that.

With the use of some 'very complicated' formulas and PivotTables I am able to sort data according to many criteria. Like total hours all employees spent on any particular job, hours a given employee has spent on a job, total hours for all employees and all jobs, etc. I'm also able to use formulas to invoice customers for time/materials/subs with Profit and Overhead values added in.

I guess the question is - how suited is FMP for something like this?

Probably more, than Excel.

Anatoli

Thank you - interesting. Hmmm - so now it's whether or not to bite off the FM chunk and dive in. Learning new programs is so time consuming - good thing I have an understanding family.

One good thing is that FM comes with a number of templates that you might find useful besides starting from scratch. It may not have all the functionality you need, but they can be modified. There are personnel records, time sheet and other templates.

Ken

Ken's suggestion is very good one.

Because FM syntax in scripts cannot be misspelled, you shouldn't worry about that.

And you can asked questions here

If the Excel file is set up in straight rows and columns, you can open it directly in Filemaker, saving you a lot of time creating fields. Of course, you'll have to reset all the calculations, but it's still a big time saver.

***************

I hate the FM templates!

I find them overloaded with things I never use, making the interface cluttered and kludgy. Also, I have to undo half of what they've put in, so that I can get the template to do what I want it to do. I had one client (several years ago) who actually started working in one of the templates, then paid me a lot of money to make it work properly.

The problem with mass-marketed templates is that no two customers are alike; I do have some "templates" which I have created and use as starting points for new customers, but I rarely even use them.

I never used any of the FM templates myself

IMHO -- when you start with FM, they are very valuable as learning tool.

I have looked through the templates and see that none of them are close to what I would want. The one time I used FM for a DB was for a member list which I did manage to create my own interface and for a first timer it looked and worked 'ok'.

The XL database has three named range db's:

1. HrsData with columns: Date|Employee|Customer|Hours|Payroll|Period|Remarks

2. MtrlData (materials) with columns: Date|Custumer|Supplier|Inv#|Amount|Remarks

3. SubsData (Subcontractor) with columns: Date|Customer|Sub|Amount|Remarks

I see a three tabbed interface with fields for each of the items. would each tab be a separate database and make them relational?

Just hoping to get off on the right foot.

Do folks at the forum here offer help setting up ones databases?

for instance - I am having trouble deciding if: (1) I should have one file with three tabs, each a database (Hours/Materials/Subs) or (2) three seperate files, each a seperate database?

Then when it comes to invoicing, should the invoice just be a 'report' created as a layout as part of thought (1) or a fourth file as part of thought (2).

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

We are reading this, but everything is related to your needs and ability so it is really difficult to help.

One of the golden rules: separate, separate and separate again.

Databases, fields -- everything.

Never use Repeated fields -- in RF can be only design functions.

For example take Name. If you put everything in single field, it is not flexible enough. Use 4 or 5 fields for contact name.

And so on.

HTH

Anatoli

I understand - and your reply does help. I can imagine a beginner getting direction from an expert could be lead into some pretty steep learning curves.

From the golden rule: separate, separate and then separate again - I can get going I think.

And do ask questions even you hesitate a lot.

Don't worry much about simple problems. Just ask. People in this gang are really nice Someone will try to help you.

I'm encouraged (seriously) - thank you Anatoli

Have fun!