Hi guys,

just wanted to say hi to the forums and ask a few questions. I am new to filemaker but I have seen it used in some powerful organising tools. I am a photographer and I am looking to try and create a template for use at work. I was wondering if someone could tell me if what I am dreaming of here is at all possible before I venture too far in.

I am looking to first of all create a whole database of my clients which I know I can do. But then I want to have a way to have a list of clients then can click and go into a single client and then from there be able to have a button or something that goes to generate quote or estimate. To which the hopes are that it will have a page come up with the name and such on there already and an area I can type the quote in. If it's possible to do this I would love to know. As well the ability to generate that estimate into a docket or end invoice in the end would be amazing.

I would love to hear from someone on this.

Thanks,

Rick

I guess the templates in FM will give you good start and maybe 50% of your requirements will be already there

What you are describing is a fairly typical use of FileMaker, so yes, it is entirely possible. Here are some links to get you started:

http://www.fmfiles.com/enduserbus5.html

http://www.dennisbest.com/studioboss/

hey guys thanks for the responses I have been looking into the studio boss and d/l the demo version as well. I just want to make sure I can custom it to fit with printing pages and invoices and estimates with the logos and such of my company and the same look as my company.

I am still looking around and it seems that possibly it's the filemaker developer that I want to be playing with to figure out how to script and transform everything i need into my own database. I know there is prefab stuff out there as well as things people before me have done. I am personally looking to increase my own knowledge on the subject and find the best programs to do this and create my own things.

The reason Anatoli and I pointed you toward existing templates is that picking those apart is one of the best ways to learn. There are also some good books, such as Special Edition Using FileMaker Pro 5. Also FileMaker Advisor magazine.

You'll also find many good resources on the web, of course, such as the Articles and Files sections of this forum. Also:

http://www.afilemakeraffliction.com/articles.html

http://www.databasepros.com/

http://fentonjones.com/FM101.html

http://www.filemakermagazine.com/

You really don't need FileMaker Developer to develop your solution.

seker said:

I am still looking around and it seems that possibly it's the filemaker developer that I want to be playing with ...

Oh my, I am FileMaker Developer and are you sure you want to play with me?

I hope you'll be not disappointed

The truth is you do not need FMD

Yeah. FileMaker Developer is used to create stand-alone applications. All it does is repackage the things you can do in FileMaker Pro. So, unless you're going to sell what you make on the open market, you can do without FileMaker Developer.

Everything you see in the various demos & templates you can do yourself (or pinch from the templates.) As far as logos & print sizes, etc., that's all fairly simple stuff. Another book you might want to look at is the FileMaker Pro Bible, which might be a bit easier for a beginner to follow than the Special Edition book (which, to a pro, is an absolute necessity.)

-Stanley

I am starting to see what you mean about the filemaker developer. It looks very complex however I am starting by customizing the filemaker solution framework I think to achieve everything I do want. Once I have that working perfectly to where I like it then I will get into the developer and try making my own for others to use.

If you create a standalone in developer is it truely standalone as in it does not need filemaker to be on the users system?

I will take a look at some of the books as well because I will need to learn some of the scripting to complete everything I want.

Rick, I think you have a misconception of what FMD is. It's no more "complex" than FileMaker itself -- it's the same product, with a few additional tools, whose functionality is actually fairly bare-bones "simple":

- Create a DDR (database design report)

- Script debugger

- Rename files (and associated links)

- Lock down/bind files

- Create runtimes

I've left a couple of things out, but that's basically it. Yes, a runtime is truly standalone. The user would not need FileMaker. The one huge drawback of runtimes is that they are not multi-user at all.

PS: The "Bible" books have always seemed to me just a rehash of the manuals. IMO the Peachpit Visual books are better for beginners.

PSS: Or did you mean that the solution framework was complex? Sorry if I misread your post.

RE: The one huge drawback of runtimes is that they are not multi-user at all.

True, but fortunately one can put "runtime databases" on FM server and host them. Then any FM client can connect to FMS hosted files.