I created a FileMaker solution for tracking and scheduling of jobs to equipment. It works well. However, the company recently purchased an SQL server and a heavy application that creates job tickets, inventory, shipping and data collection. The scheduling portion of it stinks!

They would like to continue to use the FileMaker solution for shceduling. Currently, users are then forced to enter common data twice (once for the SQL application and once for the Filemaker... i.e. job number, due dates, quantities, etc). It is nothing more than- I have no idea how to use the ODBC setup and pull data from the SQL database into FileMaker.

Is there a primer?

Is it reasonable to think that I could do the setup on this?

Is there a better way?

I read the info on FileMaker.com and it really doesn't cover any important details, like how to make sure data is constantly up to date in FileMaker when the SQL data changes, how to import data into FM and create a new record autmatically when a job is created in the SQL app... the list goes on...

thanks

First, setup an ODBC connection with your system (MacOS X or Windows). Then open up Filemaker 7 and click on: File > Import Records >ODBC DataSource

Complete the rest of the steps.