We have this FM8 database that we've spent the summer taking patient data on paper and putting it into the database. The database was developed by a national organization. Our goal is to better understand what we do for our patients, so there is some data analysis required.

My gestalt so far is that Filemaker is not the best to create complex reports of data analysis. First, I'd like opinions on whether this is true. If it's true, then I'd like to use Excel for analysis.

The bigger issue we have is with the design of the database. Several parts of the database use repeating fields. Exporting these data into Excel creates single columns where all the repeating field data for a particular record is in one cell with each repeating field data separated by a delimiter. But the key is that each piece of data does not have its own cell. Complicating this further is that there are groups of three different repeating fields that correlate to each other. So, the dbase has 3 columns of repeating fields (5 repeats), and each row of 3 repeating fields is a set of data defining a unique event(date, procedure, surgeon).

So, how what's the fix? I could redesign the database as a clone with separate records, and physically cut and paste the repeating field data into the corresponding separate records. Or is there a script that could do this? Or does anyone have other ideas?

I am appreciative of any input.

Thanks

-Egizzi

Filemaker is not the best to create complex reports of data analysis.

That is somewhat true - much depends of what are these "complex reports of data analysis".

The database was developed by a national organization. ... Several parts of the database use repeating fields.

Then the national organization did a very poor job of designing. See this thread for a solution to this problem.