good reference book for FM 8?

[mzimmers]

Hi -

I'd like to get a good reference (not tutorial) book for FM 8. Any recommendations? Thanks...

[SteveB]

Altho written for v7, 'Special Edition Using Filemaker 7' by Steve Lane, et al is readable and packed with information. While it doesn't cover v8 features, it's still better than the current crop of v8 books IMHO.

Steve

[Reed]

Also, the "FileMaker Professional Training Foundation Series III" book and CD from FMI is a pretty good reference as well... A little pricey at $99 though...

[mleiser]

Are there a lot of differences between 7 and 8 where the book (special edition) would be a waste of money if I'll eventually be going to 8?

[SteveB]

There are lots of differences between 7 and 8. However, if you knew everthing in Special Edition v7, you would feel comfortable learning v8 on your own. Some stuff will most likely never be thoroughly explained, (like custom functions) due to their immense flexibility.

For things that text books don't go into, come to FM Forums and search the topics. Then ask questions. View the Forums as the best text book on the market, since here real world problems are addressed by users and experts.

Steve

[Ted S]

Personally, I'd go for a v7 book and not wait for the v8 book to come out. The differences between 7 and 8 are mostly evolutionary. If you know how to program in v7, developing v8 will come naturally if you just read the "differences" section of the help menu.

Absolutely DO NOT buy any book earlier than version 7. The change from v6 to v7 was knock-your-sock-off revolutionary. Reading a v3, v4, v5, or v6 book will only confuse a FM novice that is working with v7 or v8.

[Kazunori]

I recommend book "Creating a Database in FileMaker Pro 8".

The purpose of the reason is the content can finish not only has been compactly brought together but also to read without spending time at a dash.

You might know the ER model of the data base theory as a precondition to read this book.