Newbie needs a hand (or two!)

[Juergen May]

Hello! -)

I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to databases and am in need of a good book!!! I'm OK on things like design and scripting but what I REALLY need is a good explanation of how relationships work and I'd like to know what things need to be considered when planning a database. I have played with a FM4 demo and to be honest I got a bit stuck! I made a working database (albeit very simple!) but I'm eager to learn the PROPER ways of doing things before I do anything irrational!!!

Any help will be greatly appreciated as I've no idea what books are worth looking at and which ones aren't!

Thanks in advance,

Juerg

[LTQ]

You might want to check out Database Design for Mere Mortals. It's easy to understand and gives a lot of basic ideas for developing a database.

[Chuck]

I would also recomment Using FileMaker Pro 5, which has an extensive introduction to relationship theory in the beginning of the book, and ties everything it says into FileMaker specifics.

Chuck

[Kurt Knippel]

quote:

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Originally posted by Juergen May:

[QB]Hello!

-)

I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to databases and am in need of a good book!!! I'm OK on things like design and scripting but what I REALLY need is a good explanation of how relationships work and I'd like to know what things need to be considered when planning a database. I have played with a FM4 demo and to be honest I got a bit stuck! I made a working database (albeit very simple!) but I'm eager to learn the PROPER ways of doing things before I do anything irrational!!!/QB]

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I have said this before and I might just add it to my signature:

Relational database design is an old and well documented discipline. There are probably more books on it, than there are programmers. Do a search on Amazon.com or check you local bookstore/library. You could also check the bookstore at a local college and see what books are being used to teach this stuff.

Once you learn relational database design, doing it in Filemaker is easy. Just remember file = table, and field = column.

[Juergen May]

Thanks guys! Seems like I've got a few good starting points to work from. Sorry to have to ask such simple questions! Maybe as I progress I'll be able to submit some more interesting requests -)

Thanks again

Juerg