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Our Library of Videos

841 videos found.
Instant Access to Free Icons (Free Article) 04/27/2006 - 7:00pm
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You can't get any better than both attractive and free! Unless it's just too hard to use these attractive free icons in your FileMaker database. But wait, it is easy to get these free icons into your FileMaker database.

All it takes is a little bit of browser know-how, a simple folder import and you're ready to rock and roll with the nicest looking icons your layouts have ever known. Watch it now and your next new database will look sharper than ever.

Mastering the Let Function & Better Data Structure 04/17/2006 - 7:00pm

We all start out at some level when taking on the task of learning FileMaker. Whether you've had formal programming experience or you've never even opened a spreadsheet, there's always something to learn and many different approaches to take.

While reading a post on the FMForums.com message board, I was inspired to shoot this video article about working with check boxes and ended up showing you how to better structure your data.

When you've worked with FileMaker as long as I have, you tend to forget some of the most difficult concepts to grasp. Many of those concepts aren't necessarily specific to FileMaker, and on top of that you have to learn how it's done the FileMaker way as well. Well, this video will teach you how to deal with them and come out with flying colors!

Better Value List Selections 04/09/2006 - 7:00pm

FileMaker's the tool set, and you're the solution builder. However, simply owning a copy of the tool doesn't mean you know every trick of the trade. Knowing how to use FileMaker's default options isn't always obvious. Many times, it's a matter of how you present the feature.

Take, for example, the way FileMaker 8 value list options allow you to show one value but return another. This is a great boon to making your interface look better. The trick is knowing how to make it happen. Fortunately, you can watch this video and learn a few tips about using native FileMaker value lists and making them a bit better to select from.

Using Regular Expressions for Field Merging 03/28/2006 - 6:00pm
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One of the most exciting aspects of working with an empowering tool like FileMaker, is just how quickly you can see the results. The process of discovery is just as exciting as solving the problem.

Some times, the problem can be a bit overwhelming and the tool itself can be a bit limiting. This is where it pays to know about other tools and technologies. A few years back, I went on the hunt for a plug-in for FileMaker. I found the plug-in, but it never quite made it into the spotlight. After getting to know the developer and using the plug-in for myself, I decided to showcase what it can do. If you've ever wanted to know the SINGLE most powerful method for merging content from fields into a template - such as HTML code or a form letter - then search no more! (You just may have to wait a while for it)

Methods for creating related records 03/23/2006 - 6:00pm

Knowing all the methods to solve a particular problem is likely better than only knowing one. This is what makes solving problems both easier and [sometimes] fun. This video topic is all about creating related records - and knowing as many methods as possible.

Of course, you know how to create a related record by simply typing data into a portal row. So, what do you do when you need to script the process? You use one of these three methods presented.

Most of what makes a FileMaker solution powerful is scripting. Watch this video as I cover the three predominant methods for creating related records. Each can be used in a variety of situations. Which one you use is based on preference and situational needs. So start scripting those related records!

Using Grep to Filter Email Addresses 03/21/2006 - 6:00pm

Don't be misled by the title of this article! If you're not interested in capturing email addresses from your email client - straight into a FileMaker field - then think about any pattern of text which you would like to capture. If you do need to extract email addresses from a mailbox full of email then you're in for a treat!

Regular Expressions, also known as regex, which is also known by the name of a command line tool named grep, can extract pretty much anything you could ever want from any piece of text.

In this video we look at a very powerful technique of being able to extract email addresses straight from the mail box file(s) of your email client. This is the fastest method for performing this type of extraction. If you've been using AppleScript or VBScript to perform this task, then be prepared to be impressed!

Product Overview: Taking a look at Inspector with Vince Menanno 03/07/2006 - 6:00pm
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Interested in understanding more about the system you're working on? Either because your the next developer in a long list before you, or because you created it yourself in 1990's? Well, it really doesn't matter which stage you're at with your FileMaker database. What does matter, is how much you know about its structure.

While the world of FileMaker isn't as huge as the world of Oracle, every great developer needs a great set of tools. In the world of FileMaker analysis, there are a handful of valuable tools for understanding the system you're working on. Inspector is one of those tools. It's a product with a long history around making sense of FileMaker systems. In this comprehensive (meaning a bit long, yet informative) video, I talk with creator Vince Menanno about what Inspector is and how it can help any FileMaker developer in understanding what's going on with their database. Sit back, relax and learn more about your own database systems!

Graph Organization - Making sense of your solution 02/24/2006 - 6:00pm
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This video covers one of my most favorite topics, organization. Without it, we'd all be lost. When done right, it makes even the most complex information easy to understand.

FileMaker's Relationship Graph presents some very interesting challenges for organizing information. The graph isn't a simple entity relationship diagram. It's a complete snapshot of your whole solution. Data structure, application environment, data presentation, business logic - you know, the whole enchilada! So, what you really need are some ideas to help make sense of your own solution. Recently, I spent a great deal of time within the relationship graph of one of my own solutions. Watch this video to harness some great tips that will make things much easier down the road!

Solution Design Models - How the Graph presents your data 02/17/2006 - 6:00pm

Ever since FileMaker 7 was released, we've all felt both confusion and those wonderful "a-ha" moments. It's a great feeling when it occurs to you that an easier way has made itself apparent.

The Relationship Graph has proven itself to feature both the "huh?" and "ahhh-haaaaa" moment. Watching this video, I hope you experience many more a-ha moments which will help with the design of your data presentation. In this video I cover the predominant design models used for presenting your solution's data. I'd love to hear feedback from anyone who has some great insights into other ways of using the Relationship Graph!

Manipulating Data - A Universal Data Parser 02/06/2006 - 6:00pm

Data manipulation is the hallmark of any database system. There will be many times when data must be added to a FileMaker system which comes from an external source - a web page form is a good example. One of the most common methods for acquiring data is through a web form. Typically the web form is emailed to a specific email account.

While FileMaker can be used to capture information directly from the web (using FileMaker Server Advanced), this isn't always an option. Plus, there may be both legacy systems and newer methods, such as PHP and web forms, where information needs to be captured and parsed into your database fields. This example file and video will walk through the use of a very powerful tool which I am providing to subscribers of the magazine. The Universal Data Parser, and this video, will teach you a great deal about data manipulation!

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