FileMaker: Relational Database Design

Learn how to translate aspects of the real world into the form and language of a relational database.

Understanding which data tables to create and how to link them together via relationships is key to mastering the relational database capabilities of FileMaker Pro. In this course, join instructor Cris Ippolite as he shows how to translate aspects of the real world into the form and language of a relational database. Cris begins by reviewing some of the basic concepts of data modeling, introducing tables, key fields, and the relationship graph. After demonstrating how to establish relationships in a database, he discusses using these relationships in portals, in calculations, and while navigating. He also includes three practical data modeling examples to help you grasp how these concepts work in the real world.

This course applies to versions of FileMaker Pro from 16 through the most current version.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Why relational databases?
• Using exercise files

1. Reviewing Data Modeling

• Introduction to data modeling
• Reviewing relationship types
• Diagramming your relationships

2. Resolving Many-to-Many

• Understanding problems caused by many-to-many relationships
• Adding a join table

3. Introducing Key Fields

• Primary and foreign key fields

4. Using the FileMaker Relationship Graph

• Defining tables in FileMaker
• Defining primary and foreign key fields
• Creating relationships in the relationship graph

5. Working with Relationships

• Introduction to related fields
• Introduction to portals

6. Working with Queries

• Difference between relationships and queries in FileMaker
• Multiple match fields in a relationship
• Using operators in query relationships

7. Creating Child Records

• Using value lists to link child records
• Using relationship options to create related records
• Using scripts to create child records

8. Real-World Data Modeling Examples

• Donations example
• Class enrollment example
• Personnel management example

9. Advanced Relationship Techniques

• Using global fields to filter portals
• Using global fields to create a user-driven portal filter
• Using relationships in a script to navigate
• Reviewing related data more than one site away
• Creating self relationships
• Creating aggregate functions using relationships
• Dashboards using relationships
• Cascading portals

Conclusion

• Next steps