Wiley FileMaker Pro 8.5 Bible 978-0-470-08277-5 Manual De Usuario
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978-0-470-08277-5
4
Part I ✦ The Fundamentals
Every database — whether on paper, in a hand-held electronic organizer, or in a
computer — is composed of records in tables. A record contains information that
has been collected on one individual or entity in the database. A table holds the
records that you create, and the database encompasses the tables. For example, in
the Employee Records database example given in the preceding list, you might have
one table containing the employees’ ID numbers, names, addresses, dates of birth,
and dates of hire. Another table might include salary information, and another
might include personnel actions (such as review dates and performance history).
computer — is composed of records in tables. A record contains information that
has been collected on one individual or entity in the database. A table holds the
records that you create, and the database encompasses the tables. For example, in
the Employee Records database example given in the preceding list, you might have
one table containing the employees’ ID numbers, names, addresses, dates of birth,
and dates of hire. Another table might include salary information, and another
might include personnel actions (such as review dates and performance history).
In the previous list of examples, a record would hold all the address data on one
friend or business associate (the address book or business card file example); the
title, channel, start/end times, and episode description for one television show (the
TV schedule example); the employment information on one employee (the employee
records example); the ingredients and cooking instructions for one recipe (the recipe
card file example); the name, street address, and phone number for one person or
business in the area (the telephone book example); and the name of one person or
family from whom you previously received a card or want to send a card to (the
holiday greeting card list example).
friend or business associate (the address book or business card file example); the
title, channel, start/end times, and episode description for one television show (the
TV schedule example); the employment information on one employee (the employee
records example); the ingredients and cooking instructions for one recipe (the recipe
card file example); the name, street address, and phone number for one person or
business in the area (the telephone book example); and the name of one person or
family from whom you previously received a card or want to send a card to (the
holiday greeting card list example).
A database containing more than one table of related information is a relational
database. Each related table contains a field in common with the table(s) to which
it is related, such as the Employee ID number. FileMaker Pro is a relational database
management system (RDBMS).
database. Each related table contains a field in common with the table(s) to which
it is related, such as the Employee ID number. FileMaker Pro is a relational database
management system (RDBMS).
Records are divided into fields. A field contains a single piece of information about
the subject of the record. In an address database, for example, the fields might
include first name, last name, street address, city, state, ZIP code, and phone num-
ber. Figure 1-1 shows the relationship among the components of a database.
the subject of the record. In an address database, for example, the fields might
include first name, last name, street address, city, state, ZIP code, and phone num-
ber. Figure 1-1 shows the relationship among the components of a database.
What distinguishes a database from any old hodgepodge of information is that the
data within each record is organized. Fields are responsible for this organization.
The fields appear in the same place on every record and are reserved for a particu-
lar type of information. In the example in Figure 1-1, the field for the last name is
always in the upper-left corner of the address card, and it always contains a per-
son’s last name. No matter which address card you pull, you will find a last name at
that spot on the card.
data within each record is organized. Fields are responsible for this organization.
The fields appear in the same place on every record and are reserved for a particu-
lar type of information. In the example in Figure 1-1, the field for the last name is
always in the upper-left corner of the address card, and it always contains a per-
son’s last name. No matter which address card you pull, you will find a last name at
that spot on the card.
Of course, in some paper databases, maintaining this level of organization can be
difficult. When you are writing or typing an address card, for example, you might
occasionally reverse the order of the last and first names or enter a company name
in that spot. Organization in informal paper databases comes exclusively from your
own consistency — or lack thereof.
difficult. When you are writing or typing an address card, for example, you might
occasionally reverse the order of the last and first names or enter a company name
in that spot. Organization in informal paper databases comes exclusively from your
own consistency — or lack thereof.
Note
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