FileMaker® Pro Design & Scripting For Dummies®

Chapter 4. Designing a Good FileMaker Application

In This Chapter

• Asking the right questions

• Organizing your data

• Laying it out for ease of use

• Configuring settings for layout function

• Working with parts

• Placing objects on the layout

Imagine that you have just hired someone to build you a nice house. Then on the day that the work is to start, the builder shows up, grabs some lumber, and just starts nailing boards together. No blueprints, no foundation, and not even a chalk mark to show where the walls go. I bet it wouldn't take long for you to fire the builder and go find another one. That's because you understand that there are things that have to happen in order for the house to be built properly. With a house, you need to know what the purpose of the house is (single couple, family, large family, and so on). Then you pick or design a set of blueprints. Next comes the ordering of all the materials and resources. The ground is prepared, the foundation is built, and then the house is built. (A very simplified description.)

Well, software development and database application design have things in common with building a house. This chapter helps you understand the questions you need to consider before you actually begin developing the database. But, don't worry — database design is a lot easier than designing and building a house.

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