 Monday
7:30 a.m. |
FTS: An Introduction to the FileMaker Training Series Track (No Fee Required) |
FTS |
General |
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Session Description
This session will be open to all DevCon attendees and is designed to discuss the FileMaker Training Series (FTS) track and various topics covered in the particular sessions. Attendees will be introduced to the sessions and also how they may help you prepare for FileMaker Certification. This session is ideal for anyone attending the FTS Track or for those interested in enhancing their skills and learning directly from FileMaker Authorized Trainers.
What You Will Learn
- Preview the FTS track sessions
- Introductions to the track speakers
- Housekeeping announcements
- Q&A on FTS Track
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Monday
8:00 a.m. |
FTS : Data Modeling |
FTS |
Beginner |
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Session Description
This session will cover data modeling topics from the FileMaker Training Series materials module 3. We'll start by demonstrating how to systematically explore and break a real-world problem down into its constituent parts. Then we'll map those elements into a data diagram and discuss how that design is eventually expressed in a FileMaker Pro file. Finally, we'll review some of the specific benefits and features offered by the relational toolset in FileMaker Pro, and we'll discuss the pros and cons of sorting and filtering relationships as well as common data-modeling approaches.
Note: A Gold Pass is required for all FTS sessions. Attendees will receive one DVD of the FTS materials (includes modules, videos, exercise and demo files).
Products & Technologies
- FileMaker Pro
- FileMaker Go
- FileMaker Pro Advanced
What You Will Learn
- How to break down a real-world scenario into a set of entities and their attributes
- How to create an entity-relationship diagram (ERD) and understand how it differs from FileMaker's Relationship Graph
- How to create simple, complex and filtered relationships between FileMaker Pro tables
- How to exploit the benefits of bi-directionality and other specialized data-modeling constructs
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Monday
10:30 a.m. |
FTS: Working With Fields |
FTS |
Beginner |
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Session Description
In this session you will become comfortable creating fields and working with various field options. FileMaker Pro supports several different data types including: text, number, date, time, and timestamp. You can specify many options to automatically enter data into a field when a record is created and/or modified. Setting field validation and storage options provides an additional layer of control over data entered into your systems. And finally, you'll learn how to use container fields in your system to manage complex data such as images and binary files.
Note: A Gold Pass is required for all FTS sessions. Attendees will receive one DVD of the FTS materials (includes modules, videos, exercise and demo files).
What You Will Learn
- Defining fields using both the Manage Database dialog and Table View
- Specifying auto-entry and validation options for a field
- The importance of indexing
- Creating and formatting container fields for multiple uses
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Monday
1:30 p.m. |
FTS: Connectivity |
FTS |
Intermediate |
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Session Description
One of the great strengths of FileMaker Pro software is its ability to share data with other applications. Not only can FileMaker Pro make its own data available, via technologies compatible with Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), it can access data stored in other systems as well.
This session covers the ways in which FileMaker Pro can share data using ODBC, a database interchange technology. Using ODBC, you can import data from sources, such as SQL databases, into your FileMaker Pro solution. Likewise, you can make data from your FileMaker Pro solution available to other programs that use ODBC. The session will also cover connecting through the External SQL Sources (ESS) feature in FileMaker Pro, where you can directly access certain kinds of SQL-based data from within a FileMaker Pro system. Attending this session will also help prepare you for the FileMaker certification exam in regard to Connectivity questions.
Note: A Gold Pass is required for all FTS sessions. Attendees will receive one DVD of the FTS materials (includes modules, videos, exercise and demo files).
What You Will Learn
- Different ways of interacting with other data sources using ODBC technologies
- The requirements and procedures for configuring Data Source Names (DSNs) to connect to specific ODBC data sources
- How to use the ESS feature to integrate SQL data sources directly with FileMaker Pro solutions
- The requirements and procedures for using a FileMaker Pro solution as an ODBC data source
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Tuesday
10:45 a.m. |
FTS: Layouts |
FTS |
Intermediate |
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Session Description
This session will take a critical look at the use, setup, and behavior of layouts and layout objects. We will examine field and object control options and when they can be used; the how, when, and where of conditional formatting; and what you need to know about resizing layout objects. We will look at recent version changes to the design toolset that can help you provide a modern user experience. Specifically, we will also discuss the layout design process and platform specific considerations (Desktop, iPad, iPhone).
Products & Technologies
- FileMaker Pro
- Layout Mode
What You Will Learn
- The use of fields and portals to express appropriate views of data
- The use of graphical formatting tools to visually help users understand their data
- The use of Layout Mode tools for development efficiency
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Tuesday
2:00 p.m. |
FTS: Calculations |
FTS |
Beginner |
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Session Description
Calculation functions are the lifeblood of FileMaker. They are used throughout the application, for everything from defining fields to scripting, security, and conditional formatting. If there's one thing that can make you a better FileMaker developer across the board, it's having a solid grounding in the use of calculation functions. In this session, you'll learn about the core calculations that every FileMaker developer needs to be adept with, as well as practical applications of their use.
Note: A Gold Pass is required for all FTS sessions. Attendees will receive one DVD of the FTS materials (includes modules, videos, exercise and demo files).
What You Will Learn
- Syntax and usage of dozens of core calculation functions
- Best practices for writing effective and efficient calculations
- Practical applications for using functions
- Tips for learning new functions
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Tuesday
3:45 p.m. |
FTS: Reporting |
FTS |
Intermediate |
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Session Description
This session will be based on materials from the first three lessons of Module 7 of the FileMaker Training Series (FTS) materials. It will focus on the mechanics of creating both basic and advanced subsummary reports, including how to use layout and summary fields, how to use scripts to incorporate reports into the user workflow, and an introduction to FileMaker Pro 12 Quick Charts.
Note: A Gold Pass is required for all FTS sessions. Attendees will receive one DVD of the FTS materials (includes modules, videos, exercise and demo files).
What You Will Learn
- How to create basic and advanced subsummary reports
- How to incorporate a report into the user workflow
- How to work with layout parts
- How to create FileMaker Pro 12 Quick Charts
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Wednesday
10:45 a.m. |
FTS: Security |
FTS |
Intermediate |
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Session Description
Implementing a proper security model often goes beyond controlling whether or not someone can log into a database. FileMaker Pro includes a robust set of features for controlling which users have access to what information and what they can do with that information via the accounts and privileges settings. This session will demonstrate how to restrict users from sensitive operations or information within a database, how to associate privileges with authenticated accounts, and how to control specific features within a database based on a given user's assigned privileges.
Products & Technologies
- FileMaker Pro
- FileMaker Server
- OSX/iOS/Windows
What You Will Learn
- Understanding security controls in FileMaker files
- Creation and management of accounts and privilege sets in FileMaker security
- Restricting record deletion
- Approaches for implementing conditional record access
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Wednesday
2:00 p.m. |
FTS: Server |
FTS |
Beginner |
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Session Description
If you need to share your solution with many users, FileMaker Server is the tool to use. In this session, attendees will learn about FileMaker Server, how to deploy and configure FileMaker Server and how to take advantage of its ability to assist in the automation of business process by running FileMaker scripts. In addition, attendees will spend some time learning about how to create and automate a robust backup strategy.
Note: A Gold Pass is required for all FTS sessions. Attendees will receive one DVD of the FTS materials (includes modules, videos, exercise and demo files).
Products & Technologies
- FileMaker Pro
- FileMaker Server
What You Will Learn
- Introduction to FileMaker Server
- Installing and configuring FileMaker Server
- Backing up FileMaker Server
- Running scripts with FileMaker Server
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Wednesday
3:45 p.m. |
FTS: Scripting |
FTS |
Intermediate |
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Session Description
One of the most important and powerful tools in FileMaker Pro is the Manage Scripts feature, which allows you to create scripted routines that can then be triggered in a variety of ways. Scripts can serve a wide range of purposes, including automating everything from simple navigation tasks to complex reporting and workflow needs. Despite their variety of purposes, there are common design patterns-sequences or arrangements of script steps-that serve as the building blocks for script after script. This session will cover some of these basic design patterns such as interacting with the user, finding data, error trapping, navigating to related records, and looping over a set of records. By focusing on these common patterns, you will learn the building blocks necessary for creating scripts in your own database solutions.
Note: A Gold Pass is required for all FTS sessions. Attendees will receive one DVD of the FTS materials (includes modules, videos, exercise and demo files).
What You Will Learn
- Learn common scripting patterns
- Create scripts that interact with users, perform finds, and manipulate data
- Use loops to perform iterative tasks
- Set up layout and object level script triggers
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Thursday
9:00 a.m. |
FTS: Web Publishing |
FTS |
Intermediate |
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Session Description
The web technologies in FileMaker Server (and Pro) allow you to give your solutions a very broad reach. However, there are some trade offs to be aware of, which this session will discuss in detail. Web technologies allow users to interact with a FileMaker Pro solution using only a web browser. This session will discuss both Instant and Custom Web Publishing options available as well as considerations for both. There will also be discussion on setting up Web Publishing and the required Server components and additional software you will need to publish your FileMaker Pro data to the web. Additional things you will learn: - XML Grammars - URL Syntax Note: A Gold Pass is required for all FTS sessions. Attendees will receive one DVD of the FTS materials (includes modules, videos, exercise and demo files).
Products & Technologies
- FileMaker Pro
- FileMaker Server
- FileMaker Server Advanced
What You Will Learn
- Web Publishing options avail and their required Server version
- Instant Web Publishing review
- XML Grammars - URL Syntax
- Server components setup
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Thursday
10:45 a.m. |
FTS: FileMaker Go |
FTS |
Intermediate |
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Session Description
FileMaker Go provides a way for users to go "mobile" with any application, but developers need to be aware of the caveats presented by a mobile environment. This session takes attendees through Module 13 from the FileMaker Training Series by introducing FileMaker Go 12, discussing the new features of FileMaker Pro 12 and how they relate to FileMaker Go 12, and reviewing more advanced topics such as transactional processing of records to ensure data integrity in a mobile environment.
Note: A Gold Pass is required for all FTS sessions. Attendees will receive one DVD of the FTS materials (includes modules, videos, exercise and demo files).
Products & Technologies
- FileMaker Pro 12
- FileMaker Server 12
- FileMaker Go 12
What You Will Learn
- Introduction to FileMaker Go 12
- Designing layouts for mobile use
- FileMaker Pro 12 and FileMaker Go 12
- Advanced techniques
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Thursday
12:00 p.m. |
Preparing For Certification: Next Steps (No Fee Required) |
FTS |
General |
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Session Description
Preparing for the FileMaker Certification Exam doesn't stop here. This session will review all the resources available to those who wish to properly prepare for the exam. Recommended reading and additional study guides will be reviewed as well as a discussion on how and where to take the exam. This session will provide tips for proper preparation for those taking the exam, allowing attendees to prepare the "next steps" for preparing for certification. Attendees will also have time to ask questions about Certification. (Lunch will be provided at this session.)
What You Will Learn
- Exam logistics
- How the exam process works
- Additional resources for preparing for the exam
- Next Steps for becoming certified
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