Lynne,

I am using Filemaker in a way that is at least creative and perhaps
pushing the boundaries.  I recently had to go to version 5.5 to
accomplish some of the goals of the project.

As for scripts, I do not use them much at all.  The only thing I use
any scripting for is to startup FMPro and open the databases we use
to serve to the web.  The scripts are fairly easy to write, depending
upon your needs.  There is a script maker that allows you do create
the functionality that you desire (located under the script menu).

You can use HTML to write some nice Web pages and serve your
Filemaker databases to the Web if you so desire.  If you know exactly
what you want to do you can automate some processes in Filemaker,
such as getting data from a previous record and putting it in the
next record.  There is a nice visual interface to write the scripts.
So, the issue of moving data from a previous record to a new record
is fairly easy to setup.  So, if you are creating a series of new
records where everyone is in the same city, state, and with the same
zip code, when you create a new record you can easily have a script
that runs and inserts the data into the appropriate field(s).  The
script is nothing more that this:

Insert from Last Record [Select, "city"]

Repeat for State and Zip.  This is on my Mac, the PC scripting is a
bit different, but not much.  All in all, fairly easy.

John


>Hello,
>    Based somewhat upon what I read on this list, I bought the Filemaker Pro
>database for our *very tiny* historical society museum.  I have some simple
>databases set up in it such as our society's membership records that I was
>able to transfer from the world's oldest database (Professional File).  I
>have worked with a variety of not-too-challenging databases for many years,
>so I know that what I need this one to do is something much simpler ones can
>do, but I have no earthly idea how -- and I have no idea to whom to turn to
>ask.
>    May I then ask any of the members of this list who are familiar with
>Filemaker:
>
>- do you need something called "scripts" (which I gather are small programs)
>to do things such as enter repetitive information, as when I am entering
>members and thay all have the same city, state, and zip?
>- who writes the "scripts"?
>- are they written with HTML?
>- how do i learn how to write them?
>
>Many thanks
>Lynne
>
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+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
John Chadwick, Ed.D.
Sr. Web Developer/educational technology specialist
Arizona K-12 Center
Northern Arizona University -- Central Phoenix Office
2715 N. Third Street, Suite 210
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://azk12.nau.edu
602-728-9522 or direct line: 602-776-4608

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).