The standard dogma about what a database is, is that they store data. While that is a true statement, it really misses the point. Databases are about providing results and making data do the leg work for you. It’s about efficiency.
Databases are limitless. But the drudgery of databases is that they can be difficult to use and hard to understand. Today, databases are about intuitiveness and ease of use. It’s about the beauty of design.
I have been developing FileMaker Databases since 1992, beginning as a contractor for a major corporation American President Lines, Ltd, in Oakland, California. One day a project in FileMaker was handed over to me - a work order system. From that subtle beginning, it became love at first keystroke! I quickly learned to impress my boss when I took a manual audit of our work orders and categorized them in the work order database. This allowed me to free up two to three workers and automate the categories, providing results immediately instead of the five days it took manually to complete.
In 1999, I was hired by APL to work as a Network Analyst where I also took on the challenge of getting my Certified Cisco Network Associates or CCNA certification. While learning the demanding duties of the job, I also created the departments Enterprise Network Database. This database allowed each analyst to view our off site locations, their network settings and local pdf visio diagrams. It also included an internal messaging system for each shift to leave messages about a site, and internal lookup directory for regional managers. It proved a great advance in my coding and use of FileMaker, while providing each analyst an easier way to work and get information. Shortly, our group was outsourced to outside contracts in Texas.
In 2004, APL contracted my services again working in the Facilities Department, where I met up with old colleagues. Soon it was learned that a database was needed to “move people and their assets”, as a shared database between three departments. This proved to be a hard sell among the department managers. However, my exuberance and influence, as well as my proven development background won them over. In twelve months time, a final product was completed. I provided a full user guide and technical documentation to my clients because it was such a large database. It included a key inventory, access badge expiration alerts, statistics on employees, room information, storage locations, export to Sharepoint software providing the companies first locations directory available to all company employees, an email system that allowed employees to be notified by floor (which outlook mail could not provide), an internal move process that updated the new location number and moved the assets information and phone information used by the Telecommunications department, floor pdf diagrams and a host of other valuable features.
It was after this experience that I decided to open my own business and begin to professionally design my own databases. Today, FileMaker incorporates many other disciplines, such as custom web publishing with PHP, MySQL integration, XHTML, CSS, using plug-ins for charts, JQUERY, FileMaker Server Management. There isn’t anything FileMaker can’t do. It’s a great time to be excited about developing with FileMaker Pro. And nothing could be more fun than doing what you love. My special thanks to the FileMaker community, trainers, instructors and other supportive groups.