FileMaker is an awesome tool for solving business or organizational problems for millions of users weekly! However, FileMaker won't solve your business problems by itself.

There are already books available on FileMaker Pro™, and even more resources available on the web and in workshops, classes, etc. But these sources consist almost entirely of instruction on how to use FileMaker's tools, and not how to properly design a custom app. The single most glaring omission for the newcomer is a basic list of do's, don'ts and other advice to help you get started on the right foot. This book will help prevent you from making significant design errors that could cause you trouble down the road.

The key to building a good custom app is a good design. Good design stems from knowing which structures and techniques will suit your needs, and which will not. That is the purpose of this document: to warn you about pitfalls and advise you of basic design concepts.

This book was written with the intent of keeping the novice out of trouble and from being forced to start a custom app over from scratch.