filemaker pro
Filemaker | Mike McDonald | November 5th, 2002
I wrote a month or two ago asking if anyone had used Filemaker Pro (a relational database application). Nobody had. Anyway, I got someone at work to show me how to use it, and after 10-15 minutes of instruction I knew all I needed to know. For anyone who keeps notes on the reading they do, I can thoroughly recommend it. The larger your reading list is, the more useful Filemaker is.
What you have to do is quite simple:
1. Input all the fields you want to use. I chose ID code, Topic area, Author 1's forenames, Author 1's surname, Author 2's forenames, Author 2's surnames, Article title, Volume title, Volume number, Number, Page numbers, Location, Editor 1, Editor 2, Summary, Comments, Teaching tips, Publisher, Year, Author 1 affiliation, Author 2 affiliation, Author 1 biography, Author 2 biography, and Data entry date.
2. Set the layout you want to use for all the records. I fitted all the above fields on one page for convenience. You end up with a collection of empty boxes with labels on their left (one box for Article title, another for Volume title, etc.).
3. Create a new record for each book or article you read. You can view the complete list of records as a table, or you can view a subset of records, or you can view each record individually.
What's great about it is that you can use the "search" function to group the data any way you want. For example, by typing "Aston" in the affiliation search boxes, you get a list of all the authors working at Aston. By typing "sociolinguistics" in the Topic area search box, you get a list of all the books and articles you've read about sociolinguistics. By typing "ethical" in the Summary search box, you get a list of all the materials whose summary includes that word. And so on. It's really good for people with a poor memory like me when you know you've read about a topic but can't remember where.
The price of $299 is a bit steep, I suppose, but I was fortunate enough to be able to get my employer to pay. If you are in a similar position, you might want to try it. Just a word of warning: ALWAYS back up everything. If you mistakenly erase a record, it's gone. In my second week I somehow erased all the records I'd created. Not a good move.
Mike McDonald
Editor's note: Here's some info about Filemaker Pro from the company's website (August 2005):
FileMaker Pro 7 is the #1-selling easy-to-use database software that effortlessly manages all your information.
With easy Starter Solutions, the ability to import and organize many types of information, point-and-click customization, comprehensive sharing features, and sophisticated security options, FileMaker Pro 7, is the simply best way to
Be productive instantly
Organize all your information in one place
Create solutions to work the way you do
Share information with other people and programs
Protect your most valuable assets
If you haven't upgraded to FileMaker Pro 7, there's no better time. Upgrade now for only US$179*.
*The upgrade price of US$179 applies only if you have a valid license of FileMaker Pro 6.0. If you have an older version of FileMaker Pro, you may purchase FileMaker Pro 7 for US$299.
If you'd like to upgrade 10 or more units, please call 800-325-2747 for additional volume discounts.
with 
and 
