One program, one book for Windows and Macintosh

FileMaker was one of the first programs that performed similarly whether you were using a Windows or Macintosh computer. In fact, the two versions are so similar now that anyone comfortable with FileMaker in general will find it relatively easy to pick up and move to FileMaker on the other platforma real boon for anyone working in today's typical office with a mix of PCs and Macs. Still, there are some differences between FileMaker's Windows and Mac versions.

• Minor differencesslightly different menus, dialog boxes, window iconsare not highlighted in the text. I've alternated illustrations from both platforms when such differences aren't important to how FileMaker functions. But in many of the book's illustrations, you can't necessarily tell which platform is being used.

• Small but important differences between the versions are handled like so: "Under the Help menu, select FileMaker Help (Windows) or Show Balloons (Mac)."

• Major distinctions are highlighted with two icons:

  This icon marks special instructions or features for the Windows version of FileMaker.

  This icon marks special instructions or features for the Macintosh version of FileMaker.

• Tips: Signified by a in the margin, tips highlight shortcuts for performing common tasks or ways you can use your new FileMaker skills to solve common problems.

• Italic words: When italicized words appear in the book's text, you'll find the very same words on the FileMaker screen itself when you reach that step in the program. The italicized term might appear as a button or tab label, the name of a text window or an option button in a dialog box, or as one of several choices in a drop-down menu. Whatever the context, the italics are meant to help you quickly find the item in what can sometimes be a crowded screen. If the step includes an accompanying illustration, use it to help you find the item being discussed. For example: Select Open an existing file and click OK.

• Code font: When a word or words appear in code font, it's used to indicate the literal text you need to type into FileMaker. For example: In the text window, type http://localhost and press . Web addresses are also in code font.

• Menu commands and keyboard shortcuts: Menu-based commands are shown as: File > Define Fields. Keyboard-based shortcuts (when available) are shown in parentheses after the first step in which they can be used. For example: () means that you should press the and keys at the same time to switch to the Layout mode.

• Cutouts in figures: Sometimes a FileMaker menu or dialog box is so deep that it can be hard to fit on the page with all the other figures and still leave it large enough to read. In those cases, I cut out the middle or end of the figure to save some space and mark it with a white wavy line (Figure 1.5). Nothing critical to understanding the step is ever left out. And it sure beats running teeny, tiny figures.

  Figure 1.5. Sometimes the original dialog boxes or deep menus (left) will be snipped in the middle (right) to save space on the printed page.