Content vs. form

Understanding content versus form is the key to tapping the real power of any database. Do not confuse what a database contains (the content) with how it looks (the form). As important as data may be, it's not what gives a database its power. Instead, the power is in the program's ability to organizeand instantly reorganizethe display of that data (Figure 2.1).

Figure 2.1. A database's real power comes from being able to display a single record's data in multiple ways.

Many people use spreadsheet programs to organize and analyze data. At times a spreadsheet is the best tool for such work, but a database often offers far more flexibility. Spreadsheet information, for example, is confined to rows and columns. Database programs like FileMaker can break free of that grid to display data as tables, lists, address labels, or in almost any form you need. Since FileMaker lets you drag data from Microsoft Excel and drop it right into a layout, making the switch couldn't be easier.

Tapping the power behind any database boils down to understanding and effectively using just a few items: fields, records, and layouts. Let's take a look at the role of each in a database program like FileMaker.