Data-driven iOS Apps for iPad and iPhone with FileMaker Pro, Bento by FileMaker, and FileMaker Go

Use FileMaker® technologies to create powerful mobile data apps for iPhone®, iPod® touch, and iPad™

Apple’s FileMaker technologies make it easy to create powerful, data-driven apps for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and any mobile device’s web browser. In this book, leading FileMaker and iOS expert Jesse Feiler teaches you all the skills and techniques you’ll need, whether you’re a developer, knowledge worker, or manager.

Feiler thoroughly reviews each strategy for delivering mobile data using FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Server, FileMaker Go, and Bento. You’ll learn how mobile data-driven apps are different from traditional desktop-driven apps, and how to create highly usable interfaces for them. Step by step, Feiler demonstrates how to extend existing databases to mobile devices and the web, and how to create and optimize brand-new databases for iPad and iPhone.

This book brings together core principles, practical development techniques, and proven tips and shortcuts. You’ll discover the best ways to incorporate printing, touch interface elements, and location-based features into your apps; integrate data from multiple FileMaker and non-FileMaker sources; and much more.

• Use FileMaker Go apps to access FileMaker databases hosted on FileMaker Server or FileMaker Pro, or databases resident on a mobile device
• Move FileMaker Pro databases, scripts, and layouts to mobile environments
• Develop easy-to-use interfaces for mobile data apps
• Design FileMaker Go solutions for iPhone, iPad, or both
• Optimize FileMaker databases for FileMaker Go
• Integrate printing and charting features into your mobile database apps
• Use Bento to share data and synchronize libraries
• Work effectively with Bento records, fields, forms, and tables
• Build location-aware database apps for iOS mobile devices
• Import/export data from Bento, FileMaker, spreadsheets, and other sources
• Move FileMaker databases to the web with IWP, CWP, and FileMaker Server

Jesse Feiler is a developer, web designer, trainer, and author. He has worked with Apple mobile devices from Newton through iPad and has worked with FileMaker technologies since 1984. Feiler created ChamplainArts.com’s powerful iPad meeting management app MinutesMachine. His books include Using FileMaker Bento, Sams Teach Yourself Drupal in 24 Hours, The Bento Book, and FileMaker Pro 10 in Depth.

Table of Contents

Part I: Data to Go
1 Making Data Mobile
2 Introducing the FileMaker Architecture
3 Managing Data on the Move
4 Working with Mobile Devices
5 Preparing FileMaker for Mobile Use
6 Introducing FileMaker Server

Part II: FileMaker Go
7 Using FileMaker Go
8 Optimizing FileMaker Databases for FileMaker Go
9 Designing a FileMaker Go Solution
10 Using Printing and Charting with FileMaker Go

Part III: FileMaker by Bento
11 Using Bento and Bento Libraries
12 Using Bento Records, Fields, Forms, and Tables
13 Working with Location and Media Fields
14 Importing and Exporting Bento and FileMaker Data
Part IV: FileMaker Web Publishing: Instant Web Publishing (IWP) and Custom Web Publishing (CWP)
15 Deploying FileMaker/IWP with FileMaker Server Advanced
16 Deploying FileMaker/CWP with FileMaker Server