Approach Database . . or Filemaker Pro

[Carl Root]

Greg ,

If I understand your post, you are trying to decide which application to
use for your records.

Making a layout for Filemaker is very easy.  You set up relationships
and then include any combination of fields from these files in layouts
you design.  

My primary layout has all the clients information on one page.  It also
includes three portals.  A portal is a window that allows you to scroll
through one or more records of a related file.  Again, the number of
fields and the layout within the portal is up to you, only takes a few
minutes to set up, and can be changed at any time.  The portals I use
allow me to look through a client's service history, contact
information, and number of pianos.  

Other layouts include a scrollable list of all the clients due to be
called, sorted by zone and map coordinates.  I've also put together a
one page summary of the day's appointments that include address,
directions, etc.. 

Non essential curiosity questions are a snap as with any relational
database.  How many grands did I tune last year? List all my pianos,
serial numbers and year of manufacture (much easier to update
information than using Pierce's.)  The big difference between Filemaker
and dBaseIV and perhpas other applications is that displaying related
pieces of information from various files is quick and simple.

Dean hopes to redo PSM some time in the near future in part so non DOS
users won't need to use RealPC as an interface.  He says he'll probably
use Filemaker Pro.

I'll be attending an FMPSig meeting tonight.  I've barely scratched the
surface with this thing.

Carl Root, RPT
Rockville, MD