Got smarts? Get Savvy!

Attend individual sessions, or complete the entire webinar series

Session #1 – Foundation & Overview (this page)
Session #2 – FileMaker-Native Graphs go to detail page
Session #3 – Using Web Technologies go to detail page
Session #4 – Using Charting Plug-ins go to detail page

‘Ace of Charts’ Webinar#1: Foundation & Overview

This session covers important charting fundamentals needed for the rest of the webinar series, and provides a high-level preview of the 3 other sessions.

Course Length & Price

Sessions start at 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM and run 75 minutes (+10 minutes Q&A); $75 each

Schedule of Upcoming Classes

To register for a specific class using a credit card, please select your class and complete the online registration form—or call us at 800.946.5433 to speak in person.

* 10:00 AM for 75 minutes on March 27, 2012 (Tue) via GoToTraining Register Online
* 10:00 AM for 75 minutes on May 28, 2012 (Mon) via GoToTraining Register Online

Classroom Location

“Let’s meet online!”

Webinar Series Description

‘Ace of Charts’ is an eye-opening examination of the means and mechanisms for adding attractive, useful charts & graphs to existing FileMaker solutions. Learn to make embedded dynamic graphs that update on-demand or automatically.
Read full series description here.

This Webinar Session’s Content

The following topics are covered in this specific webinar:

Approaches to Charting in FileMaker Pro

Four different methods are commonly used for visualizing data in FileMaker, providing deployment options appropriate for any organization. The capabilities and constraints of each approach will be explained.

  • The built-in chart layout object introduced in FileMaker Pro 11
  • Plug-ins and container fields (e.g. xmCHART from x2max, 360Works Chart)
  • The Web Viewer and HTML/Flash/CSS/JavaScript (e.g. FusionCharts, Maani, Google Charts API)
  • FileMaker non-chart indicator methods (merge variables, conditional formatting, repeating fields) that still have a place in providing visual information and feedback (especially useful for dashboards)
Charting Fundamentals
  • Visualizing the seven primary types of data relationships:
    • - Ranking comparison (ordered by size or quantity)
    • - Categorical/Nominal comparison (no inherent order)
    • - Time series, Ordered intervals (contiguous X-axis values)
    • - Proportion of the Whole (contribution/composition)
    • - Variance/Deviation (to goal, history or other reference value)
    • - Distribution (frequency, range, concentration)
    • - Correlation (causation, dependent variable, pattern echo)
  • Choosing the right chart type for the data
  • Chart parts & usage tips
Preparing FileMaker Pro for Chart Integration
  • Normalizing Data
  • Schema: recommended fields and relationships
  • Creating Groups & Summaries
  • Cross-tab Reporting
Best Practices
  • Building for Reusability
  • Designing for Interaction
Additional Resources Provided via Download
  • Working example files that you can adapt for your own solutions
  • Good Charting Habits
  • Deployment Checklist
  • Links to other design resources

Instructor

Lee Lukehart is a FileMaker authorized trainer and has earned every developer certification that FileMaker has offered (11/10/9/8/7). He authored the popular white paper on FileMaker Pro Charting and the TechNet webinar on advanced charting techniques. His students appreciate his attentive manner and patience in the classroom, and they say his responsive training style makes learning new skills fast and fun.

And on a good day he can make a trend line with only 1 data point. ;-)