Database Project

   This project taught me a lot about how to operate databases and really opened my eyes to the functionality of using them to organize related information.  Although watching the lectures and taking notes may be one thing, it was a whole different experience once I began to create my own database with information that I was given.  One thing that I liked about this project was how realistic it was to the real world.  I was given a set of information that was all related and I had to create a database that would allow this information to be functional and useful at a local gym.  I thought it was really cool to be able to use different layouts such as the one that I created to show the "Recently Departed Members" because a gym would really want a database that would enclose this information to perhaps figure out a way to keep these members that they lost in the future.  I also learned how to share information from one aplication to another such as sharing information from Microsoft Excel to FileMaker Pro.  The whole project in itself was challenging, but in the end a very positive learning experience.

   One thing that I immediately noticed that would help make the creation of a database in FileMaker Pro easier was the Undo button and to be able to edit your work more readily.  Because I do a lot of work with Microsoft Word as well as Microsoft Powerpoint, I often times found myself wanting to click the undo button or to discard any wrong moves that I made.  At one point I messed up so badly and there was no undo button so I just decided to start from scratch, which kind of set my project back a little bit.  Another thing that I thought would make using FileMaker easier would be to make the Layout creator a little bit more user-friendly.  I found it to be very challenging to manipulate the Text and layout while I was creating my Form and I think that could be easily fixed.  Every time I wanted to edit the text I had to go to the top of the page and click the "T" and then when I wanted to move something around I had to once again go to the top and select the "Mouse" option to move something around.  I think that having it more simple to navigate and use would make the whole experience much easier for a user.