Maintaining Healthy Files

A FileMaker database is a type of document. However, unlike normal documents, the process of saving is completely automated and out of the reach of human action. Each time a modified record is committed (Chapter 4 , “Closing a Record”), changes made in a file are automatically saved, so there is no need to explicitly perform a save function. Changes will be written back to the file without any action required, either directly in the local computer or through the network by the host computer. Users can modify records, and developers can modify structural elements with confidence that the work will be written to disk. However, things can go wrong! So, it’s important to know how to avoid, identify, and remedy problems to maintain healthy files. This chapter discusses some of the problems that can occur and how to help ensure they don’t end in tragedy.