2026

FileMaker training and courses

Learn to use an existing database efficiently, build your own application or improve your development skills. Choose user training, individual tuition or an application development programme — from your first tables to integrations and server administration.

Establish a training program Explore training programmes

Find your starting point

From using an existing database to developing the complete solution.

For users

Daily work in Pro and Go: records, search, containers, import and reporting.

Individual course

1:1 learning at your own pace, through subsequent stages of an example or your own application.

Developer from scratch

The first relational database: tables, keys, layouts, calculations, scripts and permissions.

Advanced level

Development of larger solutions: architecture, diagnostics, performance and Pro tools.

FileMaker Server

Installation, sharing, accounts, schedules, monitoring and restore testing.

Integrations and consultations

JSON, HTTP, Data API, ODBC and a workshop solving a specific problem in the application.

Who it is for: People working or starting work in a ready-made database: sales, office, customer service, warehouse and team coordinators.
Getting started: Basic computer skills. Exercises require an account and a safe test database; no programming knowledge is needed.

01.01 Module

Connection and Operation Pro

Connecting to a hosted database, adding hosts and files to Favorites, and reopening the solution.
FileMaker Pro interface, toolbar, form, list and table views; recognition of viewing, searching and preview modes.
Pro preferences and settings useful in everyday work; distinguishing program settings from the functions of a specific application.

01.02 Module

Records and search

Creating, editing, approving, duplicating and deleting records; importance of linked records and access restrictions.
Advanced search: operators, date and number ranges, multiple requests, joint and alternative conditions, skipping records, and working with a found set.
Sorting results by several fields and Find and Replace function; checking the scope of the change before collective surgery.

01.03 Module

Files, data exchange and reports

Formatting text and working with container fields: photos, documents, inserting, opening and exporting content.
Import and export of records: mapping columns, data types, adding or updating records, and checking the result.
Print, print preview and save the report to Excel or PDF, including permissions and the current layout.
Snapshot Link (.fmpsl): Save a record set, view and sort. The link opens current data in the available database; does not replace export or backup.

01.04 Module

Getting started with FileMaker Go

FileMaker Go interface on iPhone and iPad, open a hosted application, and work conveniently on the touch screen.
Data entry and container handling on the device; Compare the task in Pro, Go and, if the application provides it, WebDirect.
Understanding the difference between a server connection and a local copy of a file. Offline changes do not automatically synchronize with the hosted database.

Sample exercise: Find orders from a specific period, disable canceled ones, organize the results, add a document to a container and prepare a PDF report and Snapshot Link for the authorized person.
What you will practise: Independently search and organize data, securely handle records and consciously choose between reporting, exporting and sharing a set of records.

Program 02Learn at your own pace

FileMaker individual course - from idea to your own database

1:1 learning allows you to adjust the pace, order and level of issues to one person. You can start from scratch or work on a specific area. A leading example may be a register of contractors, orders or sales documents.

The next steps combine the explanation of the tools with the extension of the same model. Exercise files saved after stages allow you to return to an earlier version, compare solutions and repeat the task. The scope of materials and work between meetings is agreed with the program.

4 modules · practical exercises

An example CRM in FileMaker Pro: a customer record, purchase history, a map and summaries. — A customer record and purchase history in FileMaker Pro.

Who it is for: People who want to learn at their own pace: entrepreneurs, data specialists, aspiring creators and developers developing a chosen skill.
Getting started: You just need to define your goal and previous experience. We practice creating applications in FileMaker Pro; when working with our own solution, we prepare a copy with sample data.

02.01 Module

Stage 1: model and first data

Starting from an empty file or available startup solution; recognizing elements that are worth using and changing.
Selection of tables, field types and keys; one-to-many and many-to-many relationships with a linking table.
Records, containers, import and export, search and sorting; automatic value entry and data validation.

02.02 Module

Stage 2: Application screens

Layout mode, graphic templates, themes and styles; selecting a view for the user's task.
Layout tools and Inspector: position, size, appearance, format, and behavior of objects.
Fields, lists of values, buttons and portals to related records; formatting objects and navigating between screens.

02.03 Module

Stage 3: calculations and automation

Working in the calculation window: functions, result types, conditions, dates, text and data references.
Script workspace: building steps, parameters, variables, conditions and loops.
Running scripts with a button and trigger; context observation, result checking and basic error handling.

02.04 Module

Stage 4: report and further development

Printouts, page setups, summaries and grouped reports; selecting data for a simple chart.
PDF and Excel saving, authorization control and process test from data entry to report.
Selection of further topics from Advanced, Server or Integration. You can go back to the files of previous stages and develop the model step by step.

Sample exercise: Build a linked register of customers, orders and order items. Add a form, search, value calculation, and a report showing a summary by customer.
What you will practise: Understanding of subsequent design decisions and the ability to independently repeat exercises and develop the model. The course does not automatically mean completion of the company's production system.

Who it is for: Beginner developers, data administrators and people who want to build tools for their work on their own.
Getting started: Freedom to work with your computer and data. Programming is not a requirement for entry. You need FileMaker Pro and the ability to create files and change their structure.

03.01 Module

Pro Platform and Workshop

FileMaker Pro, Go, WebDirect, Server and Cloud roles: where we create the application, where we use it and where the data is.
Pro handler from user program: connections and favorites, interface, preferences, record operations, search requests and sorting.
Find and replace, text, containers, import and export and save Excel, PDF and Snapshot Link as tools for testing the application you are building.

03.02 Module

Tables, fields and relationships

Division of the process into tables; field types, primary and foreign keys, indexing options, and calculated fields.
Relationship graph and table instance context; one-to-many connections and a many-to-many join table.
Automatic data entry, validation, lists of values and elimination of repetitions; distinguishing relationships from random name matching.

03.03 Module

Layouts, portals and reports

Creating forms and lists, layout parts, themes, styles and formatting of text and objects.
Inspector and design tools; arrangement, behavior and format of data in fields, buttons and the order of moving between fields.
Portals showing related records, filtering and sorting them, and support for drilling down.
Summary reports, simple charts, preview and printing; saving the summary to PDF.

03.04 Module

Logic, permissions and testing

Calculations in the editor: functions, conditions, working with text, numbers and dates, and the context of the result.
Creating scripts in the workspace, variables, parameters, conditions, loops and script triggers.
Accounts and permission sets, access to records and functions; testing the application as a user with limited access.
Checking import, required data and script errors; preparing a list of tests for a typical process.

Sample exercise: Design an order database with contractors and positions. Add a portal, a list of values, automatic calculations, an order creation script and an account with limited permissions.
What you will practise: Build and test a small practice application yourself and understand the relationship between data model, layout, script and user access.

Program 04Developer skills

Advanced FileMaker Pro training

A program for people who already create databases and want to develop them in a predictable way. We practice working with dependencies, repeatedly used logic and diagnostics. The scope may include your own solution or a selected fragment of the test model.

Tools formerly found in FileMaker Pro Advanced are part of the current Pro. We check the names and availability of specific functions for the version used during the training.

4 modules · practical exercises

The FileMaker Pro Script Workspace: a script list and an editor with steps and conditions. — The Script Workspace in FileMaker Pro.

Who it is for: Developers working independently with tables, relations, layouts, calculations and scripts.
Getting started: Practical experience equivalent to the foundation course and a sample database. Analyzing an existing system requires agreed access to a copy and its structure.

04.01 Module

Reusable architecture and code

Database planning, naming conventions and relationship graph organization; recognizing dependencies before change.
Universal scripts: parameters, results, context, division of responsibility and error handling; using JSON to transfer data.
Eigenfunctions and common calculation rules; avoiding duplicating the same logic in multiple places.
Transactions and consistency for multi-record operations in versions that support them; operation abort and rollback test.

04.02 Module

Diagnostics and performance

Script Debugger: step work, breakpoints, triggers and analysis of where the error occurred.
Data Viewer: observation of variables, fields and expressions in the context of the executing script.
Generating and using Database Design Report (DDR), a database structure report, and XML documentation to analyze connections and changes.
Good practices and development tools: measurement of slow scripts, reports, portals and calculations; indexing and limiting unnecessary data transfers.

04.03 Module

Interface, printing and sharing

Own menu, consistent styles and object states; control of available actions along with actual user permissions.
Designing printouts, summary reports and charts; verification of sorting, grouping, page division and source data.
iPhone and iPad interface in Go, and separate WebDirect tests in the browser: touch, screen size, supported features, and host connection.
Preparing the solution for transfer, encryption and administrative access management. We discuss legacy runtime applications in the context of maintenance and migration.
FileMaker 2026: assembling a PDF package from a report and attachments, checking errors and document completeness.

04.04 Module

Plugins, external data and server

Practical use of plugins: function calling, checking the result, error handling, installing and updating a compatible version.
Differentiation between plugin execution in Pro and Server; environment, license and compliance verification. Cloud does not provide server plug-ins.
Connecting to external data sources and choosing between ODBC, Data API and HTTP service call; the integration module develops these issues practically.
FileMaker Server installation and management, scheduling and task diagnostics - as an extension according to the administration program below.

Sample exercise: Rebuild the script that makes several dependent changes. Isolate common logic, add error handling, trace execution in the debugger, and check dependencies in the DDR report.
What you will practise: Diagnose problems based on observations, plan changes more safely, and build elements that can be reused in the application.

Who it is for: Administrators, system maintainers and developers responsible for hosting applications.
Getting started: Basic administration skills and a separate test environment with appropriate permissions. We do not practice installation or recovery on the only production copy of the data.

05.01 Module

Launch and access

Version requirements and compatibility, Server installation, administration console, and uploading and opening files.
Domain, TLS certificate and network access; accounts, permission sets and sharing for Pro, Go and WebDirect.
Choosing Server or Cloud: scope of self-administration, service limitations and dependencies of the transferred application.

05.02 Module

Maintenance, backups and diagnostics

Script schedules, logs, session and resource monitoring; checking the task result and plug-in operation on the server.
Backup, retention and storage outside the primary environment; selection of the mechanism according to the version and agreed needs.
Trial restoration of the database and container data, followed by a test of logging, scripts, reports and integration.
Upgrade plan, client and add-on compatibility checks, and return to previous environment procedure.

Sample exercise: Share a test database, run a scheduled task, analyze the log, prepare a backup and test restoration, including user access.
What you will practise: A working maintenance procedure, a checklist and the ability to distinguish between a server error and an application problem.

Who it is for: Application developers who know the basics of scripting and people who develop connections between systems.
Getting started: Knowledge of calculations and scripts, documentation of the selected service and test data and accounts. We determine access, API restrictions and how to work with materials before the workshop.

06.01 Module

JSON, HTTP and FileMaker Data API

JSON objects, arrays, types and paths; reading and constructing a message using FileMaker functions.
HTTP service call, headers and authentication; mapping responses to fields and data validation.
FileMaker Data API: access preparation, session token, searching, creating and updating records in the hosted database.
Transport error vs. application error, result logging, duplicate-free retry and incomplete data checking. The design of webhooks or schedules depends on the event source.
React portal and PostgreSQL as an example of integration: API boundaries, record keys, retrying operations and conflict resolution.

06.02 Module

ODBC and a workshop of your own solution

Two directions for ODBC: using a supported external source and sharing FileMaker data with another tool.
Drivers, DSN, Source Compatibility, SQL and Permissions; Server and Cloud limitations. Cloud does not provide its database as an ODBC/JDBC source.
Selection of the source of truth, identifiers and direction of changes; reconciling discrepancies between systems.
Consultation on a copy of the application: recognizing the problem, tracing the operation, proposing changes and a list of tests confirming the result.
Difference between ExecuteSQL() for FileMaker data and Execute SQL to external ODBC sources; ESS and adapter compatibility.
AI and RAG workshop: document and model selection, permissions control, updating materials and assessment of answers to test questions.

Sample exercise: Download a test order from the service, check the data, save it in related tables and handle message repetition and single-item error.
What you will practise: Understand the entire flow, from authorization to result control, and be able to pinpoint where integration needs improvement.

Integration with PostgreSQL Application technologies and APIs

Organization of training and preparation for exercises

In the inquiry, indicate the chosen path, the level of participants and two or three tasks that you want to perform independently later. We will select the order of topics and determine what can be combined in one program and what requires a separate module.

An individual course gives you space to pace yourself, and team training allows you to work on a common way of operating or developing the application. The remote or stationary form, place, number of participants, date, time with breaks and price are confirmed in the proposal.

Please provide your FileMaker Pro version and host, operating system, and devices used. Creating databases is done in Pro on Windows or macOS; Go and WebDirect are used to use the prepared application.
Let's determine available licenses, tool installation, permissions and test environment. The scope of the training does not automatically mean the provision of a license or hosting.
Prepare a copy of your own database with sample or anonymized data, or choose exercises based on a training model. Access to structure and code must be consistent with the scope of the course.
Let's agree on exercise files for subsequent stages, tasks to be repeated, how to check progress and the possible scope of further consultations.

An example project application in FileMaker Pro: tasks, progress charts and team meetings. — Tasks and project progress in FileMaker Pro.

Program for current FileMaker and older solutions

The core concepts of the old FileMaker 14 course remain: tables, relationships, fields, layouts, and scripts still make up the application. We update the program with current Pro tools, JSON and API integration, diagnostics, security and differences in working on a computer, mobile device and browser.

If you maintain FileMaker 14, an older Pro Advanced version or a runtime application, we can focus a consultation on assessing that solution and planning modernization. Generating legacy runtime applications is not part of the current course on building new deployments. We consider using Pro or hosting the application for access through Go or WebDirect; kiosk mode is not equivalent to a runtime application.

An example FileMaker Pro dashboard: donation summaries, charts, goals and a transaction list. — Data, reports and charts in one FileMaker Pro application.

Questions and answers

Before making a decision

Which path should I choose if I don't program?

If you use a ready-made database, start with the user program. If you want to create it, choose an individual course or development training from scratch. The advanced program assumes independent work with relations and scripts.

Can I learn individually by example?

Yes. We tailor the one-to-one course to your level and goal, with the option to progress from fundamentals to advanced topics. We agree on the model's scope, access to copies and files for each stage so you can repeat the exercises. You can also book a consultation on one issue without taking the full course.

How long do courses last and what did 8 or 16 hours mean in the past?

The previous offer included 8 hours for users, including a lunch break, and 16 hours for the basic and advanced developer levels, including two lunch breaks. We keep this information as a reference. We confirm the current scope, time of classes and breaks before the training; extended modules do not have to fit in the previous dimensions. An individual course has a program and pace selected separately.

Can advanced training be combined with Server or integrations?

Yes, module selection is part of program setting. Server Administration expands on the old topic of host installation and management, and the integration workshop covers the practical use of JSON, Data API or ODBC. We first check the participants' knowledge and the availability of test environments.

Is FileMaker Go or a browser enough for practice?

Go and WebDirect are enough to practice the support available in these clients. Designing tables, relationships, layouts and scripts requires FileMaker Pro for Windows or macOS and the appropriate permissions. We determine the version and license used before the class.

Does the training include Claris materials and certification?

The set of exercise files and materials to be repeated is agreed with the program. Platinum Interactive training is not automatically an exam or manufacturer certification. The official paths and qualification conditions are described by Claris.

Let’s start with a conversation

What do you want to learn in FileMaker?

Tell us what version you are using, what level you are and what you want to practice. Add the number of participants and the preferred form of classes. On this basis, we will determine the program, requirements and pricing.