At the time, FileMaker was limited to single tables it was good enough for a simple mailing-label database but could not relate customer records to order records.
#Filemaker server 12 advanced upgrade manuals
At the time, I'd brought the first Macintosh and LaserWriter into the consulting company where I worked, primarily for desktop publishing of software manuals via PageMaker, and I wanted to use the LaserWriter to print mailing labels for shipments. My experience with FileMaker goes back to 1985. After that, your office technologist should be able to design the forms and reports.
If you need to track data that has a different "shape" from any of the templates, enlist someone who groks the meaning of third normal form - most likely a DBA or programmer - to design the database initially. On the other hand, if your department must consolidate information from a centralized SQL database with what you maintain locally, then you'll require the cooperation of the DBA - at the very least to gain access to the database and most likely to review your SQL queries as well. If you can start with an existing, well-structured database template, keep all data in the local database, and make only minor changes, you really won't need the help of a DBA or programmer.