New FileMaker 8 features explained in the book include:
• A greatly improved way to create related databases. What had been a confusing chicken-or-egg conundrum in previous versions of the program is now very straightforward.
• Being able to import Excel spreadsheets is not new. But version 8’s ability to export to Excel now makes back-and-forth data sharing truly painless. Import Excel files directly into FileMaker without having to predefine your fields. When you’re done working with that data in FileMaker, export it right back to Excel.
• FileMaker’s new tabbed controls make it easy to group related items into a single screen—even if the original layout sprawls across several pages.

Note: Before Oct. 3, 2007, the example files posted for downloading were unintentionally locked. When you tried to open them in FileMaker, you had to enter a password, which naturally folks didn't have. My apologies. Download the file containing the unlocked example databases used in the book, and you'll be on your way. They're compressed in a zip file that will open fine whether you're running a PC or a Mac.