Originally published Monday, April 12, 1999 http://www.recordnet.com/daily/businessstatic/matheson041299.html

On a more pleasant note, I just reviewed the MacAcademy (www.macacademy.com) CD-ROM computer training series for FileMaker Pro database program (www.filemaker.com). MacAcademy, founded in 1987, has trained well over 1 million learners with their seminars, videos and CD-ROMs. The Filemaker Pro series consists of six CD-ROMs, each with about 2 hours of QuickTime presentations. The training CD-ROMs are well prepared and easy to follow. The first CD got to the subject quickly in a organized sequence of topics. The instructor, Keith Keil, never left a stone unturned and I could review a sequence immediately by simply pressing a button.

I find the CD approach far superior to videotape because of the point and click review feature. Since FileMaker Pro is such a powerful program, the ability to follow the cursor keystroke by keystroke was very helpful. I have used books that are designed to train, but they frankly pale in comparison to the "virtual" teacher on the CD.

Each CD comes with a preview movie explaining how the CD works. The actual training is done in a movie window with carefully arranged buttons to play, pause, fast forward and back. The topics range from creating a database, editing and finding records, to nifty layouts, flashy buttons, to publishing databases on the Internet. These CDs have all the information one needs to put a databased business on the Web. From a personal standpoint, I wish that the first CD had taken one simple example from start to finish. However, from an approach of good pedagogy, the CDs are thorough and very well done, sequencing through a complete list of topics.

The CDs are not cheap at $49.95 each, but if you really want to learn how to use a powerhouse application like FileMaker Pro, they are well worth the price.

Douglas Matheson is a professor of psychology at University of the Pacific.

it is a very intresting boo