FileMaker Certification Exam Study Tips

Studying for the FileMaker certification exam can be a difficult and time consuming task. The exam has a large pool of possible questions that covers the entire array of products in the FileMaker platform. This article contains a list of several subjects that are covered in the FileMaker certification exam and includes links to the documents you will need to study.

Please note that none of the questions below are taken directly from the exam. There is a strict non-disclosure agreement that prevents me from discussing specific questions. You may not be asked about all of the items below, but it’s a good bet to assume that there is at least one question in the pool for each of the sections mentioned in this article.

work team chat at computers about FileMaker certification exam

System Requirements

Which versions of Windows and Mac OS can FileMaker Pro or FileMaker Server be installed on?
Which Apple devices and IOS versions can FileMaker Go be run on?
Which desktop browsers does FileMaker WebDirect support?
Which mobile browsers / mobile operating systems does FileMaker WebDirect support?
What version of Java does FileMaker Server require?

Database Engine

What is the maximum number of characters you can use in a table or field name?
What is the maximum number of tables, fields and records that can be stored in a database file?
What is the maximum amount of data that can be stored in any field type (text, number, container, etc.)?
What portion of a field’s contents can be indexed?
What is the possible range of data that can be stored in a date, time or timestamp field?
What database technologies are supported by ODBC External SQL Sources (ESS)?

Calculation Engine / Custom Functions

What is the maximum number of characters that can be used in a single calculation or custom function formula?
What is the maximum number of times a custom function can recurs (nested & tail recursion)?

Script Steps / Menu Items

In what order do script triggers fire?
What are the supported file formats for Import Records, Export Records and Save Records As?
What script steps are supported by the various different platforms (Pro, Go, Server, Web Publishing)?
What are the differences between the behavior of Perform Script and Perform Script on Server?

FileMaker Server

What is the maximum number of files that can be hosted at once?
What is the maximum number of concurrent connections that can be made to FileMaker Server (tested and theoretical)?
What is the format and what is supported by the fmp:// protocol?
Installing FileMaker Server using a 2 machine deployment, which server do you install first?
What version of PHP is installed by FileMaker Server?

FileMaker Go

How does the fmreauthenticate extended privilege work?
Can you use plugins with FileMaker Go?
How do you change what keyboard displays when a user taps into a field?

Web Publishing

What are the limitations of FileMaker WebDirect compared to FileMaker Pro?
What are the limitations of FileMaker WebDirect when using a mobile browser?
What extended privileges are required for the various forms of web publishing?

FileMaker 14 Documentation

The information required to answer these questions can be found in the various documents released by FileMaker. Below are links to the relevant documents for FileMaker 14. If you're studying for a different version, you will need to locate the appropriate documents on FileMaker’s website.

Practical Experience

Knowing everything mentioned in this article does not guarantee you will pass the exam - in fact, many of the questions on the exam require a practical knowledge of FileMaker that entails some active development experience. If you’re interested in getting hands-on experience, we offer FileMaker training designed specifically for preparing to take the certification exam.

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And as always, thanks for reading!

Evan Rawson

FileMaker Certification Exam Study Tips