Complete Relationship Design Review -- Synthesis
ExpertApply all relationship concepts in a comprehensive final review, assessing a FileMaker solution's data architecture for enterprise readiness.
What you'll learn
- How to systematically assess any FileMaker data model against all covered dimensions
- How to produce a scored assessment with prioritized recommendations
- How to present findings to stakeholders and technical teams
- How to set a roadmap for continuous architectural improvement
This final lesson synthesizes all relationship concepts into a structured review framework. Whether you are evaluating your own solution or inheriting one from another developer, this methodology surfaces design decisions that impact long-term maintainability, performance at scale, security, and team effectiveness. Work through it systematically -- every section of the checklist maps to lessons in this series.
Assessment dimensions and scoring
Rate each dimension from 1 (significant problems) to 5 (exemplary). The overall score guides priority: dimensions rated 1-2 need immediate attention, 3 is acceptable, 4-5 is a strength to preserve.
// Assessment scorecard: // Dimension 1: Normalization (1-5) // 1 = multi-value fields, repeating groups, no join tables // 5 = 3NF throughout, surrogate keys, proper join tables with attributes // Dimension 2: Graph Organization (1-5) // 1 = spaghetti graph, no naming convention, god TOs // 5 = anchor-buoy throughout, sector organization, color-coded // Dimension 3: Performance Design (1-5) // 1 = unstored calc match fields, no portal row limits, sorts on unindexed fields // 5 = all match fields indexed, lean layouts, filtered TOs for aggregates // Dimension 4: Security Model (1-5) // 1 = no record access formulas, admin account used for integrations // 5 = row-level security via privilege formulas, least-privilege accounts // Dimension 5: Documentation (1-5) // 1 = no documentation, inconsistent naming // 5 = in-solution documentation, ERD available, naming convention documented
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