Bento is a personal database for Mac OS X Leopard that provides an organizational hub for anything a person might want to collect, track, or connect. Bento is designed for those with no previous database experience, and having database expert Cris Ippolite as a guide makes it easier to get the most from this unique program. In Bento Essential Training, Cris introduces key database concepts as they relate to Bento, including collections, records, forms, and fields. He demonstrates how a little planning and setup results in a more useful collection of information. Cris also explains how to link Bento to other Mac applications, like Address Book and iCal; how to design custom templates; and how to follow best practices for backing up and restoring data. Example files accompany the course.
Topics include:
Creating Libraries by using templates or importing
Building and modifying Collections and Smart Collections
Editing records in Table and Form views
Customizing form layouts
Managing Related Records lists
Using file list fields
Importing, exporting, and printing information
Creating and restoring from backup files
Using Time Machine and .Mac