The data model is the inside of the database. The data model is how the data is stored and in the end determines what you can do with the data and how easy and flexible it is to do reporting etc. While the end users will not need to know much about the data model it is the core of what makes the database work.

Modern versions of FileMaker (8 and 9) allow two major changes in the data model that need to
be considered for use in the NorthStarDb data model. The first is that FileMaker now allows more than one table to be held in one file. This makes one file able to do what would require many files in earlier versions of FileMaker. The second change is allowing what is called “data Isolation”. This will allow the data tables to be in a different file from the interface and program logic. The advantage of this is that many updates, bug fixes and improvements can be made by altering the interface/logic file while not touching the data file. Making those updates easy and relativly “pain free”. Both of these new FM features are used in the NorthStarDb.