contact directory

I need to build a contact directory and thinking FlexiContent is the way to go. I've been using Joomla for over 10 years but having trouble getting started using this extension. A lot of the demo videos are in French and I'm finding it difficult finding videos to jump into it quickly. Are there any templates already built that can be easily modified? There are searchable fields in the left column which brings up results based on the search results. Then when clicking a name from the search results, the fields populate on the right side. See screenshot for an example of what I'm trying to do. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

hello did you read eng tutorial ? some screen are old but all concept are good. flexicontent.org/documentation/tutorials-english.html
1 create your type
2 add fields to your type (if you want to use like a filter set option search to filter)
3 go to template duplicate defaut for "contact"
4 edit item view and add field in wanted position
5 edit your type an set "contact" for template
6 create your category assign a template (defaut or blog)
7 edit your template liked to your category and add fileds in position
8 create a flexicontent filter module and add to your left position (in your template)
that the basic concept

I've made good progress from your instructions. I've have 2 types. A contact and a dependent. the contact is the parent's information and the dependent is the child's information. Each type has different fields and I've assigned them accordingly.

1. Can I provide a link to the dependent like what is show on the left side in the screenshot?
2. Is there a way to change the layout displayed? Make it look more like this screenshot?

Hello

i am not sure what you want to display

are you in item view or in category view ?

or you speak of item form
your picture looks like a new item submit form

you can display a relation between X item via the relation field !