Toyota Repair: 99 Camry brakes and tranny, gasket kits, pan gasket

Question
Chilton manual for 99 Camry says to depress the brake piston with a C-clamp before removing disc caliper to replace front disc pads, but I've heard that's not necessary.  Is it?

Manual also says to replace tranny fluid filter when replacing fluid even though Toyota maintenance guidelines don't mention it.  Is filter replacement helpful?  

Answer
Somehow the brake pistons have to be pushed bak into the caliper housing, whether with a clamping device or using a couple of screwdrivers and forcing the pads to push the pistons while the caliper is still bolted on, the method is unimportant as long as they pushed back in so that the new pads will go on over the rotors.
The transmission filter is a pickup screen not really a filter and you are correct toyota does not have a recommended replacement interval for it, the screen normally doesn't need to be replaced unless it is getting clogged up somehow which would mean there is a transmission problem and replacing the screen wouldn't help in that case anyway.
Most aftermarket transmission pan gasket kits come with a new screen, the toyota gasket does not.