FileMaker 17 Launches With Improvements to App Development Speed and Interface

[MacRumors]

Apple subsidiary FileMaker today announced the launch of FileMaker 17, the newest version of the company's popular database platform designed to make it easy for businesses to create a range of customized apps able to operate effortlessly across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, and the Web.

Version 17 of the FileMaker software focuses on speeding up and simplifying app development through start apps, master-details layout options, and a revamped layout mode, plus it includes an overhauled FileMaker Server Admin Console and a new Admin API.

According to Ann Monroe, vice president of worldwide marketing and customer success at FileMaker, version 17 of the platform allows users to do more in less time.

"With the FileMaker 17 Platform, not only can users do more in less time, but they also can do more on the go. Business teams of all sizes are looking to improve productivity, and this launch builds on FileMaker's track record of providing a unified tool for quickly creating and deploying custom apps."

FileMaker customers can start development on apps more quickly with one of six new starter apps that can serve as a base able to be enhanced through connected add-on tables.

Layout tools for custom apps are more easily accessible thanks to a redesigned layout interface that makes tools and customization panes more discoverable, and master-detail layouts can be used to save common design patterns.

New support for sensors allows mobile apps to capture information from the iOS sensors in iPads or iPhones, and on iPads with iOS 11.2 or later, drag and drop support has been introduced, for easily transferring files, photos, links, and more between two apps. Local notifications can also be displayed on an iPhone or iPad when FileMaker Go is not running or is in the background.

The FileMaker Server Admin Console has been redesigned with a more streamlined user interface, and trial access to the REST API for managing and administering the FileMaker server is available. The REST API offers support for a more standardized API format, FileMaker Server scripts, and uploading files to container fields.

FileMaker says FileMaker Cloud support for the new FileMaker 17 Platform features will be available "in the coming weeks."

FileMaker pricing is not changing with the release of FileMaker 17. FileMaker uses a subscription licensing structure for teams of five or more users, with access to FileMaker Server and FileMaker systems across desktop, mobile, and web.

Pricing starts at $15 per month per user for an annual subscription, with discounts available for larger teams. Perpetual licenses, which allow users to access the current version of the software in perpetuity with no expiration date, are also available at 3x the cost. Updates are not included in the perpetual plan options.

Article Link: FileMaker 17 Launches With Improvements to App Development Speed and Interface

 

[Blackstick]

Every once in awhile, they come out of the woodwork and say "Hey we exist, and remember Apple owns us!"

See ya in another 4 years, FileMaker.

 

[rodpascoe]

Every once in awhile, they come out of the woodwork and say "Hey we exist, and remember Apple owns us!"

See ya in another 4 years, FileMaker.

Completely untrue. Major release every year around this time.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Pretty crazy they're still around after all these years.

 

[Geeky Chimp]

Seems crazy they are talking about no price rise as the license in USD has increased since yesterday and in the UK (GBP) its nearly doubled!
Also products like Filemaker Server that could be purchased independently yesterday are now gone.

 

[MacsRgr8]

Not in Mac App Store..?

 

[rodpascoe]

Seems crazy they are talking about no price rise as the license in USD has increased since yesterday and in the UK (GBP) its nearly doubled!
Also products like Filemaker Server that could be purchased independently yesterday are now gone.

Prices are showing the same for me? Server is coming in the next few weeks if you re-read the article.
[doublepost=1526397012][/doublepost]Filemaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced have now been merged into one product which may be confusing some people.

 

[Ricky Smith]

Every once in awhile, they come out of the woodwork and say "Hey we exist, and remember Apple owns us!"

See ya in another 4 years, FileMaker.

It was MacRumours who said that not FileMaker

 

[harriska2]

Prices are showing the same for me? Server is coming in the next few weeks if you re-read the article.
[doublepost=1526397012][/doublepost]Filemaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced have now been merged into one product which may be confusing some people.

Isn’t that going to cause a huge price increase?

 

[Geeky Chimp]

Prices are showing the same for me? Server is coming in the next few weeks if you re-read the article.

FileMaker Cloud updates are coming in the next few weeks. Have confirmed with FileMaker Sales that Server on its own is no longer available for sale.

 

[JosephAW]

Still running an older version. Not buying into a subscription model.

 

[jimthing]

Are any of their products easy to use for those untrained?

Tried Bento once when it existed, but was clunky as hell so quit.

 

[mariusignorello]

I need a good system for managing personal training clients. Its just too much of a pain to set up. Services like Mindbody are too expensive or lack important features. I wish there was a personal trainer version of Epic's Hyperspace or PowerChart.

 

[Preshere]

FileMaker Cloud updates are coming in the next few weeks. Have confirmed with FileMaker Sales that Server on its own is no longer available for sale.

According to a FAQ,
"Each FileMaker User Licensing contract includes 3 licenses of FileMaker Server. Organizations can, for example, have a production server, backup server, and development server. If you need more than 3 FileMaker Servers, please contact Customer Support."

So while a single server license cannot be purchased, a package (5+ users) comes with three server licenses and more licenses are available if needed.

 

[jimac]

Back in the '90s I used to help run a club with more than 400 members using a FileMaker database. We had over five thousand people in our mailing list, which FileMaker handled wonderfully. And when I passed the database to younger club officers I bought the club a copy of the Windows version of FileMaker for only $125, which both Macintosh AND Windows versions were on sale for at the time. $125 was just beyond the maximum any group that I was involved in could afford. FileMaker became far more expensive after that.

We had complete control over our database and we never gave any information to any outside individual or group. If someone wanted to contact someone in the list, we would pass that request to the person they wanted to contact, who could do whatever they wanted with the request. Similarly, if anyone wanted to get information to our members, we could include it in our mailers, one way or another. We NEVER gave any personal information, not even labels, to anyone outside our executive board. UNLIKE the 2000s, when groups like ours handed over control of their databases -- with hardly a second thought -- to Yahoo or Google or Facebook, or to some other contact management app or company.

Other less wealthy groups I knew used AppleWorks/ClarisWorks, which included less capable database and word processing and drawing programs, but which could be combined to do what FileMaker and our page layout program (I used Nisus Writer) did for us. Back then we still pasted up our newsletters with wax, and we had to have our photos half-toned at a weekly newspaper.

Eventually, however, every inexpensive database program disappeared, at least on Macs. Instead many clubs started using Yahoo Groups or Google Groups or, later, Facebook and those companies maintained the "groups". Or if you were on Windows computers, you could import your database into Microsoft Access, the database program in MS Office. I knew people who switched to Windows solely to use Access! My group, like many others, started putting their membership lists into spreadsheets, so most of the benefits of using a database program instantly disappeared. Our club has almost disappeared too, but its Facebook group is still strong (probably compromised, too). I still keep an old version of FileMaker -- bought and paid for ... once! -- on an old MacBook Air running Snow Leopard just to access that old club database, which we frequently need information from and which I still update.

Little groups like mine really need a full-featured, inexpensive database app for the Mac and iPad. FileMaker now seems to be aimed only at corporations with deep pockets. Though most clubs could afford $15 a month these days, they probably have numerous higher priorities. It would be interesting to find out how many Mac User Groups use FileMaker!

 

[gsurf123]

Eventually, however, every inexpensive database program disappeared, at least on Macs. Instead many clubs started using Yahoo Groups or Google Groups or, later, Facebook and those companies maintained the "groups". Or if you were on Windows computers, you could import your database into Microsoft Access, the database program in MS Office. I knew people who switched to Windows solely to use Access! My group, like many others, started putting their membership lists into spreadsheets, so most of the benefits of using a database program instantly disappeared. Our club has almost disappeared too, but its Facebook group is still strong (probably compromised, too). I still keep an old version of FileMaker -- bought and paid for ... once! -- on an old MacBook Air running Snow Leopard just to access that old club database, which we frequently need information from and which I still update.

Little groups like mine really need a full-featured, inexpensive database app for the Mac and iPad. FileMaker now seems to be aimed only at corporations with deep pockets. Though most clubs could afford $15 a month these days, they probably have numerous higher priorities. It would be interesting to find out how many Mac User Groups use FileMaker!

Inexpensive and full-featured don't go hand-in-hand anymore. You may want to try TapForms (iOS of OSX versions). It is better than Bento and the developer is continually making improvements and updates in response to the users. It falls somewhere between Bento and FileMaker Pro. No scripting yet, but I read it is coming. It's inside and outside of the App Store and has a more than fair price. I'd recommend buying in the App Store for the ease of multiple computer installs and simple updating. I use it and am happy with it.

 

[jimac]

Inexpensive and full-featured don't go hand-in-hand anymore. You may want to try TapForms (iOS of OSX versions). It is better than Bento and the developer is continually making improvements and updates in response to the users. It falls somewhere between Bento and FileMaker Pro. No scripting yet, but I read it is coming. It's inside and outside of the App Store and has a more than fair price. I'd recommend buying in the App Store for the ease of multiple computer installs and simple updating. I use it and am happy with it.

Thanks! I have tried earlier versions of Tap Forms, I own version 3, and didn't realize that they had come out with a version 5. I had tried the Ninox Database too, and FileMaker's own Bento. Bento seemed promising at first but then FileMaker started removing functionality until it became useless, then they killed it. Sort of like what Adobe did with GoLive CyberStudio after they bought it in the '90s, eventually killing it in favor of Dreamweaver.

Tap Forms 5 works with iCloud like most of the apps I use now so it seems to be what I've been looking for. Just bought Tap Forms Organizer 5 from the App Store. Hope it works! Thanks again for the tip!

 

[jimthing]

Thanks! I have tried earlier versions of Tap Forms, I own version 3, and didn't realize that they had come out with a version 5. I had tried the Ninox Database too, and FileMaker's own Bento. Bento seemed promising at first but then FileMaker started removing functionality until it became useless, then they killed it. Sort of like what Adobe did with GoLive CyberStudio after they bought it in the '90s, eventually killing it in favor of Dreamweaver.

Tap Forms 5 works with iCloud like most of the apps I use now so it seems to be what I've been looking for. Just bought Tap Forms Organizer 5 from the App Store. Hope it works! Thanks again for the tip!

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