'Filemaker Go' Released for iPhone and iPad

[trrosen]

Haven't bothered to check (in the middle of updating iTunes now), but does the iPad version offer significantly much more functionality to justify being twice the price of the iPhone version, or is it just optimized screen resolution?

I love my iPad, but I feel I'm getting gouged.

FM on the iphone is great checking data or making a quick change. BUT

FM on an iPad is a replacement for FM on a PC. Just for inventory use alone this is going to be a killer system. Hell it wouldn't be totally unreasonable to buy iPads just to access FM. Compared to FM for the desktop your saving $250 half the cost of an iPad.

 

[SilentCrs]

I think I just peed a little.

FM people have been waiting for this for a long time. This will be a killer app in some companies. I can see small companies switching everyone to iPhones just because of this.

I hope you're being sarcastic.

Really.

No one uses Filemaker in companies. No one.

It's a quaint hobby database. You can just as easily nowadays build a better (stronger, faster) DB in SQL. With MySql you can do it for free.

 

[aaarrrgggh]

honest Question...

Why would someone choose FileMaker over MySQL? Further, if you want remote access, why not a web app?

From my research, FileMaker is much like the original Access-- an approachable relational database. Meanwhile, free and arguably more robust databases have taken overthat end of the market. Remote access via simple web forms, or slightly more complex Ruby web apps has taken over. Nobody (except the salesforce folks) is wanting to put their data into a non-portable system.

Am I missing something other than the bad practice of putting a binary file into the database rather than using a pointer?

 

[scottlove]

FileMaker Go Toolkit

I see a slew of ready made database 'apps' made by seasoned FMPro developers hitting the apps store soon! This is exciting.

We already have.

We've created our FileMaker Go Toolkit for free download. It contains a set of professionally designed assets and examples for developing FileMaker Go interfaces, some tips on building layouts, and serves as a great way to get started with FileMaker’s new product.

http://www.soliantconsulting.com/gotoolkit/

For those of you unfamiliar with it: the new FileMaker Go application for the iPhone and iPad provides real-time access to your FileMaker databases directly from your mobile device. While any existing FileMaker database can be accessed, much like you might access a web page from Safari on the iPhone or iPad, we’ve collected some of our early lessons in tailoring interfaces to the screens, orientations between landscape and portrait, and the gesture-based input of the iOS platform.

FileMaker Go allows businesses to extend their existing systems onto mobile devices or create custom databases tailored specifically to their needs.

-- the team @Soliant

 

[Nicky G]

If performance is good,t his could be very very awesome. Right now I am VPNing into a virtual machine we have running on an Xserve in the office, which runs filemaker client app, because this performance-wise is much better than me direct-connecting from home to the server, from a local client app on my laptop. Yeah, it's wacky.

If performance of this app is good though, it could be very streamlined, I'll have to play with it and see if VPNing still wins out, or if this is worthwhile.

 

[Bubsy]

Filemaker vs MS Access vs MySQL, etc.

Why would someone choose FileMaker over MySQL? Further, if you want remote access, why not a web app?

From my research, FileMaker is much like the original Access-- an approachable relational database. Meanwhile, free and arguably more robust databases have taken overthat end of the market. Remote access via simple web forms, or slightly more complex Ruby web apps has taken over. Nobody (except the salesforce folks) is wanting to put their data into a non-portable system.

Am I missing something other than the bad practice of putting a binary file into the database rather than using a pointer?

I have used Filemaker Pro pretty extensively as well as Microsoft Access VERY extensively and have coded some web applications using PHP & MySQL. So I think I can provide a bit of insight. First, if I had a choice between Filemaker Pro and MS Access, I'd choose Access hands down. There's really no comparison. With Access you get stored queries, reports, and VBA code, which makes the Filemaker Scripts look like a kid's toy. Having said that, MS Access is not currently an option on the Mac platform. So when working within a Mac environment, Filemaker Pro is the way to go. It does great for simple databases and data tracking but really struggles when you want to do complex queries and reports. As an example, there's no such thing as a stored query in Filemaker Pro. You have to add "calculation" fields to the table. The reporting is pretty abysmal too. But the advantages are that it offers a system that is pretty easy to learn & pretty quick to develop on for the Mac. And I'll admit that it has come a long ways in the last several years. Filemaker and MS Access are also in a different class than MySQL, MSSQL, Oracle, etc. The former are tools that can be used to quickly develop a moderately complex system. The latter are a lot more flexible, especially for enterprise use, but can also take a lot longer to develop a user-friendly interface.

I find myself using MS Access the most for small to mid-sized databases just because the development is so quick and yet there is a lot of flexibility with the VBA code. If I want a quick web-form, I go to PHP + MySQL. And if I'm developing a database for the Mac platform and don't have time to create a web-interface in PHP, I go with Filemaker Pro. An advantage of Filemaker there is that I can easily train non programmers to edit and even create new layouts. That would be pretty much impossible with the PHP + MySQL setup.

Anyway, I hope that helps shed a little light on the differences.

 

[RedWeasel]

No one uses Filemaker in companies. No one.

It's a quaint hobby database. You can just as easily nowadays build a better (stronger, faster) DB in SQL. With MySql you can do it for free.

We're a small software shop (75 people). We use FileMaker internally for more or less everything (customer management, order management, time tracking etc.)

What people don't seem to get, MySQL, as nice as it is, is only the DB engine part. FileMaker is much more than that. Yes, you can build a database with MySQL for free. No, you cannot build a complete solution with it.

By the way, you cannot build a DB in SQL. SQL is just a query language, not a system.

 

[jmorrison0722]

This is amazing news, and long overdue in my opinion. Bento is fine if you want to store data on your phone, but it's useless if you want to connect to and update a networked database. There is a huge market of small business mac users that use FileMaker for their billing systems, appointment systems, etc. There are a ton of small developers like myself who write solutions for those settings. The number one request I get...how can I access and update this data on my iphone? Up until now, the only option would have been to give them a FileMaker Web interface, which is both clunky and doesn't support most of FileMakers scripting abilities. In theory, anyone like me now has a new market for their FileMaker solutions!

That's not to say it's perfect. I'm already trying it out and it's pretty slow and it appears to only support networked databases, meaning you can't take your data with you. So, it's not a true database on your phone. Also, considering it's requirements, I think the pricing is a bit steep. $4.99 - 9.99 would have been ideal.

It doesn't require FileMaker server though...I'm connected to a standard version of FileMaker, which can share out to 10 connect users.

 

[polaris20]

I hope you're being sarcastic.

Really.

No one uses Filemaker in companies. No one.

It's a quaint hobby database. You can just as easily nowadays build a better (stronger, faster) DB in SQL. With MySql you can do it for free.

Good job on the blanket statements.

There are a number of small businesses in Chicago that use them, because they don't need the functionality or cost involved in MS SQL, nor do they want to futz with MySQL.

If this Filemaker Go app actually connected to SQL sources like MS and MySQL, it would actually be a lot more powerful, because then companies could use it as a front end to a db. Of course you can do that now with a web app, but then you're more dependent on a web dev.

 

[RedWeasel]

If this Filemaker Go app actually connected to SQL sources like MS and MySQL, it would actually be a lot more powerful, because then companies could use it as a front end to a db. Of course you can do that now with a web app, but then you're more dependent on a web dev.

You can do that, there's a functionality in FileMaker Server called ESS (External SQL Sources) which does exactly that.

 

[jmorrison0722]

We're a small software shop (75 people). We use FileMaker internally for more or less everything (customer management, order management, time tracking etc.)

What people don't seem to get, MySQL, as nice as it is, is only the DB engine part. FileMaker is much more than that. Yes, you can build a database with MySQL for free. No, you cannot build a complete solution with it.

By the way, you cannot build a DB in SQL. SQL is just a query language, not a system.

Exactly right. MySQL is wonderful, but it has no interface. You have to build your own. It could be web, it could be hard coded application built in XCode or REALbasic, but you have to build it. If you are saavy and don't mind the time investment, then MySQL is a better, faster option.

FileMaker on the other hand, builds the interface as you build the database. It just does it for you. No code whatsoever. There's a learning curve if you want it to be pretty and sophisticated with scripting and such, but a basic database can be built by any user in minutes.

FileMaker is also very forgiving. If you don't know all the data you want to store, no problem. Just built the database, then add additional fields as you go. It's very flexible and forgiving if you don't know exactly what you want the day you start building. With MySQL, you really need to plan it out and get it designed before you setup your tables and start building your interface. Adding things, changing things, etc, are not so easy with MySQL. Here's how I describe it to people...you use FileMaker to build your prototype and beta version. Get all the kinks out, get the design down, use it for a while. Once you feel confident you have your solution established, build it in MySQL with a web or app interface.

 

[FSUSem1noles]

Thanks for those that suggested the VPN method... I completely forgot about that...

I'm going to give that a try and see if I can get it to work. Hopefully the top level server admins don't have access disabled...

 

[giglia75]

Filemaker vs Bento

So are the Filemaker and Bento the same thing, with Fm being an enterprise version and Bento being an individual's version?
In what ways are you using Bento?
To sync Bento for iPhone to your Mac do you have to have Bento running on the Mac?

 

[kasei]

Wow. I just finished a huge FileMaker project for a very large company. They are going to love being able to access their database via an iPad and iPhone. This really expands the features and options developers can offer to their clients.

 

[RedWeasel]

Wow. I just finished a huge FileMaker project for a very large company.

Impossible. No one uses FileMaker in companies. No one.

 

[kasei]

Good job on the blanket statements.

There are a number of small businesses in Chicago that use them, because they don't need the functionality or cost involved in MS SQL, nor do they want to futz with MySQL.

If this Filemaker Go app actually connected to SQL sources like MS and MySQL, it would actually be a lot more powerful, because then companies could use it as a front end to a db. Of course you can do that now with a web app, but then you're more dependent on a web dev.

You'd be surprised the number of very large companies that use FileMaker to manage countless products and sales figures: Shell Oil Company, Teleflora, GM and the list goes on. It is a cost effective data management system that can be updated on the fly. It is very easy to teach someone how to make updates and changes and with the new graphic reports built into the system developers no longer have to script these. Yes it has limitation but hands down if you need a flexible, easy to managed data management system it is the way to go.

 

[kasei]

Impossible. No one uses FileMaker in companies. No one.

LoL oh yeah I forgot. No uses FileMaker in companies. No one. Sorry wrong post. LoL

 

[aaarrrgggh]

Wow. I just finished a huge FileMaker project for a very large company. They are going to love being able to access their database via an iPad and iPhone. This really expands the features and options developers can offer to their clients.

Sorry, but this is a good illustrative point that I am missing the attraction to FileMaker. I'm no programmer, and I am no DBA... but I can create a database in MySQL and an interface in PHP/HTML or very crufty Perl in a few days.

Every example I hear of people using FileMaker sounds more like they have a half-baked concept-- things like not knowing what kind of data is required or how you interface it-- and kludge something together.

From a business owner's perspective... and an avid Mac user, there is no way in hell I would pay someone to develop an application that could not be used on a Mac, a Windows box, in Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Blackberry, and an iPhone. I will admit that this kills some projects where that level of integration may not be justified (yet), but it beats the heck out of being stuck on the "wrong" platform with an application that is really more workstation-centric than server-centric.

 

[bobt]

I have FMP Advanced, not server edition, and want to use FM Go with a single contact management system I put together. Will there be a way to keep this in synch or will I need to buy the server edition?

So far I haven't seen an answer to this on the Filemaker website.

BTW, the price for this seems dirt cheap for the value to business users.

 

[aaarrrgggh]

You'd be surprised the number of very large companies that use FileMaker to manage countless products and sales figures: Shell Oil Company, Teleflora, GM and the list goes on. It is a cost effective data management system that can be updated on the fly. It is very easy to teach someone how to make updates and changes and with the new graphic reports built into the system developers no longer have to script these. Yes it has limitation but hands down if you need a flexible, easy to managed data management system it is the way to go.

So, is your argument that FileMaker is better solution than splitting workflow between a database and a spreadsheet? That is the most compelling statement I have heard; you are effectively saying that FileMaker is a competitor to SalesForce?

 

[RedWeasel]

Sorry, but this is a good illustrative point that I am missing the attraction to FileMaker. I'm no programmer, and I am no DBA... but I can create a database in MySQL and an interface in PHP/HTML or very crufty Perl in a few days.

What kind of databases? 2 Tables and one relationship? Yes, probably possible
50 Tables and 100 relationships, 30 different screens and 10 reports? No, probably not.

People always refer to MySQL and PHP, but then when you look at the examples, it's often very simple, very basic stuff they do with it. If you really need to build more complex systems, MySQL / PHP gets as complex and expensive as any other system very easily!

 

[kasei]

So, is your argument that FileMaker is better solution than splitting workflow between a database and a spreadsheet? That is the most compelling statement I have heard; you are effectively saying that FileMaker is a competitor to SalesForce?

It really depends on the company, their budget, timeframe and basic needs. I think this link makes a good argument when looking at a solution for a client. http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:RejGZ-4V5fsJ:www.filemaker.com/downloads/pdf/TCO_table.pdf+filemaker+compared+to+salesforce&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjibeZKypzNomiR8W4-QkOFK4-x-DqDXUOLW-ticU1tnCgMmK4yLY_vUthz8jM_a3S5JGxh-e_LyI_vJ9HtASKIWv2dygpx3r3-o_iVkMcLGo1BvYGdqjwNN5Z4mrvqMXjAPnmt&sig=AHIEtbRdbI9tmJJp9Hlt_yHxSTl-4Hth6Q

 

[Techie at Heart]

Filemaker Go

I have been waiting for this FM App since I got my iPad. However, the price is prohibitive for a non-profit with a small budget. I run our entire organization out of our FM database and it would be a dream to be able to have a portable version of our files with me at meetings, etc.

$40 is about 1/3 of the full cost I paid for FM with the non-profit discount.

It would be super if FM would offer a non-profit discount on the Filemaker Go app.

 

[scotty96LSC]

As Filemaker developers this opens up even more doors for us and our business. A relational database on an iPhone or iPad, accessed locally or on a server, is going to be huge for business.

 

[Sawdustman]

Filemaker go vs fmtouch

I've been using FMtouch on my ipad and it works well. What I would like to know is, does filemaker go give me anything extra if my file is not on a server but only a local machine?