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FileMaker Pro 12 Adds New 'Starter Solutions' and Broadens iOS Integration
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I just picked up FM 11 a month ago. Oh well.
I'd kill for tap and drag record sorting, which would be ideal for priortizing tasks/jobs in my machine shop in house or on a customer site.
No iCloud, no Mac App Store occurence?
I would prefer iCloud sync over server solution.
And it is not find it on Mac App Store.
Plus forced grin of the guy on video
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which was the intention of Bento creators
I would prefer iCloud sync over server solution.
And it is not find it on Mac App Store.
Plus forced grin of the guy on video
----------
which was the intention of Bento creators
Excel?
Need? Probably not. But would it make your life easier? Most likely. Excel is not a database; its a spreadsheet. The fact that people try to use it as a database doesnt make it so; it would probably make everyones life a lot easier to use something thats designed for the task at hand.People I work with can do NOTHING without Excel. Its a running joke.
My question is: do I need File Maker?
I guess I wonder what a regular schmo like me would do with it to make life easier.
That's a great idea.
If I try Filemaker and find it suits me, I'd pony up for the latest and greatest. But "trying Filemaker" is a 6-12 month proposition for me (given demands of work, family, etc.)
Are there any iTunes U. courses on FM?
Example... My primary use of FileMaker these days is for invoicing. I created a FileMaker database for that purpose 20 or more years ago. Even if Bento could recreate the functionality of this database (which I believe it can't), it still leaves all of my old data stranded. If Bento could simply import a flat FileMaker database including formulas, data and layouts I might have already gone that route.
wish I got to use this instead of MS Access
FileMaker continues to evolve while Access just sits there. I've been using FileMaker since it first came out. It's always done a great job for me. Can't wait to incorporate its use on my new iPad. If you need and use a database, the price is well worth it.
I'm forced to use Access at work, and it really sucks. Like most all MS software, you need to jump through too many unnecessary hoops to get it to do what you want.
In my experience Excel rarely gets used a spreadsheet, let alone as a database. Typically it gets used to make simple tables. Crazy. Using Excel to make a table is like driving a 3/4 ton pickup truck to the grocery store.
I had no idea it was even possible to effectively use Bento without having FileMaker. I've always viewed Bento as a FileMaker add-on.
Was FMP 11 ever on the App Store at any price? Certainly not on the UK one now...
People I work with can do NOTHING without Excel. Its a running joke.
My question is: do I need File Maker?
I guess I wonder what a regular schmo like me would do with it to make life easier.
I would prefer iCloud sync over server solution.
And it is not find it on Mac App Store.
Plus forced grin of the guy on video
iCloud would have been a great way to go. FM Server is an essential part of (that) DB solution but not even close to be affordable...
Wasn't FM an Apple product at some point?
Funny, I used it just last night for that purpose for a school project for my 10yo. At work, I do actually use it as a spreadsheet, constantly.
And I'm guessing you don't grocery shop at Costco?
Funny, I used it just last night for that purpose for a school project for my 10yo. At work, I do actually use it as a spreadsheet, constantly.
And I'm guessing you don't grocery shop at Costco?
I'm sure some people do actually use Excel as a spreadsheet but I see this so seldom now that I have to believe the percentages are in the single digits.
I suppose Costco does sort of cancel out my grocery store analogy, if you are one of those folks who buys their olive oil in 55 gallon drums.
How about this one? It's like killing a gnat with shotgun.
Okay, so 100% of CPAs is what percentage of the general population? (Help me here, my math is weak.)
I think the main issue is that a very large proportion of users can't figure out how to get Word to make tables, so they use Excel for that since it's set up to do tables. So that's the other problem: Word is another overly-muscular application. It does so much more than most users need from a word processor that it tends to bury the more basic and important functions.
But (back on topic) this seems to be the issue with FileMaker. It's vastly overpowered for what most users need from a database, but the only alternative is the completely dumbed-down Bento.
I was also puzzled by the characterization of Bento as a "FileMaker add-on." As far as I can tell, they aren't interoperable at all.
Looks cool but I wish they would improve Bento. I really like how Bento works - much, much more approachable I find. But it's hampered by a lack of fairly basic, and in some cases transparent, features (like automatically updating cross referenced records, automatically recalculating calculated fields, warning when calculated fields get broken instead of displaying the prior result...). There's a huge gap between Bento and FileMaker.
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Like I'd give away our numbers to an outsider. Silly attempt.Okay, so 100% of CPAs is what percentage of the general population? (Help me here, my math is weak.)
But (back on topic) this seems to be the issue with FileMaker. It's vastly overpowered for what most users need from a database, but the only alternative is the completely dumbed-down Bento.
I was also puzzled by the characterization of Bento as a "FileMaker add-on." As far as I can tell, they aren't interoperable at all.
I agree about Bento. When we looked at it a couple years ago when my mom switched back to Mac, we decided it couldn't work with Filemaker data, and she had files from the 90s. So she just ponied up the $300 or whatever for v10 or v11. (I simply don't remember all the details)
Both have limitations
I use Bento for basic CRM. It's barely functional for that... but it is functional. Its ace in the hole is the fact that it syncs with Address Book and other Apple applications... FMP does not! I tried FMP and ended up returning it before I had to keep it. The learning curve was too steep and I would have had to maintain multiple contact lists since it doesn't sync with Address Book.
This whole process annoys the hell out of me. FMP should be fully functional (at least be able to do everything Bento can do). Bento should have more functionality rather than artificially limiting it in annoying ways. THERE'S A HAPPY MEDIUM HERE, SOMEWHERE!
I use Bento for basic CRM. It's barely functional for that... but it is functional. Its ace in the hole is the fact that it syncs with Address Book and other Apple applications... FMP does not!
I tried FMP and ended up returning it before I had to keep it. The learning curve was too steep and I would have had to maintain multiple contact lists since it doesn't sync with Address Book.This whole process annoys the hell out of me. FMP should be fully functional (at least be able to do everything Bento can do). Bento should have more functionality rather than artificially limiting it in annoying ways. THERE'S A HAPPY MEDIUM HERE, SOMEWHERE!
Access =100% error messages and dialogue boxes! so annoying.
I like word and LOVE excel (so handy) but I just don't have the time for access right now...
There are JDBC drivers for Access; so theoretically it could be cross platform.
But realistically, how many serious applications are still built with Access / FileMaker? The web just seems to be a better way to deploy most applications, although offline access, I can still see Access / Filemaker still being useful.
Absolutely! On the few occasions I've tried to use Excel's database functionality, the damned thing's broken. Wretched.
It's probably just as well that FM's been constantly evolving though.
I remember 20 years ago a colleague trying to use FM for a fairly complex database, and having to get "an expert programmer" in to make a flat-file DB act like an RDBMS. I did the same thing in Access (which was already a RDBMS) at the time without any problem.
Perhaps FM's evolved more than Access simply because Access was streets ahead already (at that time, anyway)?
If you purchased FileMaker legally, then you may be able to upgrade to FM12 without a penalty.
What's broken in Excel? It isn't very capable, as it isn't a database, but I wouldn't say it is broken in the areas it does handle.
Access is more of a conduit to "real" DB systems. Microsoft got it to a point where it is very valuable to large organizations as a generic data puller/reporter for large relational DBs, or at least a starting point to write proprietary systems. (so it had to have some relational abilities itself) And then they stopped. It's basically a capable, mature product in that area and they've chosen not to try to add more functionality. In my observation.
Meanwhile, FM is more geared towards lesser needs, like for individuals or smaller organizations, and did go relational at some point. It has always been easier to use for non-programmers, but not as robust.