OT: Filemaker 8

[Transpower at aol.com]

Joe:

I still use filePro on UNIX, of course.  But on Windows, I've switched to 
FileMaker; version 7, Developer, was the first version "good enough" for me, and 
8 is even better.  I completely rewrote my Web site, www.transpowercorp.com, 
in FileMaker, and it's now up--it's my first e-commerce site.  Alas, there are 
a couple of problems that FileMaker, Inc. has not yet addressed:

1.  The Guest account is supposed to (when enabled and set in File Options) 
automatically load the data base in Instant Web Publishing, but it doesn't--the 
user must still select Guest to login.

2.  On close/exit, the Exit Application script step should cause the program 
to completely exit--but it doesn't--the user still has to close the window.

So, FileMaker has its own problems, although everything else seems to be 
working properly.  I've programmed in 18 different computer languages, and filePro 
and FileMaker rank at the top.

Regards,
Ron Satz
Transpower Corporation
www.transpowercorp.com, transpower at aol.com
Commercial and Custom Software Manufacturing Since 1976



In a message dated 2/3/2006 10:39:09 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
joe_kroboth at chernay.com writes:

> Ken,
> 
> Our business (like many) have completely changed over the last 10 years with
> most of the change coming over the last 5 years.  We now capture and store
> tons of data from many sources.  Every new Machine in our industry, be it a
> printing press or a piece of bindery equipment can be 'programmed' instead
> of manual setup.   
> 
> Along with this machine data we are now storing all customers files and
> plates digitally.  We currently store about 6-7 TB of data.  
> 
> Our younger employees who grew up with computers can visually handle tons of
> information at one time.  Something you can't give them in a 80x24 screen.
> We also need graphical screens to show image files and the ability to use a
> mouse. They also understand what they can do with the data.  Creating
> exports so they can mine for information in excel and other programs is
> becoming a pain. People have great ideas for reports.  It would be nice to
> let them make their own in a graphical environment.  We tried purchasing
> reportPro for this but it turns out it was awkward to use and wasn't Y2K
> compliant.
> 
> Up to a couple of weeks ago I thought I could get away without ODBC but all
> the new pre-press workflow software we look at has the ability to connect
> via ODBC and update production databases.  I'm tired of all the workarounds
> and double entry.
> 
> Not only has our business changed but so have our customers. The print
> buyers are all computer literate.  They want to order online, Check status
> online, view invoices online.  This is the true 'I want it now' generation.
> We need to be quick and nimble and change with their needs our they will go
> else where. There seems to be no loyalty anymore.
> 
> While I'm confident that you Ken, and others can make this all work with
> filepro.  We don't have the time, expertise or money to accomplish this with
> filepro.   
> 
> Just to start I would need fileProODBC, FileproGI, FileproCGI.  If another
> tool can do all this with more ease and cost less,  I need to start moving
> in that direction.
> 
> I have used Filepro for about 20 years now.  Since I was 18.  It pains me to
> look for another solution. 
> 
> Joe Kroboth
> Chernay Printing, Inc   
> 
>  
> 
> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.celestial.com/pipermail/filepro-list/attachments/20060203/ece726b6/attachment-0001.html