OT: Filemaker 8

Mon Feb 6 08:04:37 PST 2006

 I'm in the same boat on needing new capabilities. We are in the process of
redoing everything in Filemaker 8 from filePro. Our biggest problem in
filePro is being limited by a 80x24 text screen. Our users just need to be
able to see more data at one time. Filemaker 8 is very innovative in what it
can do. (In many ways Filemaker 8 is ahead of it time as filePro was in the
late '70's/early 80's.) I've been a user of Filemaker since 1989 and only
until version 7 have I felt it was up to the task of doing what filePro
could do in terms of customized scripting. Version 8 is even better and I'm
confident my application will be a much better program in Filemaker 8 than
filePro with a much faster development time.

  I don't want to bash filePro as it's been very good to us over the years.
It deserves the respect it has earned and still has its place in many
applications. Unfortunately, it's time to move on and do what's best for my
business. The things your looking for Filemaker 8 to do:

1. Full functioning memo fields,
	-No problem. It's been able to do this since 1986

2. Scrollable fields,
	-No problem, again since 1986

3. Updateable grids,
	-Yes, you can do some really neat things here with 2 way
relationships as table/grids and easy to setup

4. ODBC with read and write capabilities
	-yes, in terms of a client (so does filePro) but also as a server

5. SQL with read and write capabilities
	- you can send SQL queries to other SQL servers, but it's not a SQL
Engine. If you needing this for web, fx.php class would be best.

6. Independence from having to "stand on a record/table" to do things, 
      - No problem

7. Independence from expensive runtimes, 
	- Expensive runtime is relative here. Filemaker 8 is $250 per seat
(for Volume license 10+users) plus $1200-$2400 for server depending on
Server 8 or Server 8 Advanced (adds web capabilities). However on Server
Advanced 8, for web clients there is a 100 simultaneous user limit for
instant web publishing, but if your using php, there really isn't a
licensing limit, just a resource limit. The built in instant web publishing
is really geared for Intranets.

8. Use of triggers and events from the "referential integrity engine" that
ensure data integrity is not compromised by back door screens, processes or
programs,
       - It has calculation verification that can be used for data integrity
and back doors aren't really a problem due to it's design. Of course this
also depends on how well your solution is coded.

 9. Ability to create tables completely via code, 
	- Hmm, well, Filemaker 8 doesn't let you do this, but most database
programming environment don't. However, I would think there would be ways
around this need.

10. Ability to completely modify table structures, relations, triggers and
events completely via code, 
	- You can modify trigger and events using eval statement. (Like
executing a string as a command/function), but it is limited to relations
and triggers only.

11. Ability to create modern user interfaces
	- Absolutely.  You can build interfaces that are spectacular and
very easy. You can even do transparencies with png files.

12. Printer definitions maintained by the printer vendor
	- No problem since your using Windows or OSX driver and that's all
you need to worry about. Although occasionally you will get some odd-ball
printer driver that doesn't print right, but it's usually effects other
programs besides FileMaker.

13. Blinding ad-hoc and full text search
	- No problem, searched are easy and you can use automatic indexing
(you could index every field if you wanted to) or you can search without
indexing with ease.

14. Creation of on the fly updatable cursors, views and tables
	- Not a problem here. Same as #3 above.

15 .... And the list goes on, like easy XML, PDF to E-MAIL and instant
exporting to Excel.

Filemaker is a true client/server database (but proprietary) and not a
mindless file sharing database like M$ Access. It works well over WANS and
can even be used on dialup. (But I wouldn't program it that way, but you
could if you wanted to.) It's not perfect, but it is pretty amazing.

I'll still be working with filePro for some time as I have some customers
that will not be ready to switch right away. However, most are wanting to
switch as they need to do more integration with Quickbooks, PC-Miler (I've
written a nice XML integration with FileMaker and PC-Miler.), UPS Worldship
and so on. Yes, some of these I've already integrated with filePro, but
FileMaker integration in more robust than filePro thanks to XML and full
ODBC.

   -Scott Shackelford

-----Original Message-----
From: filepro-list-bounces at lists.celestial.com
[mailto:filepro-list-bounces at lists.celestial.com] On Behalf Of Tips
Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2006 10:52 PM
To: filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
Subject: RE: OT: Filemaker 8

>> What is it that you're looking to do that you are having trouble with 
>> in
filePro?

1. Full functioning memo fields,
2. Scrollable fields,
3. Updateable grids,
4. ODBC with read and write capabilities, 5. SQL with read and write
capabilities, 6. Independence from having to "stand on a record/table" to do
things, 7. Independence from expensive runtimes, 8. Use of triggers and
events from the "referential integrity engine" that ensure data integrity is
not compromised by back door screens, processes or programs, 9. Ability to
create tables completely via code, 10. Ability to completely modify table
structures, relations, triggers and events completely via code, 11. Ability
to create modern user interfaces, 12. Printer definitions maintained by the
printer vendor, 13. Blinding ad-hoc and full text search, 14. Creation of on
the fly updatable cursors, views and tables, 15. 

Need more...  just let me know, and I'd be happy to spill them out, anything
that can keep filepro alive and competitive.

Stanley

-----Original Message-----
From: filepro-list-bounces at lists.celestial.com
[mailto:filepro-list-bounces at lists.celestial.com] On Behalf Of Kenneth Brody
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 6:08 PM
To: Kroboth, Joe
Cc: 'filepro-list at seaslug.org'
Subject: Re: OT: Filemaker 8

Quoting Kroboth, Joe (Thu, 2 Feb 2006 17:22:57 -0500):

> Since the changes in filepro are not coming as fast as we need them, 
> we are looking at several alternatives.  One being Filemaker.  Anyone 
> using this with success?  The development time of new applications and 
> ease of changes is what has been keeping us with filePro since the 80's.
> Hoping to find a something with the same ease of use.

What is it that you're looking to do that you are having trouble with in
filePro?

--
KenBrody at BestWeb dot net        spamtrap: <g8ymh8uf001 at sneakemail.com>
http://www.hvcomputer.com
http://www.fileProPlus.com
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