AAUG Reviews

by Carlene Brown ,AAUG Member

Now there is an easy and stylish way for anyone to get organized. Bento, the new personal database from FileMaker lets you organize data in a simple and effective manner.

Mac users who are familiar with the Apple i apps will recognize a similarity in Bento’s layout. The Bento window is set up in three columns. The left column is the Source List, the middle the Records List, and the right displays the Fields List.

The source list consists of libraries and collections. Bento links to Address Book, iCal Events and iCal Tasks and sets up Libraries for each. If you have groups defined in Address Book they become Collections under the Address Book library in Bento, similar to an iTunes library. If a change or an addition is made in Address Book it immediately appears in Bento and if changes to the data are made in Bento they show up in Address Book. Same for iCal Events and Tasks. Other libraries can be created by selecting a ready-to-use template and importing files in CSV (comma separated values) format or by manually inputting the information.

Collections are subsets of information contained in the library. Creating a Collection is like creating a Playlist in iTunes. Select the items you want to include then click on New Collection (more…)

by Bruce M. Herman, AAUG Member

Filemaker Pro 9 is the most recent release of the database program is one of the few fully relational database solutions to run on both Windows and Mac OS. Filemaker’s origins lie not in the relational database but in the flat file. That’s a database where each table of data is independent. Rather than review the high level capabilities of Filemaker, as most other reviews have done, I’ll discuss Filemaker from the point of view of someone using the database for some fairly simple tasks, such as tracking membership. This is the very use to which AAUG puts Filemaker. It’s in this context that Filemaker competes most directly with a spreadsheet. Because I suspect that most AAUG members will be faced at some point with managing some data that can be represented well in a single table, this review is a comparison of spreadsheets and Filemaker Pro.

Here’s a bit of my experience with databases. I’ve handled membership at several non-profit organizations, and have always used a spreadsheet to organize the member information. It wasn’t an elegant solution, but it could be made to work. When I began assisting with membership in AAUG I was surprised to see that Filemaker was being used instead of a spreadsheet. I designed a complex relational database in Borland’s Paradox some years ago. At that time, the general consensus was that if something could be managed in a single file, you did so. So what would justify the extra effort of using Filemaker ?
First, what would a simple spreadsheet look like? For a membership database each record would contain all of the information for a single member, including name (first, middle initial and last), contact information (address, city state, zip code and phone number), membership level and the date when membership expires. (more…)

by Jeff Menter, AAUG Member

Introduction: Wherein we introduce.

I’ve been a fan of FileMaker Pro since the mid ’90s and have always been impressed with its ability to seamlessly join together a powerful database engine with some very nice layout tools and a robust scripting environment. The newest version, FileMaker Pro 8.5, is here and adds some interesting features to its tried and tested arsenal of usefulness.

Databases: Is there nothing sexier?

In the pantheon of application programs, databases are probably right up there with word processors and spreadsheets in terms of fun-filled adventures but believe you me; FileMaker Pro makes database management just about as fun as it gets. Ah, databases, those unsung heroes that keep your information organized, valid, and relevant. Databases are everywhere and FileMaker Pro is the application of choice for many Macintosh, small business, and cross-platform organizations.

FileMaker Pro is a very useful application for almost everyone who wants to manage their data. From the simplest contact list made by a grandmother to perhaps more advanced ERP systems developed and deployed by teams of nerds, there’s something here to like for everyone (more…)

by Richard Geiger, AAUG Member

“Special Edition Using FileMaker 8,” is 890-page book packed with extensive information on FileMaker Pro 8. The book was well written and is well laid out. The publisher makes good uses of icons, colored text, and text boxes to draw your attention to important items throughout the book.

The authors of the book give the reader a quick introduction to FileMaker and quickly moved on to more advanced features. I highly recommend that beginning users look at a different book if they are not experienced in using FileMaker. The focus of the book is for people who are going to be developing FileMaker Pro databases. A more beginning user might look at the book “FileMaker Pro 8: The Missing Manual” by Geoff Coffey & Susan Prosser.
The book is written for both Mac and Windows users of FileMaker. The authors give short cuts for both operating systems. They also discuss some of the differences between the two platforms and how to make FileMaker cross platform compatible.

Throughout the book the authors point out the difference between FileMaker 7 one FileMaker 8.0. It is easy to spot the differences because the information usually has icons next to it, in text boxes or in color. The book does not cover the new feature of FileMaker 8.5 which came out the summer of 2006. Some of the additional features of version 8.5 are additional web viewer and Universal Binary for Intel Macs.

On the DVD that is included with the book there is a PDF file of the book. (more…)

By Krista Galyen, AAUG Member
Reviewed 3/06

FileMaker Pro 8: The Missing Manual is an excellent book for the intermediate FileMaker developer. From providing a review of the very basics, to introducing the new features of FileMaker, to walking the reader through more advanced features, this book satiates the appetite of the developer seeking more knowledge and skills.

Clearly written, Many tips

Written for both Windows and Macintosh users, this manual aims at hitting the general audience. The authors are very straight-forward in their approach, use conversational language, and avoid excess jargon when necessary. Extreme power users may not find this book entirely what they’re looking for, but throughout the book I’m sure there are little tips and tricks they will find useful. However, the average small business user or intermediate developer will find this book a goldmine of easily-accessible information, warnings on glitches, and helpful tips and shortcuts.

They also accompany the book with a CD-ROM, encouraging project-based learning. The authors lead the reader through lessons; however, they don’t scoff at making fun of some of FileMaker’s glitches. It’s not a dry manual; you may even find yourself laughing a few times while learning.

New Features

FileMaker Pro 7 and 8 were a vast redesign of the previous versions. Filemaker 8 also has some obvious new features from FileMaker 7, like tabbed panel control, but many new features are hidden from immediate view. FileMaker 8: The Missing Manual takes the reader into all the new features version 8 has that you otherwise may have to dig to find out, or learn through trial and error. (more…)