How good is to migrate to newer version of FileMaker

IT industry means up-to-date technology: In IT industry technology depreciates much before than our expectation or prediction. This happens due to ever-changing demands of the user and industry together. Hence to cope with the demand, industry must develop or generates new technologies for the benefit of the users. It is not more time when industry introduced smart phones but it has already grown as a big industry itself in this short time span. Moreover it also triggers many new operating systems and modern technologies to help in the growth of smart phone industry. Google, Apple and Microsoft have already established their products in the market to meet the expectations of the future demand of the industry. Besides smart phone industry there is yet another industry which is much bigger in size is none other than web industry. Web industry is probably the most successful industry of 21st century and all other industries and domains rests on its solder for their success. There are many technologies and products in the industry to serve the demands of the user in different manner. Apple’s subsidiary filemaker Inc is yet another attempt to integrate web industry with the enterprise solution in an efficient and productive manner.

Impact of FileMaker 12 on business

Do your business in any platform: Well the File maker 12 has a unique feature i.e. cross platform compatibility. Though previously it was limited to only apple ecosystem i.e. MAC os X, iOS etc but this time File maker Inc has come up to support other platforms like Windows and android too. So you can now design your application on File maker platform that can be run on different platforms like windows and MAC. With the support of multiple platforms, the technology becomes accessible to a wide range of users and customers. Moreover, you can switch between the platforms for better efficiency and effectiveness. So your File maker application can now run on Windows machine as well.

Give better look to your business app with FM12: File Maker 12 has introduced many new themes that can help the file maker developer in designing even attractive and intuitive user interface. So you can opt for those attractive and new user interfaces for your business solution now. This will definitely help you in providing better user experience and that is highly recommended in IT industry.

Charting has never been so attractive: Charting is one of few things that look awesome both on paper and on web pages on software applications like file maker application. The best part is that it is a gift from 18th century or even before that still exists in 21st century!! This indicates the importance of chart in any domain. Understanding the fact, this time File maker 12 has come up with modern chart plugins or modules to design attractive web pages. It includes all the previous traditional chart features along with new 3d chart and graphical chart options. This will definitely improve the user experience of your business application developed in File Maker.

Manage your business from anywhere through your iPhone or iPad: This is yet another futuristic featute of File maker 12. Now you can access the database of your business application from a remote place may be thousand miles away through your iPhone or iPad. You just need to configure your application so that you can manage your business data through your personal smart phone. Moreover, you can chose your windows desktop for your application and the information can be accessed by your iPhone or iPad through internet connectivity. Well, make sure that your host machine is connected with internet service.

Better promotion means more productivity: In File Maker 12, a FM developer can configure the application in many advanced features like E-Campaign. We all know the importance of e-campaign in the industry. Now a days, everyone is tied with social media, email and many professional media. So, you have to find out who are your target audience. You can know the same from the vision of your business. So, you can accordingly send e-Campaigns to their mail, facebook account etc. The best part is through File Maker application, you can know who has opened your email and who did not responded to your campaign. This will help you in finding your target audience without much effort. Isn’t this amazing?

You can hire developers from top custom filemaker development companies in India who can help you with your database requirements within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide filemaker development services. If you would like to hire dedicated filemaker developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Knowing about the security features of FileMaker

Being the subsidiary farm of Apple, Filemaker Inc. doesn’t need any introduction for the quality and reliability of its flagship product i.e., Filemaker pro. Well since it’s the sibling of apple, we can expect the use of this product in IOS and MAC operating system but, the latest Filemaker pro is also compatible with windows operating system. As always apple is renowned for better quality and service hence we can expect similar quality and service from file maker pro. On the other hand, we have to accept that quality and reliability can’t be achieved without proper security measures. Today will discuss about different stages of security features of Filemaker pro which can help both the users and the developers on the same ladder.

FileMaker and its current demand in the database market

FileMaker is from Apple’s family: FileMaker is a product from Apple’s subsidiary farm FileMaker Inc. Hence it was developed for MAC users and iPhone or iPad users in its early life. Later on, it is modified to work in windows platform as well. If something is related to Apple, we can expect exceptional quality of performance and service from the same. The same repeats here as well. FileMaker is the best in the industry for its ERP solution. Though there are many other databases available in the market, but FileMaker has its unique identity in the industry. If we compare it with different databases of the industry, then it will not be a fair. Because, FileMaker is way ahead of those database providers. It has many unique features that are totally absent in other databases. Hence there is always a special demand for FileMaker in the industry. Let us find them out.

Informing developers with FileMaker developer conventions

One of the advantages for FileMaker developers is that they have the liberty to create and modify apps rapidly without any need to deal with the concerns that bother the other developers. The FileMaker Development Conventions (FDC) was created to promote professionalism as well as consistency for the all the solutions developed. In addition the FDC also offers full fledged guidelines on where to begin and which features might evolve in the long run.

The need for FileMaker in large enterprises

File maker was born in early 1990. File maker Inc. is a subsidiary company of Apple. Hence, its flagship product i.e., file maker pro was designed to serve Apple customer through different platforms like MAC operating system, iPhone, iPad users. But later on understanding its potential it diverges to other operating systems like windows which make it a truly global product. Now it can be integrated to any operating system by the file maker developers and making it a enterprise standard technology.

FileMaker 13 - New Features and Updates

The 2013 version of FileMaker comes with over 50 new features. It also offers several enhanced design and development tools to make it easier for developers to build, maintain and publish a database on iOS and OS X. At the same time, the users also have option to access FileMaker Go on their iPads and iPhones to quickly add, edit, sort and search data, and create reports. These new features and updated make it essential for existing owners to upgrade to FileMaker 13 optimize the performance of their enterprise-level solutions.

FileMaker 13 Features for Web-Friendly Custom Application Development

Differences between FileMaker and Bento

Before we draw the difference between FileMaker (FM) and Bento (BN), let us know what FileMaker Pro and Bento are.

FM can be defined as a cross platform relational database application that is designed to integrate a GUI based interface with a particular database engine. This provides the users a unique option of modifying databases by incorporating newer elements into screens, forms or layouts, thereby giving the database an altogether new look.

Bento, on the other hand, significantly differs from FM in the sense that it heavily depends upon the templates as well as integrations with the other applications. By default, the data sources of Bento include Address Book as well as Calendar applications from Apple that can be directly customized or modified to fit in the requirements or the needs of the clients.

Technically speaking, Bento does not work across multi platforms (as it is not cross platform). It is only compatible with Mac, which runs Leopard 10.5.7 or beyond. On the other hand, FM works on Mac OS as well as Windows.

BN is designed to integrate directly with the Address Book from Apple for contacts, iCal for the purpose of Calendars, Mails for the purpose of e-mails, iPhoto for the purpose of photos or images, and the likes. FileMaker, on the other hand is designed to link up with all these tools, though there is still room for development through plugins or Applescript. Nevertheless, FM comes with a string of options that help it to get compatible with MS Office and make an array of functions like creating emails, accessing the internet browsers, adding various functionalities with the plugins, creating various web and internet solutions with the help of PHP, accessing various other external SQL databases.

Bento also restricts the total number of shared users to those who are present on any local network and the number also should not exceed 5. On the other hand, FM is capable of handling an unlimited number of users with the FM server across a vast region.

From the users’ point of view, BN is not as customizable as FM. Again, FM Pro is more powerful than Bento in robustness. However, from the point of view of usability, it is the simplicity of Bento that makes it so popular, as it allows the users to create a truly professional looking database with ease. This comes to the aid of people having a lesser degree of understanding. Again, on the other hand, FM Pro, much due to its extremely powerful features along with its pro-user qualities and capabilities, comes up as the most user-friendly tool that is used in today’s world, that helps users develop, customize as well as expand various solutions quickly.

From the financial point of view, Bento is much cheaper than FM. While Bento will cost $49.00 for an individual and $99 for the family pack, FileMaker Pro comes in at $299 for a single user and the cost goes up as the number of users’ increases.

Both FM as well as BN comes up with functionality that provides users a unique option of running databases on iPads and iPhones. However, thanks to the pre-built templates, Bento is more accessible to the users with lesser amount of work,

Let us look into the difference between FM and Bento in a nutshell:

BN organizes contacts as well as customers, track group projects along with task lists. It plans various company events, meetings, prints labels for mailing, inventory tags, records various domestic inventories with images, videos, lists wines, movies, other collections, tracks uniforms for school going children, organizes lesion plans, curriculums, sporting activities etc.

FileMaker on the other hand manage customers, vendors as well as employees, helps in tracking projects, various deliverables, workflows, coordinate events, meetings, manages inventoiesy and assets, produces invoices, charts sales reports, distributes facilities, organizes compliance, manages students’ registrations, organizes, analyzes research data, and so on.

You can hire developers from top custom filemaker development companies in India who can help you with your database requirements within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide filemaker database development services. If you would like to discuss with our certified filemaker developers from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Ways in Which FileMaker can Replace Your Paper Based Approaches

Many organizations, nowadays, outsource their projects and processes to curtail operational expenses. Likewise, many companies prefer working with distributed teams to avail the service of experienced professionals without increasing project overheads. So the conventional paper based approaches no longer complement the communication needs of modern businesses.

Despite being originally developed as a cross-platform relational database application, FileMaker is currently being used as a powerful customer relationship management system. Both large and small businesses across the world rely on FileMaker to replace their paper based approaches in smart and hassle-free way.

How FileMaker Replaces Your Existing Paper Based Approaches?

User Friendly: While transitioning from your paper based approach, you will need to adopt a simple and user friendly software application. As your team is used to do things in a specific way, you have to introduce the technology without affecting the regular work flow. Along with being compatible with multiple platforms, FileMaker Pro is both simple and easy to use. So the members of your team can start using the technology within a shorter span of time without many hours of training.

Easy to Start: Regardless of its size, each modern business needs an efficient relational data base application to store, modify, organize and recall information. The CRM systems also rely on the relational data base application to record all customer data including details of a purchase, inquiry and deal in progress. As a powerful relational database application, FileMaker makes it easier for businesses to manage their information efficiently. The small businesses can adopt FileMaker to migrate from their paper based records without hiring a developer.

Robust Features to Effectuate Data Management: Despite being inexpensive and easy to use, FileMaker comes with robust capacities to complement the needs of both small and large businesses. Along with using dedicated database software, the users also have option to create FileMaker Pro databases through an Excel spreadsheet. The users without technical expertise, at the same time, can use several layout themes and databases to accomplish task like invoicing, asset management, customer record management and maintaining family medical records.

Full Control Data Presentation and Analysis: In addition to allowing you to store, organize and manage data efficiently, FileMaker further allows you to control the information tightly. You can simply write script to carry out several actions with data. But the scripts can be simple or highly complex according to the nature of the action. You also have option to check for errors and loops in the input to control the functionality of the database. Scripts for certain repetitive functions like modifying an input field or changing the layout can be triggered automatically.

Advanced Window Styles: The most recent version of FileMaker allows users to exercise control over the behavior of windows simply by specifying Advanced Styles at the time of executing the script. You have option to specify the window as a document, modal dialog or floating document. Also, window controls like minimize, maximize, resize, close and zoom can be turned on or off for each window. The window control features can be further used without writing scripts.

Custom Themes and Styles: FileMaker Pro 12 allowed users to customize the presentation of data by choosing from 40 layout themes. The latest version of the software application allows users to customize the look and feel of database components by applying styles like color and font-size. Thus, you can now customize buttons, fields and background using these styles, while reusing the custom themes and styles for other projects.

The most recent version of FileMaker also comes with a set of innovative features for creating custom applications. Along with delivering an appealing database design, FileMaker Pro 13 comes with new features required to make web applications more secure, accessible and flexible.

You can hire developers from top custom filemaker development companies in India who can help you with your database requirements within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide filemaker application development services. If you would like to discuss with our filemaker certified developers from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

New features in FileMaker 13. Is it going to meet your requirement?

FileMaker Pro can be defined as a relational database application compatible across various platforms that was designed as well as developed by FileMaker Inc. The application is used to integrate a particular database engine with an interface that is GUI based. This provides the users a unique option of modifying the database by dragging a new set of elements into screens, forms or layouts. Now the current version, Pro 13 comes with some latest features that are handy when it comes to meeting business needs of clients.

Let us discuss the features and see how they will meet the clients’ requirements.

Redesigned Layout

The latest version comes up with features that offer an option to the users to create customized layouts as well as reports that are specifically optimized for iPhones as well as iPads. The feature also helps incorporation of predefined screen dimensions, views, themes and sets. All these in turn help businesses by making the process of designing various iOS devices much easier.

Popovers
It also has the feature that helps creating iOS-style popovers for iPads, iPhones and desktops to group links, fields as well as other information without the need of moving to other windows or layouts.

Slide Control
The new version also helps in creating controls of multi-panel slides that can be used for managing images along with various other information or data in separate slide panels within the same layout. It also provides the option of swiping for navigating between one panel to another on FileMaker Go.

New iOS Keyboards
The latest version comes up with 7 new keyboards so as to match the data type that the user needs to collect. The new keyboard types that the latest version comes up with, include number, URL, phone etc.

Bar Code Scanner
This feature provides a unique option of automatically scanning the bar codes by using iPhones or iPads with FileMaker Go without the need of any plug in. Besides, it also gives the liberty to access the scanned data from the desktop.

The new version of FileMaker helps the business to develop customized solutions that are unique besides being professionally designed. They are gorgeous and hence, extremely compelling from the customers’ point of view, which in turn helps the businesses. The data becomes easily sharable as well as manageable. This makes them more productive, which also helps the business in more than a way.

Customized Themes
This feature helps to modify as well as save changes to the existing layout themes. Thus, it helps the themes to match the exact business requirements. The themes are reusable across various solutions and can be shared with others in the business fraternity.

Built-in themes
The new version also comes up with 11 brand new as well as ready-to-use themes, which are a part of the 51 themes that the platform is equipped with. This helps the business to design customized solutions that are specifically meant for desktop, iPhone and iPod.

New Set of Styles
The new themes have new styles that are rich with new sets of innovative colors, text sizes, fonts that can be applied to certain objects like buttons, backgrounds, as well as fields. This helps the business solutions by giving them a consistent and professional look and this naturally helps in promotion of the business to a large extent. There is the option of choosing from a large variety of predefined styles and customize them to meet the specific business needs and save it. These changes can also be modified if and when needed.

New style of layout and theme saving
The enhanced options of managing styles as well as themes help in formatting the styles to layout various objects, parts, backgrounds and other properties for promoting a consistent look all through the business solutions.

Content Object Visibility
This offers the option of hiding as well as showing various layout objects through the process of indication of whether an object is displayed or hidden depending upon a specific calculation or situation.

There are a number of other new features that offer a wide range of advantages and option to come up with improved business solution. However, discussed above are the most prominent ones that the new version of FileMaker Pro comes up with – the ones, which meet the customized business solutions.

You can hire developers from top custom filemaker development companies in India who can help you for your requirements within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide filemaker database development services. If you would like to discuss with our expert filemaker developer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

FileMaker Best Practices for Developing Accessible Solutions

Many enterprises, nowadays, use FileMaker to create custom solutions without putting any extra time and effort. The cross-platform relational database application further enables users to update or modify their databases simply by dragging new elements into the forms, screens and layouts. The current version of FileMaker also comes with capabilities to make the data accessible to users on a variety of conventional and mobile devices. However, the programmers must consider and implement several best practices to build robust and accessible solutions with FileMaker 13.

Best Practices for Developing Accessible FileMaker Solutions

Enhance the Code Readability

FileMaker currently does not provide a comprehensive code editor to developers. So they miss the convenient options to write clean and structured code. However, the programmers have option to external editors and snippet along with several keyword expansion tools. It is always important for the code writers to rite cohesive code that can be encapsulated and reused without any hassle. In addition to using strongly named grouping conventions, they are further required to handle all probable errors, while avoid using additional dependencies.

Make the Layout Mode More Accessible
The accessibility of a FileMaker solution also depends on its layout design. The programmers can connect field labels to the active field by using the Accessibility Inspector. As the field labels will be read by the screen readers, it is important to include navigation and buttons in the tab order. Further, each button must have short and simple text labels. The screen reader can read the text label of each button, so no title or label needs to be added to the button text. Instead of displaying the status bar, the layout buttons can be used to get enhanced control and accessibility.

Optimize the Images
While designing the layout, developers must avoid using images. Similarly, the decorative objects also need to be avoided if they provide no relevant information or function. The Accessibility Inspector allows them to describe images in the container fields. However, each text object must be spelled correctly to be read and understood by the screen reader. It is also a good idea to opt for pop-up menu style instead of the drop-down list style. Similarly, instead of using the drop-down calendars, the programmers can display calendar icons within the field. The existing tooltips also need to be copied and pasted into the Title field in the Accessibility Inspector.

Opt for List View Layout
While creating FileMaker solutions, programmers have option to choose from both List View and Table View layouts. But they can enhance the accessibility of the solution by using the List View layouts, while hiding the Table View layouts. Further, they need to use the field objects instead of merge text when working with the List View Layout.

Optimize the Application’s Search Capabilities
The accessibility of a FileMaker solution can be further increased by optimizing its search capabilities. Nowadays, users access database solutions from a variety of devices including computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets. So the solution must find the relevant data based on the search keywords entered by users, and display the search results quickly. It will become easier for the solution to find data when the fields are identified, and results are read out clearly. Thus, each field must be described in a clear and unambiguous way to enhance the FileMaker solution’s search capabilities.

Work on the Application’s Look and Feel
The look and feel of the FileMaker solution will also impact its accessibility level. So the layout must be optimized by applying high-contrast themes. Similarly, the users must have option to increase the zoom level of the document window. You must opt for interface designs that will appeal to all types of users. It is also important to avoid using videos, animations portals, and tab control to make the solution work faster. While using the FileMaker solution, designers can be prompted for the next action through custom dialogs. The dialogs can also be used to give error alerts.

Each updated version of FileMaker comes with enhanced capabilities and new features. Each developer needs to implement these best practices by keeping in mind the features provided by the most recent version of the cross-platform relational database application.

You can hire filemaker certified developers from top filemaker development companies in India who can help you for your requirements within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide filemaker development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our filemaker certified developers, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solution.

Business Function Automation through FileMaker Software

FileMaker is one of the frequent database software options when users are considering creation of database without knowledge or expertise in SQL. Filemaker also helps immensely in crafting a low-traffic database primarily meant for internet use. This progressive yet simple tool comprises the world’s most reliable database application, facilitating development of business solutions at a comparatively faster pace and at affordable rates. Filemaker Pro enables end-users to conveniently publish data, update information and produce reports with some simple clicks. This effective development system operates on Windows computers and Apple Macintosh, and also has a mobile edition named FileMaker Go operating across iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad platforms.

On the whole, Filemaker application development is picking up steam because the software comes with a bouquet of beneficial features which can be broadly summarized as follows:

• User-friendly: Computer programs are termed user-friendly when their usability is not dependent upon the computer literacy level of the user. Both computer savvy individuals as well as novices would be able to fully utilize the specific computer program’s full capacity without spending extra effort or time. The user interface of Filemaker Pro is such that even a person who is not a database developer can use the program. Other relational databases call for adequate training, hence only people proficient with the database are capable of working with the same.
  
• Convenient to Begin: Businesses leverage databases for storing information regarding their clients, products, revenues, expenses and employees so that the data can be analyzed afterwards and proper business decisions can be made. Small businesses as well as other individuals, organizations and groups also need to use databases. The Filemaker software’s user interface enables even smaller users to start their own database without investing much effort or money.
  
• Trouble-free Expansion: Certain databases are user-friendly simply because they are not complete. This implies that such databases direct a considerable portion of their programming for developing the user-interface, with the result that not much is left for building the storage capacity. This problem does not arise with Filemaker Pro, which has convenient user interface as well as dedicated storage capacity. Hence a small business which leverages Filemaker in the initial start-up phase can continue to use the same when the business expands.

Driving Business automation with Ease

Let us consider the example of an invoice that requires reverse engineering. Time is required to synchronize all the fields and functionalities prior to entering the elements within a document. Spreadsheet is a handy tool for entering these requirements as they automatically form a list. Each field becomes a distinct data element such as customer name, invoice number, invoice amount, phone number and address.

Instead of gathering the elements and making spreadsheet entry, an invoice screen can be simply created in Filemaker software. Exhibiting behavior similar to a spreadsheet tool, FileMaker aids the entry of each element of data, including row entry in a spreadsheet. Following entry of each row, Filemaker generates a screen which possesses all the functionalities for inserting, deleting and updating. A robust tool set facilitates easy and quick manipulation of the objects and their placement at distinct page locations, after which logic is inserted for every data element. With simply a small number of clicks, the new features are ready to be utilized, and all this can be done while running the FileMaker application simultaneously.

A FileMaker developer proficient in Filemaker software capabilities and development methods can introduce more intricate features or go for integration of features from different installations. The flexibility of FileMaker software enables it to rope in functions and features developed through plug-in use at some other FileMaker installations. Plug-in usually means code packages that can be turned off and on while the software is in operation.

The software already comes with key applications for health, business and distribution services and hence does not require every feature to be programmed. Known as templates, these applications possess all functionalities for creating, printing, tracking as well as accounting for specific data types. Filemaker thus becomes an immensely versatile tool for business function automation empowering companies with features that offer convenient deployment and updations.

We provide database application development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our expert filemaker developers, please visit Mindfire Solutions.