I'm surprised and really sorry to read all the bad responses to FileMaker. And as someone who has followed the product closely since version 2 in 1989, I have to say: It's utterly unfair!

Some of you seem to judge the product as a cheap piece of shareware after 5-10 minutes testing. Others compare it to unnamed databases. Sure, you can get databases that will provide in- and output possibilities for free. I, too, use some of them for certain projects. But for differenct tasks than FileMaker. FileMaker is a full featured, extremely mature and reliable DB with a rock solid server foundation that you can build your buisiness on. Year after year. And with a developer environment, that hands you so many features and functions. If you add to that:

• client-server with up to 999 simultaneus users
• perfect cross-platform (Windows/Mac - alas, no Linux :-[)
• web-publishing (instant, customized or xml-feed)
• ligtning fast search in millions of records
• flexible and intuitive design tools to build user totally customizable interfaces
• send email from server or client via smtp
• webviewer that enables presentation of web pages inside FM
• tabs to cut down on presentation layouts
• very low learning curve for beginners
• direct SQL-access (read/write) to MySQL, MSSQL and Oracle
• excellent, flexible and unrivalled reporting (print or pdf)
• very compatible import/export posibilities
• script triggers
• customizable business logic
• many exellent, cheap plug-ins to further expand the power of FileMaker (provides a.o. system and internet integration)

To name just what spring to mind ...

In the late 90's I was giving up on FileMaker. The developer platform was not moving anywhere. But with the totally revamped version 7 in 2004 things changed. Since then every single update has been a major one. Check out the frequency here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filemaker#Version_history

Since 7 I have felt that the developers at FileMaker are actually listening and understanding what is important for FMP developers to get value to the customers - easy, fast and reliably.

FileMaker is not Oracle - and shouldn't be, but I bet it could often do the job of many existing Oracle installation much cheaper, much more flexible and with less developing time. Still, what is more interesting is, that at a very fair price you can get your business up and running on FileMaker AND grow and scale securely and with an incredible flexibility while growing your business.

FileMaker is a professional tool with amazing power if you understand and known it to its full potential.

Unless you want to build a transatlantic tunnel or send rockets to Mars FileMaker can help you.

However if you just want to keep track of your VHS-video-collection, don't bother.

I'm surprised and really sorry to read all the bad responses to FileMaker. And as someone who has followed the product closely since version 2 in 1989, I have to say: It's utterly unfair!

Some of you seem to judge the product as a cheap piece of shareware after 5-10 minutes testing. Others compare it to other unnamed databases. Sure, you can get databases that will provide in- and output possibilities for free. I, too, use some of them for certain projects. But for differenct tasks than FileMaker. FileMaker is a full featured, extremely mature and reliable DB with a rock solid server foundation that you can build your buisiness on. Year after year. If you add to that:

• client-server with up to 999 simultaneus users
• perfect cross-platform (Windows/Mac - alas, no Linux :-[)
• web-publishing (instant, customized or xml-feed)
• ligtning fast search in millions of records
• flexible and intuitive design tools to build user totally customizable interfaces
• send email from server or client via smtp
• webviewer that enables presentation of web pages inside FM
• tabs to cut down on presentation layouts
• very low learning curve for beginners
• direct SQL-access (read/write) to MySQL, MSSQL and Oracle
• excellent, flexible and unrivalled reporting (print or pdf)
• very compatible import/export posibilities
• script triggers
• customizable business logic
• many exellent, cheap plug-ins to further expand the power of FileMaker (provides a.o. system and internet integration)

To name just what spring to mind ...

In the late 90's I was giving up on FileMaker. The developer platform was not moving anywhere. But with the totally revamped version 7 in 2004 things changed. Since then every single update has been a major one. Check out the frequency here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filemaker#Version_history

Since 7 I have felt that the developers at FileMaker are actually listening and understanding what is important for FMP developers to get value to the customers - easy, fast and reliably.

FileMaker is not Oracle - and shouldn't be, but I bet it could often do the job of many existing Oracle installation much cheaper, much more flexible and with less developing time. Still, what is more interesting is, that at a very fair price you can get your business up and running on FileMaker AND grow and scale securely and with an incredible flexibility while growing your business.

FileMaker is a professional tool with amazing power if you understand and known it to its full potential.

Unless you want to build a transatlantic tunnel or send rockets to Mars FileMaker can help you - and fast. (Well, not quite, but almost... ;-] )

However, if you just want to keep track of your VHS-video-collection, don't bother.

I have no affiliation with FileMaker Inc, but I admit: I am a big fan and long time user as well as a prof. developer.