AMARTSIN  I take issue with the user BIBERKOPF's review of September 16, 2009. I am not a developer and cannot offer a detailed analysis of this software but I do have a short comment on one of the claims in that review: "send email from server or client via smtp". Have you actually tried to send email from FM Pro? Today I lost more than an hour of my time trying to do just that.

Unless there is undocumented info on how to do that, you CANNOT send email with the content of a layout in the found set of records. In my case this was simply a letter with one variable field, the name of the recipient. After long and frustrating experiments I had to copy and paste the contents into the message field and replace the personal name with an impersonal "Customer". This kind of "functionality" is simply idiotic. Moreover, the email dialog box exhibited unstable behavior -- different results for the same inputs. You can add to that this crown jewel of developer's newspeak: "cannot send email successfully"(?!) as a notification of a failed attempt. Actually, there are more problems with that dialog box. Once the send fails, you can no longer edit the address, cc, and bcc fields -- you immediately get another failure notification. It also appears that the subject field does not like phrases starting with numbers, for example, 2010. I am also puzzled by the "collect addresses across found set" check box under the BCC field. Doesn't it defeat the purpose of the BCC field, at least according to the warning in the FM Help section? Speaking of the check boxes, they get checked even when you click outside those boxes(?!) This is particularly bad because of the disastrous consequences of that action when, again according to the Help section, say, 10 recipients would receive 10 emails instead of one.

(Now, the Help section also gives you food for thought: at one point it claim that under Mac OS X you can only use Entourage as a mail client, but in a different place it claims that Apple Mail can be used).

All that brings me to the final point -- do all other items in BIBERKOPF's list work the same way as email does? Also, where does the $300 price tag fit in all that?   
(Version 10.0v3)

NICK COLLINGRIDGE  This just may be the final straw for me - Filemaker is the MOST frustrating product to work with. Now it's a problem with activation - I have just migrated across to a new 27" iMac and in every other respect this has been a pretty straightforward process. However when I try to launch Filemaker Pro I get a dialog requiring me to activate. When I do it first of all takes twenty or so minutes before a response comes back from the activation server, and this tells me that I need to deactivate my copy on another computer - presumably the one I've just migrated from. Fair enough, except that I don't know why it takes so long to get a response on this when I obviously want to be able to use the software as soon as possible.

So anyway I go to the old system, connect it up and then boot it up. Launching Filemaker Pro and guess what - I get a dialog telling me I need to activate it! And no way of getting any further at this point - if I click the "Activate Later" button I get a dialog that says "A trial version of FMP has been used on this computer. Contact FileMaker or your reseller to purchase FileMaker Pro. If you receive this message after selecting Activate Later, then please activate your licensed copy of FileMaker Pro." This dialog also appears on the new system, even though that one DEFINITELY has never had a demo copy installed.

So that's it - I'm screwed and because this is a weekend I have no way of getting any further because their licensing team is not available out of working hours. So all my data that is in FMP is unuseable and inaccessible on either of these systems. This is pathetic in my view - its shouldn't be possible to be so locked out of your data.

I don't know what's gone wrong - I am a totally law-abiding purchaser of the product and yet I am unable to use it.  
(Version 10.0v3)

BIBERKOPF  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.  
(Version 10.0v3)

DONMONTALVO  I stopped upgrading at 8.5.

The pricing structure is a bit ridiculous. I can see FileMaker developers making a lucrative business out of selling companies on the idea of upgrading to the newer version of FileMaker for whatever reason.

If 8.5 "breaks", I'll sell my copy on Craigslist and move on to something else. I would hate to believe FileMaker is the only game in town...

Don Montalvo  
(Version 10.0v3)

BOSIE  "In just a few minutes, you will receive an e-mail that provides the link to the private download page where you can get your free 30-day trial of FileMaker Pro."

Well I waited and waited and waited. Several hours later nothing so I tried again - same thing. Any correspondence I receive from FileMaker will now be deleted and advertising reported as spam. Bye  
(Version 10)

ESPIRIDION  Raddle, $179 is better than my upgrade price. I have version 7 and was a bit shocked when I read "FileMaker Pro 7 or earlier. Purchase full version for $299.00" :-)

The new interface looks nice, but for me the upgrades after version 7 -although good- have not been worth the asking price.

I only checked the upgrade price out of curiosity, though. I purchased Panorama last month, and it's more than enough for my needs. I don't know about speed, but their databases are smaller than FileMaker's, and the price was VERY attractive thanks to a promo they were having (Panorama Twenty Year Anniversary Sale). It ended December 20, but who knows, maybe it still works.

The interface looks a bit outdated, but it doesn't bother me.

Panorama's upgrades for older versions are also quite expensive, though. Overall I'm glad that my money went to ProVUE. I don't know their current prices, but 4D is also another option.  
(Version 10)

RADDLE  $179 to upgrade from 9 to 10? No thanks. I'm done with this company.

I don't mind paying for software - I do it often - or for worthwhile upgrades. But there's paying, and then there's being bled. I have slugged on with this software for years, and even bought the dreadful Bento. I'm tired of the company's attitude, tired of the continual price hikes, tired of being expected to shell out another upgrade fee to have software fixed (Bento 2) or finally made to look like it actually belongs on a machine running Leopard (FileMaker 10), over a year after the fact.

Evidently they're solely targeting the deep-pocketed corporate clients these days, and that's fine, but it's not me. I'll go find something else to store my data in.   
(Version 10)

ACCOUNTCLOSED  All day, no emai with link to download the demo. Customer support said it would arrive "within the hour"—seven hours ago. Filemaker, before making e a demo available, you might want to have your act together so people actually can download it. A poor showing, especially for a major player.   
(Version 10)

DENNY DOUBLEPLUS MARKETING  It's about time Filemaker updated the look/interphase of this product. It's 2009 now, out with the old, in with the new. - Denny Crane  
(Version 10)

MREHAB  Used FMP since ver4 and found updates GREAT. Very easy to build templates fast.

VERY disappointed FM shifted emphasis from small to corp, esp with IWP now set at 5? users. VERY pissed at the cost of going from ver7.0 to ver8.0 to ver8.5. Ver8.5 really is ver8.0, what a rip! Monopoly as only Apple relational database hurts their clients. Downloaded ver8.5.2 update because I went Leopard & ver8.0 hung & now can NOT print to pdf in Apple printing dialog box. FM says they don't look for backward OS compatibility, so buy the ver9.0. Acts like FM and Apple don't talk to each other.

What a crock ...  
(Version 9.0v3)

FRIDGE  What are the options? I really would like to know...  
(Version 9.0v2)

FRIDGE  It is a pretty clear that there are no other alternatives to Filemaker pro, if there were, Filemaker would most likely have changed their product and policys a long time ago. Cross platform and ›anyone can create a database› is a pretty good thing; and as far as I know, the only application of it's kind for the Mac. But Filemaker is in a CPR desperate need for some serious competition. The whole user interface looks like something made for a PC in the 80's — anyone who thinks Filemaker could not be better then it currently is must be blind or having a seriously bad taste. Filemaker's upgrade policy and backward compatibility stinks and that is about it for me. I am no power user but I need to create simple databases on a regular basis. I also like to know that the work I do is cross platform. So in the end of the day, I will still use Filemaker as I have not other alternatives. But if there were alternatives, I would be the first one to drop my money on it and support that product. Leopard came, Filemaker was not Leopard ready. Apple owns Filemaker!? I believe Apple will do something with Filemaker in the future, but maybe that currently is far down the roadmap. Maybe Apple does not have its focus on Filemaker at the moment and this is why it is as it is at the moment. As someone else said somewhere else on the net ›It's like Filemaker is the Bastard child of Apple› but Apple will do something with this bastaard child sooner or later this I am sure of. However, Filemaker in it's current form and shape is a slow sinking ship, it's the only ship in site so everyone is still clinging to it waiting for another ship to show up at the horizon. Apple knows this, and will someday do something about it and create a database application with a user interface that reflects THIS millenium, good support, cross platform and full of features for the power users (stuff I do not have a clue about). It will come, but until then we all have nurse and babysit the bastard child of Apple.  
(Version 9.0v2)

AJOE  I used to be a FileMaker developer, but they have long ago abandoned the small/casual user for the big companies that will automatically update every time FM announces a new version.

FileMaker has gotten more bloated and less user-friendly with every recent version.

There are other options, and most of them are free!  
(Version 9.0v2)

AIKOUSHA  Wait... before I can even start with this, it requires the latest version of the OSX system? It takes us nearly 2 weeks to recover after every Apple system update, and I have to do it just to test a program that probably hasn't upgraded anything that really needs upgrading? Is the first bug update going to require 10.5?? And then the next version require you to have a Macintosh G6??

I've heard things about interface components changing (lines, font positioning, field boundaries and thicknesses altered). It did this in a previous version, but I never upgraded to it... Still using 5.5.

The WHOLE package requires a system update, yet none of the basic controls use the OSX standard (aqua) interface (pull-downs, scroll-buttons, drop-downs, just regular buttons)? What the hell is up with these people? I can suffer with the antique interface, but an upgrade should have some features useable by at leat 90% of it's user base -- you know, features that have actually been requested and would be easy to implement... not just for the developers and web-professionals (which I am, but have never used any part of Filemaker for).

I seriously need a cross-platform database, but unfortunately, this is the only program. Thankfully version 5.5 still works for everything required, but simple things in Access still haven't been implemented in Filemaker. So, I guess my databases and information continues to stay workable, but in the "stone age." No improvements or short-cuts for my users.

Every time this program is "updated," I am seriously disappointed, and pissed off.  
(Version 9.0)

GOMODA  I though Apple owned Filemaker,...why dont they give it the apple treatment. UI seems a bit dated  
(Version 9.0)

JFIELDS  WTF? Seems like I just upgraded to 8.5 yesterday and now they want another $300.00 for an upgrade that's probably more bug fixes than anything else. Hello Filemaker, get your head out of your a$$. It's crappy upgrade policies like this that force people to look elsewhere or piracy for that matter. I'm done with you.  
(Version 9.0)

D9  Uh oh...FileMaker has contracted Upgradeistis, the affliction of depreciating value in software upgrade features resulting in more frequent paid upgrades...it's a slow death with known symptoms of bloatness, poor reviews and rampant piracy.

I use version 7 instead of >   
(Version 9.0)

STEVE4656  This programme is OK if you stick with the included templates, but woe betide you if you decide to modify a template or, even more stupidly, decide to create your own.

Small things such as fields that do not snap to a grid and uncontrollable line weights and field borders, to the arcane method of creating and modifying tables make this software an extremely effective method of wasting enormous amounts of time.

What about the built in 'Help' you may ask. Indeed what about it, 'unhelpful' is the most polite adjective that springs to mind, made worse with generous use of vague, unexplained jargon.

Stomps off into the distance spitting feathers.........  
(Version 8.5)

REALMAC17  FileMaker Pro 8 is over-rated, highly priced, lacking in features, seriously out-of-date (holds the same UI as it did in version 3 from the 1990s). One of the worst products for the Mac, ever.

FileMaker themselves do not even offer E-mail customer support. Telephone only, what the hell? Not only this, but on their website they let you enter a question in, your name, email address, all before they tell you that they don't do Email support. So I now have an account on their website for no reason. Great.  
(Version 8.5)

RICHTHEONE  FMPro v8.5 sucks so much juice out of the entire system that even the Dock is crawling. As soon as FMPro is quit everything returns to normal. The problem is equally bad whether a database is open or not, so there is nothing wrong with my particular test situation. Also, I have this verified on several independent machines now.

I would seriously reconsider if I were you and thinking about FileMaker Pro.  
(Version 8.5)

RICHTHEONE  Warning! Don't buy this product. I've tested the 30 day full trial version of FMPro 8.5 now and conclude:

1) Still Carbon antique! This is what Apple writes about Carbon: "Carbon is designed to provide a gentle migration path for developers transitioning their applications from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X". It has gone more than six (6!) years now since Apple released Mac OS X.

2) Controls don't use Aqua (popups, drop menues etc)!

3) Text rendering don't use Quartz in many places.

4) The entire GUI is absolutely non-Mac! Toolbar icons, buttons, DB-fields etc. look like they came from Windoze 98.

5) The entire application is a memory hog (slows down other applications and OS functionality)! This is true even when FMPro is not processing anything.

6) No possibility to turn off startup scripts! After five days of coding I accidentally put a "Close Window" script step at the beginning of the startup script. Now the entire database shuts down as soon as it has opened, with NO way to stop that. Even FMPro support acknowledged this problem. When did it first appear on their FAQ section? Answer: In FMPro 7 !!!!!! Back then though there used to be a solution – pressing cmd-period at startup, but that option has now been removed. Instead, the support recommended me to BUY the Advanced version of their software. Yeah, right...

Bottom line – I have seen more Mac OS compliant Java applications (and faster too). I am sorry, but since I don't even like running this application on my own computer, I can't hand a tool like this over to my customers – not even close! Sure, it's got features but with a terrible way of accessing them.

P.S. To Mr D9, I don't think you should drag Apple into this anymore. They totally left this company, and actually Filemaker today depreciates the value of Apples contributions. If you happen to know the Swedish language (don't blame you if you don't) then please read what www.filemaker.se says in their FAQ section regarding their own question "Är FileMaker verkligen ett Mac-program från början? (Publ. 2006-06-22)" ("Is really Filemaker originally a Mac application?").  
(Version 8.5)

AIKOUSHA  First, I have to state, I am still using version 5.5, and that is because several very simple things have not been corrected. These are too numerous to mention, and taken singly aren't much to complain about. However, 8.5 has very little extended functionality over 5.5 other than some web-support and much greater boundaries. Yet, 96^ of all users will never use that.

Filemaker has the very worst customer support for professional users and with every upgrade I ask them technical details about the program and what it can do... and they can never answer. "Just download the trial." Well the trial doesn't install at work, and I'm not willing to possibly damage my current database with a conflict.

They have also dropped support and functionality for several key structures in my databases -- why upgrade a 60,000 record database with Kanji and picture references, which won't convert over?

They also do not take suggestions very seriously... You can't make a calculation to an item (like an image) so that it can be found and displayed, but this is incredibly easy in Access (cringe). They only just started working with scroll-wheels, but it's apparently very sluggish and jerky. And if you use furigana fields... don't. The conversions have "x"s and superfluous "n"s in them, and other things, that don't belong in Japanese translations (chinese, maybe, but that's not what the furigana fields are for).

Since many of these problems have existed for over 3 years, I have to agree with the others, below, in the "upgrade" just for cash, theory.

And, though I think that Spotlight should be removed, and all copies of it's code, burned... for those that rely on it, this function would be critical. But, based on my experience, you'll have to wait another 3 years for it.

other than that, it's a great little database program.  
(Version 8.5)

ROB  Why do you have to upgrade if your current version is working fine?

I agree they always upgrade to charge more.  
(Version 8.5)

ANON BUD  $99 for this upgrade from FMP 8? And this after I just gave them $179 to upgrade from FMP 6 just six months ago? I should have waited to upgrade and saved myself the extra $99!

This is a great way to lose customers....  
(Version 8.5)

D9  I agree w/ the previous poster. Add to this, yet another developer that is trying to cash in on making the application Universal Binary but adding some minor, if not worthless new features to justify a full upgrade cost. It's pathetic! And this from an Apple-owned company, which mostly probably knew this switch was coming years ago.

Well, at least they didn't have the audacity to name it FileMaker 9!  
(Version 8.5)

ADFASDFASDFASDF  Since FileMaker 4, there were no improvements I really needed. BUT there is one thing I really need, one of the basic OS X features that even FM 8.5 is not capable of: SPOTLIGHT.

Is it THAT difficult to integrate this? Just savour this: A database that is not ready for searches (external, Spotlight). Its only purpose is to store and manage information - but you cannot access any information from outside.

FM 8.5 is 3 years behind!!! Who cares if it's Intel compatible? This is a gimmick, compared to Spotlight compatibility.  
(Version 8.5)

ANONYMOUS  FileMaker Pro 7 is great. I continue to be amazed by how easy it is to perform complicated actions, create customized windows, simplify unusual actions. I've had a taste of Access and the difference is mind boggling. The difference between the two database programs would be using Access would be like riding a bike and using FileMaker would be like driving a Lexus.

That said, could use a couple of improvements. Number one: Scroll wheel support. I almost feel like working on Windows version because it supports scrolling.

Number two: Cut, copy, and paste functionality with scripts.

Number three: Better functionality with the perform find script.

I'm sure there are more improvements I could mention, but those are just a few that come to mind.  
(Version 7.0v3)

ANONYMOUS  The lack of scrollwheel support is amazing. I can't believe that such a major application, especially one that is owned by Apple could neglect such a basic thing. There are several things I would use Filemaker for that I simply refuse to do because I can't use the scrollwheel.  
(Version 7.0v3)

ANONYMOUS  Up to 7.0v3, and STILL NO SCROLL WHEEL SUPPORT. Hello, FileMaker Inc, a freaking division of Apple? It's 2004, way *way* past time to support this!!!  
(Version 7.0v3)

ANONYMOUS  Is scrolling with the mouse fixed in this version?  
(Version 7.0v2)

JAMES CHURCHMAN  I simply cannot understand the comments made below by a few odd individuals

FILEMAKER IS BRILLIANT. I use Access a lot (for asp ect..) but it is crude and slow and un-intuitive

filemaker could not be better

James  
(Version 7.0v2)

CHUCK  OK, I don't know which program you all are using, but I absolutely love FileMaker 7, even with it's minor problems. Admitedly, I'm a FileMaker developer full time, so I'm sure that makes a difference. But it also seems that the program is still easy to use for the beginner.

Major feature changes that have made my work day easier:

Comments in calculations

Comments in field definitions

New functions (the Values functions, especially)

Else If script step

Single file/multiple tables

Script parameters

Go to Layout (name by calc)

More Get (i.e., Status) functions (especially Get( CalculationRepetitionNumber ) )

Custom functions (Developer version only)

Auto enter calc overwriting existing data

Bidirectional relationships

Grandparent/child relationship referencing

Portal specific sort orders

Better security model

For me, custom functions and script parameters alone are worth the price of Developer. How anyone can say that there aren't any improvements with 7 is beyond me (which is what I still say about 6 vs. 5.5).

Now, after saying all of that, I'm hoping that the new 7.0v2 will correct some bugs I've found in the last month, but I've not yet seen any reference to them.  
(Version 7.0v2)

CILLY  First, the installer does not use the correct permissions, i.e. writeable to others even if installed by admin or root in /Applications.

Second, if you chmod -R o-w "FileMaker..." FileMaker refuses to start at all. Why does an App need write access to some of its files?

Third, the file FileMaker needs write access (777 or 1777) to /Applications/FileMaker Pro 7//FileMaker Pro.app/Contents/MacOS/pInfo , if you change the permissions of that file to i.e. 775 FM does not launch and tell you it has been modified by a trojan or virus. But the file isn't modified at all, the modification date always stays the same. Why is write access to that file needed?

This app isn't savy to use in a multi user environment, since an ordinary user can delete or modify files of the FM installation.  
(Version 7.0)

OLD MACOS USER  FileMaker "Pro" 7 only exemplifies the current downward trend of quality at Apple. Some of their iApps were nice when they first came out, but the OS and all legacy programs (FMP, Claris/AppleWorks, etc.) suffer from incredible gaps in legacy technologies and features. Why do we have to wait until OS 10.5 or later for Apple to finally get around to restoring all the features we have been using for years in Classic? Why do they release X versions of their keymark applications from years back with no scroll wheel support or recognition of basic, fundamental system calls/hooks until later versions? I find it interesting that the Classic applications that work the worst under OS X are the ones Apple makes. Encouraged migration to the new version perhaps?

I have evangelized Apple and its products for many years, but no longer. I used to have confidence in their work and excused the occasional defect. Now the defects are most of what I encounter in daily work. I find myself talking new computer buyers into going WinOS or Linux more and more. At least with the former they will have a broad choice of software and hardware from which to choose. Not to mention the dramatically decreased cost... leaving them money left over to pay for a few tech support calls or books if needed. Try getting the same answer twice from Apple Support (unless it is "that is not covered under warranty").

If Apple is going to charge premium prices for its products, they damn well better throw in 1 year minumum of full tech support. As it stands now, the extra cost is NOT worth the trouble in the world of OS X unless you are a techno-geek who understands every layer of the system.  
(Version 7.0)

DAVID BROOKS  Filemaker 7 is a big disappointment despite the marketing fluff from the company. Time to move to 4D.  
(Version 7.0)

IVANOVITCH  This is a joke, isn't it? Firstly, I had to struggle with the conversion process, but expected this. Secondly, I couldn't open previously password-protected files without going back to FMPro v6.0. To top it all off, I discover that web publishing fails in Safari! Not only this, but since the FMPro interface in OS X is different to the web browser GUI, buttons and checkboxes, and fonts, all distort the layout. How confusing. Thank goodness I kept Internet Explorer for emergencies like this. No sign of any real improvements at all. In short, I had hoped that the web publishing components would allow me to avoid converting all my dbs to MySQL for a while to come. However, the opposite is now true.  
(Version 7.0)

ANONYMOUS  It seems to have been Eiesmer-ized. For example, try 'About FileMaker Pro' -> Credits.

"Credits are listed in the Acknowlegements document provided with this software."

So much for credit given as credit due.

Earth to Steve: if you're out to kill FileMaker isn't there a kinder way?  
(Version 7.0)

TIM  If you're brand-new to Filemaker, version 7 might be OK. However, if you plan to convert or migrate your existing Filemaker 6 (or earlier) files, prepare yourself for a long and very frustrating experience. You will spend countless hours trying to convert your files. You can download an 82-page guide for converting files (have fun.) Even after reading that guide, my converted files do not function properly. I've converted them multiple times and am still frustrated. What a nightmare!  
(Version 7.0)

ANONYMOUS  Developers may love some of the new features of FM-Pro 7, but end users should think twice before upgrading. FM dropped support of PostScript fonts, making layout design needlessly difficult. Fuzzy fonts, badly aligned text, etc., are a huge disappointment over the last version. Program is much slower than version 6.04. If I had it to do over again, I would not buy version 7.0. Extremely disappointed.  
(Version 7.0)

ANONYMOUS  This really makes me mad. Version 7, and this darned program refuses to improve.

It still feels like it has been ported from Windows. The icons make me feel I am working with a MS-Office program. Carbon-app means it will work cross-platform, but all the nice things that Cocoa brings will be missing.

ODBC support on Mac seems to be non-existent (at least, I couldn't figure it out), and a joke on Windows.

Cannot import Access db on Windows. Cannot even import a previous FP5 db with lots of different files into one consolidated db... you have to create each tables manually.

Absolutely pathetic SQL support. Goshdarn... I wouldn't be so upset if I didn't expect much more... or I didn't want it to be better.

Even the relationships builder is barely tolerable... well, actually, that is quite nice, but nothing compared to the work that XERD does (a 20 something kid wrote that app).

Seriously, for desktop databases, Macs continue to lag behind.  
(Version 7.0)

DATA  Filemaker and SQL: how far goes the integration? There are lots of news on my favourite news search engine http://www.macminer.com/index.cgi?u=Filemaker+SQL, but will it really work?

Data  
(Version 7.0)

ANONYMOUS  Doesn't appear to support scroll wheels.  
(Version 7.0)