FileMaker Pro

19.2.1.14

19.2.1.14

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This application is now Claris FileMaker Pro and has been version 19 since April 2020. You only need to upgrade every third year to retain upgrade pricing. I continue to do this because I haven't found another database that come closes to replacing it.

I think they meant to say FileMaker Pro 16 came out today. http://www.filemaker.com/products/whats-new.html

The seeming annual upgrade fee for Filemaker Pro Advanced is remarkably expensive at $349 per user. I would mind less if there were more extensive feature improvements. But as it is, features such as detecting script errors should have been made integral to FMP long ago. In today's world, FMP is in many respects an aging platform. The big question is whether Apple actually has any meaningful plans for the platform, or not. We could sure use a good ad hoc custom database creation environment, for smaller entities, Filemaker's original role. It would be nice if Apple would help to move FMP beyond its legacy constraints to something far more meaningful in this modern age. Apple bought the leading edge FoundationDB in 2015 ... what's happened to that technology within the overall Apple product family?

@MacUpdate: FileMaker 15 has been out for several months.

Great software. Easy to use and very helpful.
Solution can be used on windows, mac, iPad, iPhone and web browser.

One think could be better: licensing
Renting software is avalible only for 5 and more users.

Testing the GetNthRecord function and Data Viewer security bugs, I see that FileMaker, Inc. has not been able to fix these in FileMaker Pro 13.0v9.

For people wondering what these bugs are:

(i) GetNthRecord function bug
1. Open up FileMaker Pro 13.0v9.
2. Create a New Database.
3. Create a new table.
4. Create two fields called Start and Field in the table you have created.
5. Make Start a global number field.
6. Make Field a calculation field, and enter the following calculation: If ( Get (RecordNumber) > 1; GetNthRecord ( Field ; Get (RecordNumber) - 1 ) + Start; test::Start )
7. Place Start and Field on the layout.
8. Choose List View.
9. Enter the number 1 in Start.
10. Press the Command N keys to create a new record. Keep pressing until you reach record number 157.

Here you will notice the infamous "?" appearing in the calculation field for all records from 157 onwards. Everything before record number 157, Field calculates correctly. After record number 157, FileMaker Pro 13.0v9 goes belly up and can't perform the calculation properly. Certainly a bugger if you are trying to do any kind of serious financial work where you need to grab numerical data from the previous record and perform calculations in the current record. There are workarounds, but all are messy and usually requires an extra script to be run automatically by some means and to create an extra variable field. A pain in the ass if you ask me.

(ii) The Data Viewer bug
Please note that you must have FileMaker Pro Advanced 13.0v9 to see this bug.

1. Launch FileMaker Pro Advanced 13.0v9.
2. Open any password-protected FileMaker Pro database. Do not enter the Admin password. Any other password (or no password if the database automatically enters a default account username and password) account is fine.
3. Since you are technically not able to peek at the tables, fields and the contents of those fields because of your non-admin account, try selecting Tools-->Data Viewer.
4. Click the Watch tab.
5. Click the "Add Expression "+" button.

Viola! You can now look at all the fields in any table. Heck, you might as well not bother putting in an Admin password on the database since technically you already are in the admin account of the database now that you can peek at anything you want. So why not recreate the tables and fields you see in a new database? And with a little common sense and looking at the type of data stored in the fields, you can even figure out how to link the tables to form the relationships. Not hard is it? So yes, it is true. You can reverse engineer any FileMaker Pro database. Even if you are not inclined to steal other people's intellectual property, nothing can stop you from peeking at the contents of every field, so no data can be hidden or made absolutely secure (you will now have to use variable fields and hope no one can figure out the name of the variable fields, which incidentally you can also monitor using the Data Viewer). The data is all exposed for the world to see. Good one FileMaker! So just imagine how easy you can figure out any database created with FileMaker Pro? Very easy. hence the reason why Apple prefers you to use your custom-made databases for personal use or within an organisation. Never attempt to sell the databases commercially (even those you make into Runtime solutions) to consumers where you could potentially compete woth Apple's own OS X free apps (e.g., contacts.app, iTunes.app, etc). Should anyone be surprised from a company like Apple?

NOTE: This Data Viewer bug never existed in FileMaker Pro Advanced 10 or earlier.

NOTE: FileMaker, Inc. have been notified of these bugs for more than 2 years by several developers. The question is, how long will it take for the company to finally quash these bugs? There is already a bet on at the moment that the company probably never will.

Despite this, I still give FileMaker Pro 13.0v9 a generous 3 stars for at least finding the time to make the software more stable after version 13.0v5.

Now if only those two bugs could be fixed....

Something worth noting for would be FileMaker users and experienced alike: If you intend to store and manipulate financial data or anything that requires the use of the GetNthRecord function in a field for displaying numbers or text from the previous record in a list of records, you will notice after the 79th record how the function turns up its toes and decides to show a "?" (would have been amusing if the application showed WTF before the question mark). This anomaly does not exist in FileMaker Pro 12.0 or earlier, but did exist in FileMaker Go 11 or 12 version before it was fixed in FileMaker Go 13. Since porting a number of features from the Go package into FileMaker Pro 13, it seems FileMaker, Inc. has kind of overlooked the error. FileMaker Pro has been notified in writing to a customer service representative (name withheld for privacy reasons), but whether the email actually reached the software development division of the company is another question altogether. Since sending it in January 2014, the updates for FileMaker Pro 13 have not yet addressed the issue (yawn!). There are also other issues, including unexpected quits of the application on startup and while assigning scripts to lots of buttons and other things (hoopefully not too bad for other FileMaker users). This is another one I've had the pleasure of sending to FileMaker, Inc. Still getting someone to check FileMaker Pro 13.0.3 to see if the crashes are still prominent. Although I don't believe in superstition, but given the more bugs I have noticed with version 13 compared to any previous version, one can't help wonder whether FileMaker Pro 13 is unlucky for the wrong reasons. Perhaps FileMaker Pro 14 would be the better way to go when it eventually comes out (Zzzzz....). The rating I show here is rather generous only because the features provided are reasonable (but still hoping for more if only Apple isn't so protective about its own contacts.app, iTunes.app etc in OSX and the possibility that some FileMaker Pro developers might provide alternative contacts, MP3 player and other solutions at a very low cost or free...)

Requirements is 10.7 (sadly)

Filemaker started out as an affordable, well designed database on the Mac. Filemaker Pro is now fairly well designed, much more powerful, but no longer affordable for personal use. Filemaker killed Bento and left no good alternatives, and an cross-grade price that is too expensive for the majority of Bento users. I've always found Filemaker to be a bit arrogant in dealing with customers, and I've kept up on their new versions enough to see that they offer a little, buy always cost a lot. Too bad their is no Filemaker personal version or something priced to the individual user as it was in its roots. Not all Filemaker users are bigger businesses, but you'd never know it. They act sort of like the Microsoft of Mac databases.

Since Apple/Filemaker have chosen to abandon Bento (why, I wish I knew??), I have been forced to buy Filemaker. Having worked with it for a week or so now I have to say that despite the large price difference between the two, I find Bento to be far and away more stable. While working with FM I'm finding that I get the spinning beach ball on a frustratingly regular basis while working. While FM may have more under the hood I preferred working with Bento. Another there is no upgrade pricing from Bento to FM. If you're looking for a Bento substitute, don't leap straight into FM.

Dear Apple, Is Filemaker Pro effectively dead, or merely in drawn out retirement? When will the core OSX application be brought up to date, so that we can realize its tremendous potential? While iOS is important to us all, many of us still spend most of our working lives using computers - not iPhones, iPods and iPads - to do our real work. We live and breath in an eco-system in which the Macintosh (or PC) remains at the center. That PC sales are declining reflects not the declining absolute importance of the PC. Rather it reflects a market saturated with powerful devices that readily outpace the needs of the software that generally runs on them: ie, hardware innovation outpaces commercial software innovation by a country mile. Could Filemaker be a much better, more effective product? Sure it could, with a little bit of imagination and investment. Would I pay for it: yes, no doubt. Would others do the same: I have no clue ... (everyone wants software for free these days or at nominal prices) There in lies the problem I suppose ... I do hope Apple does move Filemaker's development along ... unfortunately there are no real alternative products to replace it. Well perhaps 4D? Kind regards ... - a 30-year Mac veteran

tried installing the 11.0v2 update on 2 difference machines so far. both would get nearly 98% done with the install and then fail saying a valid copy of Filemaker v11 could not be found. both had valid copies of Filemaker 11.0v1. the bunk installs don't seem to have 'ruined' the existing install. but i am not ever able to get the actual update.

Within minutes I am stymied and repelled by conventions which seem quite unlike any other OS X app: Can't undo most actions. Can't select text from a list, like a spreadsheet. I just want to be able to do this occasionally. Can't seem to format a column, just one item at a time! Pop-ups in a form don't work like in OS X - it's like a clumsy webpage. Lists are just ugly. Form design looks ugly, as it did 6 years ago. There's an image field but I can't drag an image to it. etc... I know I shouldn't pass judgement in minutes but every year I try to get into Filemaker. I owned, used and largely disliked v7 or 8 for a while. I'd just like an easy to use database with a few decent reporting features. Why can't they make an app with the ease and style of Bento and some of the features of Filemaker?

This company seems to be copping a lot of flack for their pricing, but I actually think $299 is pretty reasonable. I've only been testing it for a couple of weeks but am pretty impressed so far by its speed, stability, and feature set. If you're considering spending $49 on Bento, I'd strongly advise against wasting your money on a rubbish product. If possible, you'd be better to stretch your budget and get a proper robust database with great data transforming and import/export features. Filemaker even comes with templates for things like CD and movie libraries. For me, Filemaker seems to fill a need left vacant by spreadsheet software like Excel, and the even more limited Numbers. It seems there were download and registration problems early, so maybe they underestimated the popularity of the trial. A 30 day unrestricted trial gives you plenty of time to asses it also.

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.

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

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.

What are the options? I really would like to know...

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.

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.

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!!!

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

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.