FileMaker Pro is the tool you use to create a custom app. You also use FileMaker Pro to access your app on a computer. Start by importing data from a spreadsheet or using a built-in Starter app to manage contacts, inventory, meetings, and more. Or even quickly build a new app from the beginning
FileMaker Pro includes a set of advanced tools to help you design and develop custom apps faster and easier. Plus, you’ll get robust analysis capabilities, powerful diagnostic tools, and much more
Features:
- Start quickly - Create precisely the app you want using the intuitive graphical interface, flexible design tools, built-in Starter apps, and ready-to-use themes
- Import existing data - Bring your existing data into a FileMaker app. Import data types such as .CSV, Tab, XML, ODBC, and Microsoft Excel files
- Built-in reporting tools - Easily make summary reports, colorful charts, and executive dashboards using built-in reporting and charting tools. Save your information in popular Excel and PDF formats
- Out-of-the-box security - Centralize your information and safely access data using proven encryption standards. Manage group or individual user privileges - even for a single field
- Share with your team - Create custom apps that work together seamlessly across iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and the web. Securely share your app with others using FileMaker Cloud or FileMaker Server. Learn more
- Integrate with other programs - Connect with other popular apps and web services through powerful REST APIs. And create live, 2-way connections with Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and IBM DB2 data sources
Advanced features:
- Script Debugger - Instantly pinpoint problem areas in scripts and Script Triggers directly in the Script Workspace. Turn off Script Triggers when debugging to fine tune the troubleshooting process.
- Data Viewer - Monitor fields, variables, and calculations while troubleshooting.
- Database Encryption - Enable AES 256-bit encryption to protect data on FileMaker Cloud, FileMaker Server, or on a FileMaker client.
- Custom Menus - Create, change, or delete specific menu items or entire menu sets.
- Custom Functions - Build your own functions and copy, paste, or import them into any FileMaker file.
- Database Design Report - Run comprehensive reports on all elements of your database schema.
- Kiosk mode - Build applications where all menus are hidden.
Note: The price is based off of a yearly subscription. More information here
How would you rate FileMaker Pro app?
77 Reviews of FileMaker Pro
Most helpful
Be aware.
I have repeated crashes under APFS but not HFS+ when compacting a large database (>5GB). This invariable crashes the app, macOS High Sierra. And, ultimately, the disk is not useable - the 1TB SSD must be reformatted from scratch.
Thus I have transitioned back to HFS+ for the time being, with not one hiccup.
All is fine.
For the uninitiated, the transition to an altogether new file system (APFS) is a very big deal technically. Presently developers have little experience and almost no technical documentation to go with. And it will take time for Apple to both identify and iron out what will be inevitable technical hiccups.
APFS is a very sophisticated file system that must track far more than does HFS+. I suspect that monolothic disk intensive apps, such as Filemaker Pro, are best left to HFS+ for the time being.
Incidentally, I run an iMac ( i7 @4GHZ and 32GB RAM ), and fast 1TB boot disks, along with several external hard disks.
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.
Compared to today's open source solutions Filemaker really is a snail with great limitations that you'll not be used to if you've developed large scale database applications before with the plethora of tools available.
There's a longer review in "Filemaker Advanced".
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....