Tag: FileMaker Go »

For those of you who have, need, or are interested in databases, Filemaker Pro is the most complete database software offered on the Mac platform (it's also on the PC but I'm not familiar enough with thePC version to make any claims). Compared to other database software platforms, it is fairly easy to use, and more importantly, easy to keep up with. It isn't as easy to use as Filemaker's other software, Bento, but if you are building a large, complex database, it's far and away the best choice.

Filemaker Go is the mobile platform for Filemaker Pro. It allows users to view, edit, and search Filemaker Pro records that are either on the server, or loaded directly to your iDevice via iTunes file sharing.

The new version, version 1.1, lets users do three critical things that the previous version didn't allow:

1. Filemaker Go can now produce PDF's from within the app. "This feature lets mobile users easily save and distribute reports, create invoices, and share project status directly from their iPad or iPhone."


2. The new update now lets you insert photos that were taken with, or are stored in, your iDevice. Photos stored in the Filemaker database can also be emailed out to others.


3. Other file types within your database, such as the database itself, can be emailed directly from Filemaker Go

“FileMaker Go for iPhone and FileMaker Go for iPad have stirred up huge excitement in the FileMaker community and beyond. Initial acceptance has been strong and this is just the beginning,” said Ryan Rosenberg, vice president of marketing and services for FileMaker, Inc. “With these free updates, we are already making both apps even more powerful and adding new ways to share information remotely.”

Users of the popular database application FileMaker now have a new way to access important information while away from the office. The freshly launched FileMaker Go app for iPhone and iPad allows businesses and individuals to connect to, view and update a database using a local wireless network or via a Wi-Fi or 3G internet connection.

Databases shown in FileMaker Go are largely identical to their desktop equivalents, with any changes made via the app instantly written to the server. Available on PCs and Macs, a FileMaker database still needs to be created on the desktop but this new application will offer a greater degree of flexibility to users, especially those with remote sales teams. FileMaker databases can also be accessed via email, file sharing services like Dropbox and Box.net and can also be downloaded from the web and launched in FileMaker Go. Databases can also be added via iTunes file sharing on both iPhone and iPad.

As an extension to the existing FileMaker product you would perhaps expect FileMaker Go to be a free application, but the company has other ideas and is likely recouping development costs with a $19.99 price tag for the iPhone version and a hefty $39.99 for the iPad. Of course, the product is primarily aimed at business users who will likely foot the bill for the improved functionality offered. For the consumer, FileMaker also offers Bento for Mac, iPhone and iPad which is probably the best bet for non-business users.