Software Update: FileMaker / FileMaker Server 11.0

FileMaker is a database program that originated in the years 1982 and 1983 when it was developed for the dos platform under the name Nutshell. With the introduction of the first Macintosh in 1985, the program was renamed FileMaker and provided with a form-based gui. After several versions, the first version of FileMaker appeared in late 1992 that could work on both Macintosh and Windows, allowing the same data to be consulted on both platforms. In the years since, they have worked hard on further improvements to FileMaker, such as extending the maximum database size to 8TB, a tabbed interface, tooltips and Named Layout Objects.

FileMaker can already exchange data with other FileMaker installations by default, but FileMaker Server was developed for improved availability, security, and performance. This program makes it easier to have the databases available 24/7 and provides, among other things, scheduled automatic backups. For more information, we refer you to this page, while on this page various manuals and videos can be viewed.

The developers have released a new version of both FileMaker and FileMaker Server with 11.0 as the version number. The changes for both releases are as follows:

What’s new or improved in FileMaker Server 11?

Maintain and monitor databases with ease

• Enhanced Statistics View
  Get detailed visibility into every FileMaker Pro client on the server to help diagnose potential issues.
• Backup File Clone
  Save an empty version of your database to help preserve the schema and architecture of your file while troubleshooting your database.
• Save or Load Schedules
  Automatically save and load your server schedules when migrating to new hardware. No need to rebuild manually.

Get more flexibility with scripting improvements

• Specify User Accounts
  Get the access privileges you need by selecting a specific user account to run system-level scripts.
• Script Time Limits
  Set optional time limits for script schedules to keep your databases running more efficiently.

What’s changed or improved in FileMaker Pro 11?

Improved reporting and analysis

• FileMaker charts– Compare and contrast data graphically in bar, line, area, and pie charts using an integrated charting tool.
• Layout folders– Create folders to group layouts; rename, duplicate, and delete layouts; and choose to display layouts and folders in the Layout pop-up menu—all in the Manage Layouts dialog box.
• Default layout view– Set the default view (Form, List, Table) that you want to appear when you first open a layout.
• Enhanced New Layout/Report assistant– The assistant now offers a more streamlined approach for grouping data and creating summary reports.

Integration with other applications and data sources

• Recurring import– Automatically import data from Microsoft Excel or other data sources, such as Tab and CSV, into FileMaker Pro 11. Updates in the source file are reflected in the FileMaker Pro table.
• Enhanced support for Bento data import (Mac OS) – Import Bento date and timestamp formats into FileMaker Pro and then reformat the data as a FileMaker Pro date or timestamp. You can also import encrypted and simple list fields from a Bento data source.
• Instant Web Publishing– Databases published on the web through Instant Web Publishing include a status toolbar similar to the one you use when you work with databases in FileMaker Pro. FileMaker charts can be published using Instant Web Publishing.

Improved usability

• Work with data in a spreadsheet-like format– You can add fields and records in Table View using a familiar, spreadsheet-like format. sort, delete, and hide fields; change a field’s data type; and set field options. You can also create a grouped report by adding a leading or trailing group by field—all from Table View.
• Quick find– You can search across all the fields on a layout in Browse mode.
• Inspector– Most editing tasks that you do in Layout mode can be done with the Inspector, which allows you to view and modify object settings in one convenient place.
• Portal filtering – Add a filter to a portal to specify the related records that are shown in a portal.
• Clear recent files– Clear the names of files you recently opened using the Clear Recent Files command in the File menu.
• Snapshot link – Capture and preserve a found set of record IDs—including the layout, view, and sort order—exactly as it was when you performed the original find request, and email it to another person.
• Text highlight– You can apply a highlight to easily identify key text in your layouts.
• Enhanced Quick Start Screen– Use the Quick Start Screen to quickly create, convert, open, and manage local, remote, and favorite files. You can also access tutorials and other helpful resources, such as the FileMaker Forum.

Application fundamentals

• Refined security– As part of your overall security plan, you can control whether other FileMaker Pro files are permitted to access the schema (including the tables, layouts, scripts, and value lists) in a file in your secured solution, and prevent versions of FileMaker Pro earlier than version 11 from opening that file.
• Use variables in scripted find requests – You can include local and global variables in scripted find requests that you create or edit.
• Merge variables on layouts – Create a merge variable that displays values ​​from local or global variables. You can use merge variables for some tasks in place of global fields or unstored calculation fields.
• TLS support for sending mail via SMTP – When you send email via SMTP, you can choose TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption to allow both secure and nonsecure connections over the same port.

Script steps, script triggers, and functions

• Script selection and editing improvements:
  • The Specify Script dialog box has buttons that allow you to add, edit, duplicate, and delete scripts.
  • In Windows, you can move the scripting windows outside the FileMaker Pro application window. Menus inside these scripting windows allow you to manage and edit your scripts.
• Origination information – In Help, each script step, script trigger, and function description includes the version of FileMaker Pro in which it was created.
• Open Manage Layouts script step– Displays the Manage Layouts dialog box.
• Perform Quick Find script step – Finds records that match one or more search words based on text that you specify or on text returned by a calculation function.
• Save Records As Snapshot Link script step– Saves a set of found records to a FileMaker Pro Snapshot Link (FPSL) file.
• OnLayoutExit script trigger – Triggers a script to run before a layout is exited.
• OnObjectValidate script trigger– Triggers a script to run before an active object has been validated and saved.
• OnViewChange script trigger– Triggers a script to run when the view (Form, List, Table) has changed.
• Get(AccountPrivilegeSetName) function– Returns the name of the privilege set that is being used by the account used to open the database.
• Get(AccountExtendedPrivileges) function – Returns a list of keywords for the enabled extended privileges, separated by carriage returns.The list that is returned is based on the account used to open the database file.
• Get(QuickFindText) function – Returns the text that the user enters in the Quick Find box.
• The following function and script trigger names have been changed:
  • Get(PrivilegeSetName) function is now Get(CurrentPrivilegeSetName)
  • Get(ExtendedPrivileges) function is now Get(CurrentExtendedPrivileges)
  • Get(PortalRowNumber) function is now Get(ActivePortalRowNumber)
  • OnLayoutLoad script trigger is now OnLayoutEnter

changed features

• Enhanced user interface (Mac OS)– The appearance and behavior of Mac OS dialog boxes have changed in order to better reflect Mac OS X standards.
• “Available menu commands” setting in default privilege set– To further refine security, the setting for “Available menu commands” in the default privilege set (which you use when creating a new privilege set) is now Minimum.

FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced

• Custom menu user interface improvements– The user interface has been enhanced in order to make creating and managing custom menus and custom menu sets easier and more intuitive.
• Custom function copy/paste/import– You can copy, paste, and import custom functions in the custom functions list; and copy, paste, and import custom functions between files.
• Enhanced Script Debugger– Debug scripts called by buttons and custom menu items.