Tips to Work with FileMaker Pro 13

As an efficient relational database application, FileMaker Pro is used by enterprises in cross-platform environments. FileMaker Pro 13 further comes with several new features to help programmers in creating a variety of custom business solutions for various devices. Along with new design, development and security features, the latest version of the relational database application also comes with several features to rapidly create applications for iPhone and iPad. However, it is important for new users to understand some tips and tricks to work with FileMaker Pro 13 more efficiently.

Tips for Designing Custom Solutions in FileMaker Pro 13

Understand Different Ways to Create a File

FileMaker Pro allows you to create databases in a number of ways. You can create a new file from the scratch or create a new file by importing data from another application. FileMaker allows you to import data stored as XML, Microsoft Excel and Tab-Separated Text (.tab or .txt). Likewise, you also have option to convert an older version of FileMaker Pro file. Also, you can create the file using Starter Solutions (templates). When you understand different ways to create a new file, it will be easier for you to decide the most appropriate method for creating a new file.

Use Field Picker to Define Database Fields

After crating the new database, you can use the Field Picker dialog box to define the fields in simple and quick way. The dialog box can also be used for adding or changing fields for an existing layout. Once you define the fields using Field Picker, they will be added to the Manage Database dialog box. However, you use the Field Picker to define fields for the current layout of the current table in FileMaker Pro. The dialog box will allow you to decide the field configuration through options like labels and field placement.

Use Field Picker to Control Fields

In addition to creating new fields, the Field Picker dialog box can also be used for deleting and modifying existing fields. While in Layout Mode you can always access the dialog box by clicking on the "Field Picker" button displayed in the status toolbar. After selecting one or more fields, you can simply right-click or control-click on them and select the Delete Field option. Likewise, you can choose the field type by choosing the new field type from the list. You can further choose the Field Options after right-clicking on the specific theme.

Use Themes to Make the Database Solution Look Professional

FileMaker Pro 13 allows you to use themes to provide professional look to the business solution. As a collection of coordinated styles, a theme allows you to easily define various attributes of the layout including color, font, background, parts and objects. You can further use the theme to provide a consistent look to both layouts and reports. The theme can be further changed for a layout in the Layout mode. You also have option to save the theme in a new name after incorporating desired changes. You must know how to use and manipulate themes to make your application look more professional.

Keep the Layout and Navigation Simple

Along with making the layout look professional, it is also important to keep it simple. You must make it a practice to avoid adding additional fields and objects to the layout. Likewise, you need to remove the fields and layout objects that will be used by the users rarely. If it is required to use secondary fields and layout objects, you can consider removing them from the main layout. You can move the secondary fields to another layout, or separate them using tab panels or slide panels. While designing the solution, you must keep the navigation option simple and fast. The users must be able to navigate without putting any extra time and effort. Instead of using buttons, you can consider using icons to covey the information to users without labeling.

While creating custom business solutions using FileMaker Pro 13, the developers must not forget to avail styles, custom themes and layout enhancements. The new features will help them in improving the application’s look, feel and performance without writing longer lines of code while doing FileMaker development.

We provide FileMaker database development service. If you would like to hire Filemaker developers for your database development needs, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

How has Filemaker helped Streamline AEBs operations ?

The AEB (Alabama Eye Bank) has been serving people of corneal loss of vision find vision. Since the AEB being the only Eye Bank in Alabama, they are available round the clock. Tom Cattell, VP of Information Services at Alabama Eye Bank, has informed that FileMaker enables a programmer or savvy end-user in order to get database apps functioning within a quick time. He said, a lot of his development requires automating workflows in accordance with paper or even Excel spreadsheets. These are usually small systems having a short amount of data. Therefore he is interested to get a FileMaker system which deals with a complex and also critical workflow. Alabama Eye Bank has got an application that records the development of the donated corneas. The program was explained in the FileMaker’s customer stories pages. Which explanation goes back a few years, and Tom was curious to learn about the present condition of the application. FileMaker is currently on version 13. Solutions developed in FileMaker Pro 12 also 13 could be implemented on MS windows, Macintoshes, or iPhone and iPad.

Although FileMaker 13 is the latest version of FileMaker, AEB is currently using FileMaker 12, because their audit log (FMDataGuard) which tracks converts to records and fields is of 32 bit therefore does not go with FM13. He work on FM13 for the development and also for the iPhone & iPad applications. He is working currently in changing to a different audit log so that they could get to the FileMaker 13 as soon as possible. They host FileMaker server on to a Windows 2008 virtualized server. All their clients are Mac and all of their servers are virtualized Windows servers and they are all on their local network. They have been using FileMaker ever since 1998 and made use of Macs even before that, therefore it was not a big deal to change over to FileMaker Go and begin with iPads and iPhones. At the time when Tom stated with Alabama Eye Bank in the year 2007, they had a smaller sized database produced in the FileMaker 6. His very first task was to upgrading them to FileMaker 9 that took three months time. Thereafter, they have more then double the databases and make use of that in almost all parts of their work. Their supply module that was produced around a year before had been mainly created with the local consultants, among whom developed the interface for their present databases.

The entire procedure starts when hospital contacts a death to their Donor Service Center (DSC). The Donor Service Center inputs the information into the Referrals tab of the database. When they get permission from a next of family member and they pass on their medical social queries, they mark the referral as the donor and then pass it to the Recovery Coordinator. They bring an iPad, downloads the donor information in it and then go to the hospital. In the hospital they enter many pages of chart info and carry out the procedure. On return they synchronize the data in the iPad to the AEB FileMaker server and then label on vials which store corneas with labels which print right after the data is uploaded. After that, the technical staff at AEB continues on the procedure in ensuring the corneas are safe and good in quality for the transplant. Then the hospital prepare them for the operations which are added in AEB FileMaker hosted page through surgery schedulers all over Alabama, the country and also around the globe. They dispatch digital statements via FileMaker and transfer the same data to the QuickBooks for AEB accounting.

FileMaker is additionally included in the Alabama Eye Bank’s HR's section. Which manages staff benefits, especially time off, vacations and also sick leaves. Along with FileMaker, Tom has generated several statements to help the management in order to keep a pulse for the eye bank’s regular operations.

You can get in touch with a custom filemaker development company who can help you develop database application within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide filemaker development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our filemaker certified developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Save Time and Money With a Customized FileMaker Pro Database System

FileMaker Pro, the cross-platform relational database application is particularly designed to connect to as well as use ODBC or Open Database Connectivity. It provides the users, the option of using the 'Execute SQL' script step. This helps in specification of an ODBC DSN (Database Source Name) and execution of any SQL statement that can be built with the help of FileMaker Pro features, including field data.

Frankly speaking, this is an ideal cross-platform RDBS application that helps businesses to store, manage, or update data through effective integration of a database engine with a GUI or Graphic User Interface. Thanks to all these interfaces, the users are able to keep the database regularly updated by simply dragging additional elements into screens, forms or layouts.

FileMaker Pro database can help users save time along with money in the following ways:

A Seamless Integration with the SQL Database:

As it is a cross-platform application that deals with relational database, FileMaker Pro can perform a wide range of SQL queries in a smooth way. Besides, the application can also be effectively used to synchronize various information that is stored on several data sources.

Depending upon the specific developments and requirements pertaining to testing, users can further link or redirect their ESS connections to different SQL databases. This particular feature helps the users in retrieving data from various data sources quickly as well as effectively!

It helps in easy and quick determination of users' needs

The database application is particularly effective in providing credible solutions for small business groups or departments. The application provides able support to personnel entering data, people who are in charge of turning out reports and last but not the least, the managers. The whole process becomes quicker as well. Hence, the app goes a long way in saving businesses, both time as well as money.

It offers a wide range of highly advanced solutions:

With the help of this particular database system, it has become easier to manage various resources, contents, projects and other critical business aspects. The professionally created designs further augment the pace of work and help update and maintain the databases. Users can also use scripting for easy download as well as for use of online contents straight away from a URL or link. This understandably increases the pace by many folds, thereby reducing the time frame significantly. With the reduction of time, the costs also are reduced to a considerable extent.

Helps generation of coercive reports:

With the help of FileMaker Pro Database System, a user is also able to create comprehensive as well as enticing reports. The Quick Charts option that the application comes up with, helps in this. Also, users are able to generate customized reports in a format that has similarity with spreadsheets. Value added features like pie charts, area, bar, line graphs can also be added. All these features help the users a lot, when it comes to making charts faster or integrating them with a set-up window.

It quickens the rate of Datbase update:

Besides being a cross-platform relational database application, it also helps by providing easier options of appending, editing or updating databases. The Starter solution that the application comes up with, makes it easier to manage resources, contents, projects and estimates. Also, all these operations can be conducted in hardly any time. Furthermore, the customized solutions help the developers while designing and developing highly powerful mobile and website applications, which are able to provide the latest and the most relevant contents as well as info to the users.

Truly, the application comes up with some stupendous features that help businesses drastically cut down expenses as well as time of various operations. This makes this application almost indispensable in a modern business fraternity.You can get in touch with a custom filemaker development company who can help you develop database application within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide filemaker development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our certified filemaker developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Online Businesses Boom With Custom FileMaker Solutions

Technology has taken a new turn, progressing at a faster pace. The latest developments in technology can be seen and felt in many industries, be it Healthcare, Communication, Business and Education. So much is happening in the world of the web these days, especially in terms of commercial activity at all levels, all industries are planning to get online and reach to millions of users through web.

Plenty of sites know that FileMaker is a software solution they can rely on to help them handle a wide range of tasks on their web site, but what many do not yet know is that a custom FileMaker solution is possible for them which can really help them integrate all sorts of valuable 3rd party services without doing development from scratch. FileMaker database development hence has picked up steam to create highly customizable cross-platform database solutions. Now that developers are rising to the top which truly understand all of the capabilities that FileMaker can bring to the table, much more efficient, sensible and powerful solutions are being developed which can greatly enhance any web site's ability to do business. It was developed by Apple in 1992 and since then serving millions of web users worldwide.

FileMaker with its custom work is of the highest value in this case because a business really does need its site to be in top form if they are going to present the customer with the easiest shopping experience that is required to earn sales online today. With new versions and releases FileMaker supports multitasking, improved media integration, export of data to multiple formats, enhanced container-fields and allows users to modify the database by dragging new elements into the layouts, screens or forms. With FileMaker design attractive and useful printed reports can be generated. FileMaker's new-layout wizard tries to make things easy, the layout design is too important to be done on automatic.

A wide variety of tasks can be handled well in FileMaker:

• Digital media data can be organized well, it can easily track tasks and projects, check inventory and much more.

• It provides 16 built-in Starter Solutions — professionally designed templates customized for your iPad, iPhone and desktop as well.

• Collect and organize documents, music, images, and more. Includes version history tracking for content management system.

• Managing inventory levels of products and supplies. Track category, value, last order date and more.

• It generates customized invoices, allowing users to record, manage and print neat invoices with customer details etc.

• The FileMaker user interface makes it so that these smaller business users, with little to no financial resources, can start a database of their own without having to invest too much money or effort.

• Creating dynamic charts of your FileMaker data are now easier than ever. 
  
  
• It is user friendly and all kinds of users will love to use FileMaker.

• FileMaker to offer its mobile solution for free in the Apple iTunes Store. Customers and developers can now more easily test and deploy mobile database solutions.

• Brings new features making your mobile solution more versatile and powerful: users can now record video and audio directly into container fields and export data. New location functions now allow developers to rapidly create location-aware mobile database applications.

• This function is context independent, so data can be queried regardless of what layout/table occurrence you are in.
  
  
• This level of outsourcing can do a great deal for a business venture that is very much attuned to the profit potential of excellent custom software solutions.
  
  

FileMaker is an excellent choice for all kinds of organizations which deal with a perfect complement of features and power. It delivers the ability to automatically update and deploy plug-ins to clients across the network. This high-performance relational database engine accelerates FileMaker operations over a network both by increasing the speed of database operations and by allowing up to 250 simultaneous guests per server-while hosting up to 125 database files.These capabilities make it an excellent choice for departments and workgroups in any size business.

We provide filemaker development services. If you would like to know what makes us expert filemaker developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.