Create databases and manage files and operations in the suite with several additional features. The program includes contact lists maintenance, inventory, and invoicing organization, runs estimates and generates expense reports, etc. CSV, Tab, XML, ODBC, and XLS file formats are supported.
FileMaker Pro Advanced is intended to design database applications. In this regard, the tool lets you develop custom apps that address your specific needs, both at home and for business. The tool may require some practice and study before you feel absolutely comfortable and use all the available features. Fortunately, there is a myriad of online learning resources, such as guides and tutorials.
You can start a new app from scratch, but, before you do that, it is a good idea to see if any of the available templates suits your needs. In this respect, there are built-in database templates for managing data related to assets, contacts, content management, inventory, meeting and tasks, and luckily you can find more on the developer’s site. Another possibility is to import data from external files in such formats as CSV, TAB, XMLS, ODBC, XLS and XLSX.
Once you have finished the initial app setup part, you can start customizing its interface. Luckily, this is done in a WYSIWYG style, with the possibility of resizing and moving objects or adding new ones.
An important part of using a database is generating reports. Luckily, FileMaker Pro Advanced comes with various reporting and charting tools that provide access to organized and condensed data in convenient layouts. It is also good that the reports can be saved in such widely used formats as Excel and PDF.
There is a hidden power in the tool, which comes from creating your own code. You can write your own functions to personalize your apps a little further. Luckily, there is a script debugger to find problems and clean your code. Regretfully, it does not support code refactoring and source control.
One of the best features of FileMaker Pro Advanced is that it lets you share databases on the Internet. In this respect, you can protect your data by assigning different access levels to the users. Since sharing also implies transferring data over the network, it is good news that the tool uses a strong encryption algorithm, like AES 256-bit.
In general, FileMaker Pro Advanced comes in handy for a wide array of uses. For instance, you can keep a record of your expenses as well as create a media catalog at home. In a professional context, it can satisfy diverse necessities ranging from bookkeeping to personnel management. The product is shareware and can be tried at no cost: an opportunity you should not miss. However, I should alert you that the price is possibly too high if you intend to use it for common tasks.
v18.0
New user interface for importing data
More easily map imported source data to FileMaker fields using the new Import Field Mapping dialog box.
Open specific app at launch
Provide better app discoverability for your users. Open a specific custom app when opening FileMaker Pro Advanced.
File version comparison
Use a preview release script step to save a copy of a FileMaker file in XML format. Use the XML file to more easily compare changes between file versions.
File-based script steps
Create scripts that read, write, and manage external data files to write log files or export data in a custom format.
Script Error Logging
More easily debug your workflow automation. Use a preview script step to write information about script errors to a log file.
While calculation function
Repeats logic while the condition is true, then returns the result; replacing the need for some recursive custom functions.
SetRecursion calculation function
Sets the maximum number of iterations for recursion and loops within an expression. The default limit is 50,000 iterations, which can be lowered or raised using this function.
New managed security access
New privilege allows developers to offload account access management to other team members without needing to provide full access to any other parts of the file.
New Manage Security dialog box
The streamlined Manage Security dialog box makes managing access to your custom apps more efficient.
Plug-in security enhancements
Using the Plug-in SDK, developers can digitally sign plug-ins. Notifications warn users before loading an unsigned plug-in.
Default file access protection
Prevent other FileMaker files from accessing the data and schema in your custom app. The "Require full access privileges to use references to this file" is now enabled by default in newly created files.
This is a tool to create, design and edit database files compatible with SQLite.
