FileMaker 12 is a database development tool, allowing users to create custom database apps for iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac and the web – this time round the company has made touchscreen devices, particularly iPads and iPhones a key part of its development.
"Everyone wants a great database, but not everyone is a great designer. Let FileMaker 12 handle the design and you’ll create dazzling databases that are incredibly easy to use, on iPad, iPhone, desktop and the web," said Ryan Rosenberg, marketing vice president at FileMaker.
While Tony Speakman, FileMaker’s Director for Northern Regions maintains that the new software is platform agnostic, it certainly has seen some tinkering to favour tablet usage – unsurprising given it is a subsidiary of Apple – so much so, that the software features prominently in Apple’s TV ads for the iPad.
Taking a leaf from the Apple design page, a key focus has been to make the process as simple as possible not only for the end user, but for the administrator.
FileMaker basically operates as an additional layer over existing IT systems from which the software offer ‘push updates’. This means workers on the shop floor will be able to carry iPads that update wirelessly on the go – ideal for conference centres and the like where floor plans can change day to day. Workers will no longer need to keep reporting back to the main office after each shift to update their workplans.
At the very least, it ensures that everyone in the workforce is working from the same page; workers in several offices can be collaborating on the same document, simultaneously – in real time – rather than, say, being locked out of an Excel spreadsheet as users of other systems experience.
CBR was previewed a final version of the software, and as well as using a more WYSIWYG interface that allows database designers to stretch and insert boxes with Indesign-like ease, it also caters to those with a little less know-how, offering a new set of 40 templates which allow users to build databases from scratch or ‘one-click’ apply them to existing databases.
Users can rely entirely on the included themes, or can customise every detail with new design tools such as gradients, image slicing, dynamic alignment guides, and configurable grids.
FileMaker has included special ‘touch’ based themes are tailored for iPad and iPhone with fonts, colours, buttons and other iOS design elements that suit those devices.
This includes new quick charts to create graphs and reports on the fly. Items such as video, images and PDFs can also be manipulated as part of the ‘drag and drop’ interface – with options to house the images inhouse, in the cloud and even send them straight to he device.
Despite this overwhelming Apple-isation of the new FileMaker software, developer Kieran Saunders maintains that they had no early access to the new iPad 3, or any kind of insider knowledge of its specs. As such, FileMaker will be releasing a fonts and interface patch shortly to better utilise the iPad 3’s new hi res screen. Until then the software will operate as if on an iPad 2. [update: FileMaker has confirmed to CBR that this is now available]
