For advanced FileMaker users and developers, FileMaker Pro 11 delivers many new features for creating professional solutions in record time.

Also available today with new features is the entire FileMaker 11 product line, which includes FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced, FileMaker Server 11 and FileMaker Server 11.

“FileMaker Pro 11 is designed for solving real-world business problems, such as the need for interpreting business data,” said Ryan Rosenberg, vice president, marketing and services, FileMaker, Inc. “With easy-to-use integrated charting, we bring dynamic visual reporting to FileMaker Pro 11 users. We also provide new tools to boost all users’ productivity, helping novice and expert users alike build, share and publish better databases.”

FileMaker Charts and Reports

FileMaker Pro 11 offers a selection of dynamic professional-quality charts (pie, bar, area, and line), empowering users to visualize, evaluate and report on data within a new or existing layout. For example, users can add a pie chart tab within a FileMaker Pro layout to see their sales depicted graphically any way they chose – weekly, monthly, regionally and more.   FileMaker Charts can also be published to the web using FileMaker Pro Instant Web Publishing. FileMaker Pro 11 users can now easily create “on the fly” Quick Reports in a familiar spreadsheet-like format to easily set up subtotals and totals similar to pivot tables in spreadsheets. A new streamlined Layout/Report Assistant guides users through the process of setting up reports with grouped data.

Easier ways to build and use databases

FileMaker Pro 11 provides a variety of new tools to help boost productivity and enable users to build and use databases more easily. New FileMaker Pro 11 productivity features include:

• Innovative Quick Find with iTunes style that searches across all fields within a layout
• Inspector, a master tool palette that controls layout objects and properties in one convenient place
• Object Badges to visually identify scripted fields in layouts with color-coded icons
• A new Invoices Starter Solution, one of more than 30 built-in solutions, designed to track product and customer details and create, manage and print customized invoices for every order
• An improved Quick Start Screen to help users create new databases, manage favorite files and find helpful resources
• Text highlighting to emphasize key words or numbers in fields

For more experienced database developers, FileMaker Pro 11 offers script creation and editing enhancements, portal filtering that specifies related records based on calculations and layout folders that help organize layouts in folders via a simple drag-and-drop operation.

New ways to collaborate

FileMaker Pro 11 also delivers innovative new ways to collaborate with its unique Snapshot Link that flags a specific set of records at a point in time, preserving the same layout, view and sort order. Any changes made to the file are automatically updated in the database. The Snapshot Link file can be emailed to anyone who has FileMaker Pro 11 for easy collaboration. FileMaker Pro 11also introduces Recurring Import, a new feature that allows users to establish an automatic import from Excel, CSV or TAB, the perfect solution for insuring that data is always accurate within a FileMaker record.

FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced delivers greater customization and more

The new FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced, which offers all of the features of FileMaker Pro 11 plus a suite of advanced development and customization tools, provides a new streamlined, intuitive interface for creating customized menus; the ability to copy, paste and import custom functions into databases without having to re-key information; and an Improved Script Debugger that lets users debug scripts attached to buttons and Custom Menus along with all the scripts on a layout.

New FileMaker Server 11 products give new insights into workgroup databases

New in FileMaker Server 11 is an Enhanced Statistics View that provides detailed visibility into FileMaker Pro clients to help diagnose potential issues. The new Backup File Clone allows administrators to save an empty version of any database to help preserve the schema and architecture of a file while troubleshooting.
FileMaker Server 11 Advanced no longer limits the number of users that can simultaneously access files over the network and allows managers to securely assign access privileges to groups of users.

Pricing and availability

All FileMaker 11 products are immediately available. FileMaker Pro 11 is $299 /$179 upgrade (U.S. suggested list price) and FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced is $499/$299 upgrade (U.S. suggested list price). FileMaker Server 11 is $999/$599 upgrade (U.S. suggested list price) and FileMaker Server 11 Advanced is $2,999/$1,799 upgrade (U.S. suggested list price).

For a limited time, FileMaker extends upgrade pricing to licensed users of FileMaker 8 and 8.5 products. This offer expires Sept. 23, 2010.

The FileMaker Developer Conference has long been the one “can’t miss” gathering for the worldwide FileMaker community. It provides developers with creative solutions, technical ideas, a wide array of fun events and lots of inspiration to tackle new database challenges. For many, the FileMaker Developer Conference is a perfect venue for fine-tuning current skills, and developing new ones.

“The formal and informal exchange found at DevCon is priceless,” said Ryan Rosenberg, vice president, marketing and services, FileMaker, Inc. “DevCon is the perfect place to get ideas and learn new skills to become a better FileMaker developer.”

At this year’s conference, attendees will have the opportunity to attend in-depth workshops and seminars led by FileMaker experts, network with other developers and talk with exhibitors about their products. The conference will also feature the popular under-the-hood sessions, as well as the chance to sync up with FileMaker engineers, product managers and technical support team members.

FileMaker 2010 Developers Conference

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“When you’ve been around for as long as the Mac, it’s hard to keep things fresh. But FileMaker looks to have succeeded with the latest version of its flagship database application.”

Macworld Expo Best of Show 2009

The most obvious new feature is the new interface. The status area has moved from the left side of the window to the top of the window. It seems to be clearer up there and makes information like the layout name and the layout base table (!!) readable without having to click on anything. 

My favorite feature and the feature that you should immediately take advantage of is the automated script triggers. Script Triggers in FileMaker Pro 10 allow you to automatically run scripts based on user actions like clicking a button, entering a field, or inputting data.  A common use for a script trigger would be when exiting a google-like search field. The user would enter the text they want to search for in the field, hit the enter button to exit the field and the search would automatically run. In the past a user would have to enter the text then click on the search button with their mouse. A total drag! 

FileMaker’s new save search request feature allows you to save a set of find requests and then perform them later in a single click. This is great for when you are doing complex searches or using operators in your searches. Definitely a time saver.

Some highlights (from earlier 2.x releases):

• Added support for Windows Vista, which does not have a default Documents and Settings path
• SuperContainer can now handle files larger than 2 GB (affects plugin & server)
• Transparent PNG, GIF source files generate transparent thumbnails (except when viewed as JPGs in IWP)
• Added a user-friendly dialog if user doesn’t trust the applet, instead of throwing Java errors

We recommend anyone using version 2 of SuperContainer to download and install the current version:
Click here

Fellow Portland FileMaker developer Matt Navarre got some good buzz for his session on the ultimate FileMaker Find.

Our Northwest neighbor, John Sindelar of SeedCode, gave an eye-popping Year in Review session, showcasing some of the best techniques for FileMaker development and design.

The “Under the Hood” Q & A session with the FileMaker engineers is always valuable, as well as the sneak peek we get of future versions of FileMaker.

Of couse there are the non-session activities: the jam sessions, the Rock Star party, the roller coaster contest, the motor-cooler, the lazy river… The biggest highlight is always to catch up with our friends in the FileMaker community. So many good people we interact with online, but only see in person at DevCon!