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This past Tuesday the 10th, FileMaker Inc. released it’s latest version of FileMaker Pro. Version 9 has a variety of new features, some big, some small. When it comes to the big ones, there are essentially four big with the rest having less significance(1).

Big Feature #1

The biggest of these features is the ability to connect to SQL data sources. You’re able to interact with a SQL database just like any other table in your database.

Adding a new SQL connection is a simple matter of adding a new External Data Source. From that point forward you can use the reference within your Relationship Graph just like any other normal table occurrence.

One thing you’ll need to do first, however, is set up the right database connection. This is going to require the use of third party drivers. Depending on the database you’re connecting to, the drivers and setup will vary.

Here are the SQL databases which are supported (taken from FileMaker’s help)

• Oracle 9g
• Oracle 10g
• SQL Server 2000
• SQL Server 2005
• MySQL 5.0 Community Edition (free)

Too bad they aren’t supporting MySQL 4. There are a ton of Open Source systems out there running MySQL 4.

For more info you can visit the FileMaker site covering SQL information.

Big Feature #2

The second big feature is called Conditional Formatting. It allows you to conditially control (using the standard calculation dialog box) the way any text is formatted when viewed in Browse mode.

This includes both fields and text labels. This is a nice new feature and there are a few things you can do with it. If you need to know more tips about using it then Geoff Coffey has posted a number of great tips at his new website.

Big Feature #3

Biggie number three would be Auto-Resizing of layouts. This feature, coupled with biggie number four, are the two reasons I would at least upgrade to FileMaker 9 Advanced - even if you’re stuck using FileMaker 8 or 8.5 for all your clients.

Auto-resizing of layouts is the feature many people have been asking for for year and years. It’s long overdue and it’s a great reason to upgrade(2). It works just like it sounds. It allows you to create layouts which dynamically resize.

Big Feature #4

Number four on the list is a complete overhaul of ScriptMaker. You’re now able to keep the ScriptMaker window open and also open as many script windows as you desire. For this one feature alone I would SERIOUSLY upgrade your copy of FileMaker Advanced. This is a HUGE time saver.

It takes a bit to get used to leaving script windows open when you’re working/debugging a script, but it eventually becomes second nature. I’ll provide more info about using the new ScriptMaker in a future video. Also of note are the changes to the Data Viewer, which now shows you all active global variables, where a dual pane Data Viewer shows you global variables and your own specified watched variables.

Overview

Overall, if you’re not using SQL, then the Conditional Formatting is a nice feature to have - but not a requirement in most cases. The ability to resize layouts may be something you can go without but designing them in 9 is the route I would suggest - even if you’re still using an earlier version.

If you can’t afford to upgrade right away, then get 9 Advanced so you can work with the new features and have them ready for when you can upgrade. One of the nice things about working in the latest version of FileMaker is that the file format stays the same going back to FileMaker 7. If using the Conditional Formatting or Auto-Resizing layouts is something you can’t live without then go for it.

There are a number of other smaller features in the application - plus some function additions. One function in particular that I’ve been wanting for a while is the ability to specify the temporary path on the client machine. Here is the list of new functions and script step changes

Functions

• Acos (number)
• Asin (number)
• Get (HostApplicationVersion)
• Get (TemporaryPath)
• Self

Script step changes

• Refresh Window: new Flush cached SQL data checkbox
• Save as PDF: new Append to existing PDF checkbox
• Open File: Added ODBC Data Source option
• Close File Added ODBC Data Source option
• Undo: Renamed to Undo/Redo with new Toggle option

One final feature I’ll mention is the “Automatically check for updates every 7 days” checkbox found in the application preferences. While I’m personally not that proactive about finding new versions of software, this is going to be a great way to know when FileMaker has been updated.

More info to come…

Notes

(1) A certain “feature” may be significant to you, such as being compatible with Windows Vista or the ability to Append to PDF. While useful, these may not be major features. Fortunately, you’re able to discern this from the content above. As I was instant messaging with a fellow develoepr friend, talking about the feature list that FileMaker Inc. provides, I think the marketing for features got a bit ahead of itself. Chat Quotation: “Feature? Works with Windows Vista… Uh, Yeah, I think you would want it too, not a feature.” (Don’t expect me to sugar coat things. ;)

(2) When I mention upgrading, I’m not necessarily talking about upgrading all of your copies. My position is that you can develop using FileMaker 9 Advanced and you’re files should work fine in FileMaker 8 or 8.5 and even 7 if you go back that far. The features you use in 9 won’t work in the earlier versions - but your files will be ready for the when you can afford to upgrade. Just be careful and don’t make your solution dependent upon features from a version which your clients can’t support. In other words, if you’re using FileMaker 8 don’t use variables because your clients will need to use global fields!

The Pro's

Okay look there are 3 or 4 features that I would really call quite cool with this update:

1) SQL Connectivity
2) CWP packaged with Server Standard
3) ScriptMaker Overhaul
4) Conditional Formatting

1) SQL Connectivity
Well, this is one of the new features that MAY and I stress MAY, give FileMaker the right to charge people the cost of upgrading. With SQL Connectivity, FileMaker can finally trully connect to Enterprise class database systems and actually exchange data with MySQL, MSSQL and Oracle - Something that competition has been able to do for years. At least the IT guys might be a bit nicer now - then again they aren't that nice to Access either. Anyway, point being, great feature, finally possibly brings FileMaker to par with MS Access (though the lack of thin clients and the overall cost still leaves it lagging behind in the Windows world).

2) CWP Packaged with Server Standard
Well, this one is actually quite great - The FileMaker XSLT and XML engine is now pacakged with FMS Standard departing from the previous idea that a developer should have to fork out the cost of FMS twice again to bring their content to the web with FileMaker Server Advanced. This means that we may not see the demise of FileMaker's web publishing abilities (to be replaced by any of the SQL databases now advailable) for a while yet.

3) ScriptMaker Overhaul
Good feature for development I'll admit, though it really should've been there long long ago. This allows you to group your scripts into Folders for better organisation, and finally its non modal (i.e. you can have multiple scripts open at once, and work on the db at the same time) -- too bad they apparently didn't have the time to do the same thing for layouts

4) Conditional Formatting
Nice -- saves you adding unecessary calc fields all over the place, a simple feature but saves clutter in tables helping to make FileMaker more of a database by limiting the number of fields you use for "display purposes" - This may also reduce the reliance some have on the seperation model to keep their data and their display fields seperate (Then again you could just build the structure in MySQL and use FileMaker as a plain ol' front end.

The Cons

Frankly at this point, I think FileMaker is just trying to pull extra money in without really providing a new product. The lack of the rumoured Thin Client is also a shame, as are the event triggers, the dynamic set field, my progress bar (god i want one lol), copying custom functions, using custom functions over different files and finally the simple short cut keys for things like custom function definitions and all those other menu items that are missing keys etc. I would just like to express my opinion that the resizing which was apparently causing their developers problems is really little compensation for all the small features above that would make the product so much better and would likely only have taken a comparably short time to implement.

A conclusion

Oh well, I'm updating in either case just for the sake of it, but don't see any real reason to update existing clients sitting on FM 7 / 8 / 8.5 given that it's not really providing that much in the way of new.

Last thing -- this release should have been green!!!

For a decent look at the new features see:
http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/category/filemaker-9-tips/ (plus they have an API for integrating FM CWP with Ruby... not that i really use ruby, but the more technologies the better)

And for a look at the opinions of other developers:
www.fmforums.com

Well I hope my slightly random rant was informative.