- DevCon 2002
- FileMaker Pro 6 Released
- XML Central Enhancements
- New FileMaker Training Foundation Series
- FileMaker Product Enhancement List
FileMaker DevCon 2002
The FileMaker Pro Developers Conference will be held August 12-15 in Palm Desert, California. Expected to draw more than 1,000 corporate and independent FileMaker solutions developers from more than 25 countries, the conference will cover a range of issues surrounding emerging standards -- including XML, web services, SQL and JDBC -- for easy, low-cost integration with other workgroups, enterprise data and applications.
Among the many experts and solutions, developers speaking at the conference will be keynote speaker Ron Schmelzer, founder and senior analyst of ZapThink, and a well-known expert in the field of XML and XML-based standards and initiatives. Schmelzer was recently named by Boston Magazine to the "Internet Top 40." Additional speakers will include FileMaker President Dominique Goupil; FileMaker executives Bill Epling, chief financial officer; Chung Le, vice president of product development and Chris Trytten, director of product management.
< http:// www.filemaker.com/devcon >
FileMaker Pro 6 Released
FileMaker recently announced its new FileMaker Pro 6 database software, featuring easier-than-ever templates and tools, and a virtually limitless ability to gather, manage and share information.
< http://www.filemaker.com/products/fm_home.html >
New in FileMaker Pro 6 is the ability to easily import large numbers of images from a folder into a database, and, on Mac OS X only, capture digital images and image-data directly from cameras. Simplifying the steps to add images extends the FileMaker lead in managing multimedia, and enables even more creative databases.
With integrated XML (Extensible Markup Language) import and export, FileMaker Pro 6 will deliver the benefits of virtually limitless information exchange. The widespread support of XML standards means FileMaker can integrate and exchange data with many applications, without complex, costly converting of data between proprietary formats.
FileMaker Pro 6 users can, for example, retrieve data from XML-enabled Web applications, import accounting data from QuickBooks, or query corporate databases without using ODBC drivers. With XML export, FileMaker Pro 6 users can share information with users of other applications; for example, exporting formatted FileMaker data in an email or into Microsoft Excel, or document-authoring applications.
XML Central
Along with FileMaker Pro 6, FileMaker announced its enhanced FileMaker XML Central:
< http://www.filemaker.com/xml >
XML Cenral is designed to jumpstart developers' and power-users' ability to create solutions reaping the benefits of data exchange and application integration. Developers are encouraged to download and contribute XSLT stylesheets in the new FileMaker XSLT Library (see FileMaker XML Central press release at http://www.filemaker.com/releases/863.html).
More than 20 new templates for business, education and home deliver "instant productivity" to benefit almost all FileMaker Pro 6 users. Users and developers of FileMaker databases will save time and be more creative with new features like format painter and customizable dialogs.
"The best just got better with FileMaker Pro 6," said Dominique Goupil, FileMaker president. "We've made it even easier for workgroups to manage data with solutions ranging from digital image catalogs to accounting systems to engineering projects. And integrated XML support greatly expands the horizons for gathering data into FileMaker and sharing information beyond the workgroup."
"By adding XML support, FileMaker is proving it can continue to deliver great benefit to corporate workgroups," said Ron Schmelzer, senior analyst with ZapThink, an XML industry analyst group. "FileMaker ease-of-use combined with its rich XML support makes it an ideal platform for workgroups who need to boost productivity while fitting in with corporate IT environments."
New FileMaker Professional Training Foundation Series
FileMaker introduced FileMaker Professional Training Foundation Series. The new, standardized content developed by FileMaker, is for professional developers, corporate IS/IT personnel and advanced FileMaker Pro users, and is offered through authorized FileMaker training organizations in North America.
The program currently offers twelve comprehensive modules covering a wide range of key FileMaker Pro database topics, all geared to optimize the development, deployment and administration of FileMaker Pro solutions across organizations of all types and sizes.
Core Modules include the following: Introduction to FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Relational Best Practices for Database Servers, and FileMaker Pro multi-user solutions over the network. Elective modules include: FileMaker Connectivity via ODBC, SQL and JDBC; Basic and Advanced Database Web Publishing; Database Architectural Overview; Advanced Topics in Architecture (including database security); Best Practices for IT Deployment; and Best Practices for Terminal Services/Citrix Metaframe 1.8.
"Through the FileMaker Professional Training Foundation Series, developers and IT professionals alike -- whether familiar with FileMaker Pro or not -- can now better harness the power of FileMaker Pro databases within their client sites and organizations," said Chris Trytten, FileMaker director of product management. "The training program goes way beyond product documentation and gives developers the design and deployment guidelines to yield great benefits in the long run."
Courses may be held on-site or at a training facility and may be customized, based on specific needs of the organization. For information about scheduling training sessions, locate an authorized FileMaker Trainer at www.filemaker.com/professionaltraining or call 800-325-2747.
Announcing FM PEL - The FileMaker Product Enhancement List
The FileMaker Product Enhancement List (PEL) is now up and running and available to the public. The PEL is a repository of new feature and feature fix requests that the FileMaker development community need or would like to see in future releases of FileMaker products. The PEL has the intent of compiling these requests periodically, ranking the requests, and submitting them to FMI for review and consideration.
FM PEL is geared towards the development community and includes an independent discussion area for members relating to the topics germane to the PEL. Members will be able to directly submit their requests for posting to the PEL by the administrators. No request will be to small or to big. All subject matter will be considered. A future solution forum will be forth coming for members discussing methods to replicate desired functionality not expressly available (?work-arounds?) in the product line as it exists to date.
The FM PEL is currently a blank slate and will be totally member driven. Come and join and post your requests here for new features and feature fixes. Discuss between other members the intricacies of FileMaker and your feature issues. The first submission of compiled requests is scheduled for December.
FM PEL is looking for volunteers who wish to be moderators of this new site and will be accepting applications via the site administrator
To join, go to the URL below and click on the register button at the top.
< http://www.dangerball.com/phpBB2/index.php >
Any questions or comments should be directed to: amgdba@netscape.net
Happy FileMaking!