FileMaker today announced a new version of its development platform that speeds creation of custom solutions that run on iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac and the web. FileMaker 14 brings point-and-click simplicity to automating business processes, delivering desktop-style application functionality to mobile web browsers and providing productive, engaging experiences on desktops, iOS devices and mobile web browsers.
The announcement coincides with the 30th anniversary of FileMaker software. FileMaker was the brainchild of a bootstrapped startup founded in Massachusetts by four entrepreneurs intent on creating easy-to-use database software.
“FileMaker 14 is the culmination of 30 years of helping customers exploit the latest platforms – from Mac and Windows then through iOS devices and mobile web browsers today – meeting users’ rising expectations for data accessibility, simplicity and mobility,” said Ryan Rosenberg, vice president of marketing and services for FileMaker, Inc. “With FileMaker 14, creating compelling cross-platform solutions and designing for the times is simpler than ever – even if you’ve never developed any solution before.”
FileMaker 14 provides a complete experience for developers, enabling them to unleash their creativity and ingenuity.
• A Script Workspace speeds automation of common business processes, such as assigning a new task to the employee with the most availability, reordering inventory when stock is low or creating an invoice during a customer meeting. The Script Workspace consolidates the creation, editing and viewing of scripts and calculations, all in one streamlined workspace. Auto-complete, favorites, in-line editing, shortcuts, script step descriptions with in-line Help, automated command-lookup and other features speed development. Even nonprogrammers can use scripting to create custom solutions, with FileMaker’s point-and-click simplicity and contextual guidance.
• A redesigned FileMaker WebDirect makes it easy to deliver desktop-style interactivity to mobile browsers on tablets. FileMaker WebDirect now supports FileMaker solutions running on the latest tablets. Business users can deliver a next-generation mobile browser experience. The redesigned toolbar automatically adapts to the screen size of users’ browsers on desktops or tablets, with larger tap targets, slide-in menus that dynamically optimize screen real estate, and menus that collapse and expand into logical groups as the screen size changes or the user rotates the device.
• A Launch Center brings an app-like interface with big, bold icons (no more dialog boxes and pull-down menus) that allow users to visually organize all solutions at a glance. Users can choose from 29 pre-built icons or design custom icons to give solutions a personalized look. The Launch Center works across the entire FileMaker 14 Platform, providing a consistent experience on Windows and Mac with FileMaker Pro, on iPad and iPhone with FileMaker Go, and in a browser with FileMaker WebDirect.
• An enhanced iOS experience for users, via new scripts that provide more control over how solutions look and run on iPad and iPhone. A newly redesigned iOS 8-style interface in FileMaker Go 14 (a free business app available on the App Store) provides a clean look and consistent user experience. Developers can easily make solutions full screen by using scripts or swiping to hide the user interface. They can lock in portrait or landscape views using the new set-screen orientation, display helpful information when capturing signatures, enable touch keyboards, enable richer text formatting, and use new video and audio playback controls to create self-paced training applications and other innovative solutions.
• Many new features for FileMaker developers, power users and administrators. FileMaker WebDirect is now up to 25 percent faster when opening most web-optimized layouts. It also has doubled the number of supported concurrent connections (from 50 to 100). Automatic reconnect from FileMaker Pro 14 solutions to FileMaker Server 14 helps users recover quickly from a lost or unreliable network connection. Security enhancements for FileMaker Server Admin Console protect data and solutions through stronger password controls. The new standby server option in FileMaker Server 14 gives experienced administrators higher availability of business data.
FileMaker has shipped more than 20 million copies of FileMaker Platform products, and the FileMaker Go for iPad and iPhone app just surpassed 1.5 million downloads from the App Store. FileMaker software is available in 15 languages and is used worldwide and in virtually every private and public market sector.
FileMaker, Inc., an Apple subsidiary, delivers innovative software to easily create custom business solutions for iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac and the web. Millions of people, from individuals to some of the world’s largest organizations, use the FileMaker Platform to streamline their business processes, manage information, and boost overall productivity.
Source: FileMaker, Inc.
Is there a reason why FileMaker is kept as a subsidiary, rather than simply absorbing it within the Apple brand? It isn’t like there is this massive name-recognition thing (such as Beats) that wold have Apple keep it seemingly independent. Since they bought the company outright, they may as well absorb them completely.
Anyone have any idea why Apple chooses not to do it?
Predrag, in the past I would have agreed with you, but no more. Apple’s record on developing and nurturing professional software is spotty at best. While they have done a decent job with Final Cut and Keynote, Pages and Numbers come nowhere close to being usable in a professional environment except for the most simple tasks.
In contrast, the Filemaker folks have been able to continually update their database to the point where it is probably the best PC-based database product now on the market. It left Access in the dust long ago.
Therefore, being an independent subsidiary has served Filemaker and its customers well in the past. Let’s keep it that way.
I’m not sure we’re in disagreement. What you say makes sense from a user’s, as well as from FileMaker’s perspective.
I was asking about Apple’s reasons for tot bringing it into the fold. From Apple’s angle, it is a successful product in the pro market. Why wouldn’t they wand to label it “Apple” and sell it alongside iWork, FCP and Logic?
Indeed. I recently heard under-the-radar rumbling that MS is considering dropping Access from Office for Windows. That’s how much MS cares about it at this point.
Amen
FileMaker was part of Apple at one time. Just another product like iMovie or something. Then they spun it off as part of CLARIS.
Then Apple pulled all the Claris stuff back in, except FileMaker. Relatively speaking, FileMaker is an enterprise jewel compared to most of Apple’s “enterprise” offerings.
There is history to FileMaker’s status. It was originally created by an independent software firm and, in the 1980s, Microsoft had a financial interest in it. Apple bought it in the late 1980s and made it part of the Claris software line-up. When Steve Jobs returned, he killed Claris and spun Filemaker out to its own company, where it has been ever since. Since Filemaker is profitable on its own, I think Tim Cook just leaves it alone. I suspect that if somebody wanted to buy it, Apple might be interested – it isn’t a big deal one way or another, except to the large devoted fan base that uses it.
I bought the original Filemaker at MacWorld Boston in 1985 and have used it ever since. It has become complex and very powerful, but it is not entirely inaccessible to novice users. I believe it is the most widely used personal computer database software in the world, having surpassed MS Access some years ago.
Ralph M, do you by any chance remember an audio training package that included a number of audio cassette tapes and training files for the original filemaker offered by apple. It was narrated by a male and female. It was one of the most effective tutorials I have ever used.
FileMaker is keep separate from Apple so as to keep them separate ….. Apple has no real use for FileMaker and FileMaker has no real use for Apple ….. One can run without the other …..
We had MidWest District Guy at our Shop in 2010 and he basically said that neither needs the other and Jobs just wanted it that way!
We have a custom built FileMaker database that we have used since 1996 – Server with six Clients!
I just wish they’d resurrect Bento. What a perfect little app/program 😟
A lot of people miss Bento.
I actually miss ACIUS’ 4th-Dimension. Their early app included OCR and auto image paper forms scanning and fields defining.