More than three years in the making, today FileMaker announced the immediate availability of FileMaker Pro 7. Significant new features include a more true-to-life relational database architecture as well as a slew of customization options. According to Filemaker:
FileMaker Pro 7, for Windows and Mac OS X, has been redesigned using a modern, streamlined relational architecture, which enables users to simplify information management by storing multiple tables within a single file. The new Relationships Graph presents a visual ?map? of the database and lets users create and modify relationships with a simple click and drag tool. To keep pace with rich-media management and other sophisticated solutions, FileMaker Pro 7 dramatically expands its data capacity to 8 terabytes per file or 4,000 times the old limit.
FileMaker Pro 7 lets users import, store and export more types of files including pictures, movies, music, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PDF files, and more. Easily create a digital library of documents, music and pictures, store proposals within client records, or link schedule files directly to a student. Also new is the ability to open multiple windows in the same database to give users faster and simultaneous access to different views of their information. For example, you can access a customer?s record in one window and open another to view information for a different customer at the same time.
The company also unveiled the new FileMaker Pro 7 product line: FileMaker Developer 7 (now shipping); FileMaker Server 7; FileMaker Server 7 Advanced and FileMaker Mobile 7 (all planned to ship in early summer).
Available now, FileMaker Developer 7 is an enhanced version of FileMaker Pro 7 with integrated developer tools and utilities to help build better databases faster. New custom functions and file maintenance tools, and enhancements to the Database Design Report, script debugger, and customization options, give advanced users and developers the ability to streamline database development and maintenance.
FileMaker Server 7 is high-performance server software that efficiently manages shared database solutions. FileMaker Server 7 will feature a significantly remodeled server architecture that can host millions of data tables and leverage high-performance hard disk storage systems and multi-CPU servers (Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Windows 2000, and Windows 2003 Server). FileMaker Server 7 will allow users to protect their data with industry standard security features, such as SSL (Secure Socket Layer), and perform live backups of data without interruption to other users. Administrators can leverage existing user accounts with external authentication based on Active Directory or Open Directory. FileMaker plans to provide a preview of the product this spring.
FileMaker Server 7 Advanced, which will replace FileMaker Pro 6 Unlimited, is an enhanced version of FileMaker Server 7 that includes advanced web publishing and connectivity options to efficiently manage shared solutions from desktop to web. FileMaker Server 7 Advanced will support up to 250 FileMaker Pro connections and 100 Web connections. A standards-based web server application, it will allow FileMaker users to instantly publish fully interactive solutions to the web, or build custom web sites with XML and XSLT. Advanced Server 7 also supports ODBC and JDBC so other applications can share FileMaker data or take advantage of other data reporting tools, such as Crystal Reports.
FileMaker Mobile 7 is a companion version of FileMaker designed specifically for Palm OS and Pocket PC (support for Palm OS 5 and Windows Mobile 2003) handhelds that lets users take their information on the road. New within FileMaker Mobile 7 is support for FileMaker Pro based runtime applications and the ability to synchronize multiple devices to the desktop database. Users may also run scripts within FileMaker Pro before and after synchronization, all of which allows for a wide variety of powerful solutions within both business and education settings.
FileMaker Pro 7 is available now from the FileMaker Store at US$299/$149 upgrade MSRP. FileMaker Developer 7 is also available now at $499/$399 after $100 upgrade rebate (U.S., SLP). FileMaker Server 7, priced at $999/$499 upgrade (U.S. SLP) and Server 7 Advanced, priced at $2,499/ $1,499 upgrade (U.S. SLP) are planned to ship in early summer. FileMaker Mobile 7, priced at $69/$35 upgrade (U.S. SLP) is also planned for shipment in early summer. FileMaker plans to ship FileMaker Pro 7-compatible versions of its Applications, with Tasks and Meetings planned by May, and Donations and Recruiter planned for summer.
In addition, until September 17, 2004, FileMaker is extending its upgrade program to licensed owners of versions all the way back to FileMaker Pro v2.1. Those users will be able to upgrade to FileMaker Pro 7 for the same US$149.