Everyone's favorite visual database software, FileMaker, is getting revamped for its 9.0 release. Now, we haven't heard too much out of FileMaker over the years; it seems to be slowly chugging along, making money for Apple (FileMaker is a subsidiary) and frustrating users, however FileMaker 9 will include some promising changes. ThinkSecret has a full list of all the rumors, tidbits, and possible features, but there are a few things that piqued my interest.
Provided that FileMaker is just too gorgeous for you to live without, and you didn't eschew it years ago for something that has a name you can't pronounce containing the letters S-Q-L, here's what's in store:
First of all, 9.0 will come with support for SQL databases via ODBC, meaning that your pretty FileMaker database will be able to tap into the raw, flannel-wearing, lumberjack power of SQL, and will also have an option to allow access to specific fields only. Supposedly FileMaker 9 will be supporting some big names right out of the gate, including Oracle 9g, 10g, and MySQL 5.0.
In terms of other technical, code-tastic features, ThinkSecret suggests that there will be an "enhanced script debugger" in FileMaker 9, as well as some changes to make the Database Viewer and Design Report more powerful.
Enough with the database acronyms: let's talk about the visual layout changes. The big layout feature in FileMaker 9 are objects that automatically resize, based on window size. And that's it. I mean, there's also the addition of conditional formatting, "visual spell check," and some improvements to menus and toolbars.
I hope you're excited by all of that, because I'm not. Don't get me wrong: FileMaker is a great (if slightly niche) product, and is wonderful for small businesses or non-profits that don't want to to bother with big, hairy SQL statements. The addition of SQL support is huge, to be sure, but it would be nice to see the FileMaker team make 9.0 less of a niche database product and more of a mainstream one.
If you're a current user of FileMaker, especially one who's been complaining about SQL support, you'll probably want to keep a close eye on 9.0. But if you're not a FileMaker user, there's probably nothing here to interest you since you're using SQL or its kin anyway. FileMaker is expected to release 9.0 sometime in the second half of 2007, so you have a few months to salivate over the new features.
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