Hi

We are getting close to purchase of FileMaker for a small network of 2
Apple Macs.

Before I place an order I wonder if a little advice could be offered
regarding the different versions of FileMaker available.

We will be creating a new database using FileMaker and guess we would
need to purchase FileMaker Pro 8.5 (Preferably Advanced?) and FileMaker
Server 8 (Advanced?).

Sorry if these are basic questions, but I am new to networking of computers.

Many thanks,

Jeff
--
Please do not reply to the address of rhubarb (AT) gosdensremovals (DOT) co.uk
as we do not read or write using this email address

For such a small network, and since you are just starting out, you
could definitely start with just 2 licenses of regular filemaker. They
will be able to network with each other during your development while
you learn and perhaps even after your files are being used
productively.

Look for cheap (but legal!) copies of version 8 out there. 8.5 will
offer you very little over 8.0.

Once you know some things, you could consider picking up a copy of
Advanced, then you'll have 3 seats and you can use one of the regular
FM copies as a de facto "server" copy whose only job is to host your
files for you on a dedicated machine. Regular FM comes with networking
built in that should handle two users just fine.

If, against all odds, you find that you need to set up a Server license
for your 2-seat operation, you can always buy it without monetary loss
since you would have had to have purchased the seats of regular
filemaker anyway to use with Server.

If you really want to pinch some pennies, examine the feature
differences between version 6, 7, and 8 and look for bargain basement
copies of 6 or 7. Me, I'd probably lean toward 8 or maybe 7...it's only
2 seats after all.

The only possible reasons to consider Advanced would be if you want to
make and distribute self-contained runtime packages of solutions to
others. Advanced does finally allow you to copy and paste script steps,
which I had been bitching from every mountaintop about wanting for 5
versions over 7 years. FM finally implemented that one and greedily
only put it in the Advanced (developer) version. In the next few months
I'll finally get to use that feature as I am only just now upgrading
from version 5.5/6. hooray.

Gosdens wrote:

I think the best buy is one FM8.5 and one FM8.5 Advanced. The last is for
development. It has two other features that only the previous 'Developer'
versions - in FMP6 and FM7 - had : the 'Debug Script' one and the 'Database
Design Report' one. The first permits you to run your scripts lines one by
one, thus helping you to debug them, and the second to make a report of
where a field is used and in what scripts etc. I could not develop any DB
without those 2 tools - there are others tools also -. And I think a person
new to FileMaker would take much benefit in having them on hand.
I agree though the the server one is not needed for the moment.
Remi-Noel


"Paul Bruneau" <paul (AT) ethicalpaul (DOT) com> a écrit dans le message de news:
1161782256.430083.95200 (AT) b28g200...oglegroups.com...

Other important 'Advanced' only features for development also include
the ability to define custom functions, and I could never again live
without the ability to copy and paste script steps.

Remi-Noel Menegaux wrote:
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Howard Schlossberg (818) 883-2846
FM Professional Solutions, Inc. Los Angeles

FileMaker 8 Certified Developer
Associate Member, FileMaker Solutions Alliance

Amen to that, Howard! FileMaker Advanced is a must.

As you know, the critical benefit of custom functions is not merely that
they help "clean up" your system by being a shorthand for complicated
formulas, but that they enable "recursion" -- that is, they can reference
themselves -- to accomplish things only possible with iterative steps.

I might mention that once you start getting into two copies or more of
FileMaker, one should consider joining the FileMaker Solutions Alliance. The
base membership level is just $249 and includes a copy of FileMaker Pro 8.5
standard that you can use any way you want.

http://www.filemaker.com/developers/subscriber.html

....not to mention a members-only forum, additional tech info, beta testing
opportunities, a "testing" copy of FileMaker Server Advanced and many other
goodies. The higher levels have even more stuff.

"Howard Schlossberg" <howard (AT) antispahm (DOT) fmprosolutions.com> wrote