More rumours about what's in FileMaker 9 from ThinkSecret.com ...


Additional FileMaker 9 details emerge
-------------------------------------
Since our initial report on the future release of
FileMaker 9, sources have gleaned additional details
regarding the software.

As previously noted, FileMaker 9 will feature support
for external SQL (ODBC) data sources. FileMaker 9 will
be able to read and write to SQL data sources while
FileMaker 9 developers will be able to specify which
fields of the SQL database are accessible, if desired,
without actually altering the SQL database itself.
Sources report FileMaker 9 will officially support SQL
Server 2000 and 2005, Oracle 9g and 10g, and MySQL 5.0
Community Edition.

It appears almost certain now that FileMaker 9 will
ship with support for automatically re-sizing layout
objects. Sources had previously cautioned that due to
potential compatibility obstacles the feature might be
scrapped from the final release. Automatic re-sizing
allows database layouts to automatically scale based
on window size, introducing a sort of resolution
independence to the software. FileMaker 9 will also
support conditional formatting, allowing developers
to automatically specify font, color, and style
criteria based on the data entered.

Meanwhile, new features planned specifically for
FileMaker Pro Advanced include an enhanced script
debugger, which will include easier editing of scripts
within the debugger, and improved Data Viewer and
Database Design Report features.

Other smaller perks awaiting FileMaker users in
version 9 will be the long-awaited multiple level
undo/redo functionality; field-level control of visual
spellchecking, convenient for the input of proper or
proprietary names; improved standard and layout
toolbars; and a more robust Help menu that streamlines
access to different components of FileMaker 9's product
document, in addition to one-click access to product
downloads and updates.

Customers will also be able to use the Help menu to
transfer FileMaker 9 activations, a new measure
FileMaker recently said it will introduce in the
future in order to combat "unauthorized distribution
of its software". Like other applications that have
embraced product activation, FileMaker will give users
a 30-day grace period to use the software prior to
requiring activation.

FileMaker 9 remains on track for a release in the
second half of 2007.


Oh no! Not the idiotic "activation" nonsense. (


Helpful Harry
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)

I'll need to watch this closely, and I hope the customers FMI cares
about (corps and maybe FSAs) are giving lots of negative feedback about
the activation "feature". I'm not a large customer, and I'm not an
"illegal distributor" of FM products, but it's extremely highly unlikely
that I'll upgrade to a version of FM that "offers" activation, even if
they do something "user friendly" like allowing us to transfer
activations without signing onto the Internet or other things.

I wish FM would focus on features like built-in graphing (no, not the
workarounds we all do now), and restoring phone dialing to the Mac
version.

This whole activation stuff has me bothered. Seems to bother others as
well. I was planning on skipping the upgrade to 8.5 Advanced because it
didn't offer me much; now I'll have to watch for 9's activation actions
and maybe change my plans.

Abbott

In article <140220071830559107%helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com>,
Helpful Harry <helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com> wrote:

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On Feb 14, 11:02 am, Abbott <abbottNOS... (AT) MYbendbroadband (DOT) com> wrote:
What is the scoup about a "Thin Client"

In article
<abbottNOSPAM-B7C196.08020614022007 (AT) news-server (DOT) bendcable.com>, Abbott
<abbottNOSPAM (AT) MYbendbroadband (DOT) com> wrote:
I don't know how FileMaker will handle it, but for Adobe's InDesign
"transferring" the ridiculous activation means you have to deactivate
it on one computer and then activate it on the new computer. The
activation does take place via the Internet ... which doesn't actually
work for the computers I've tried to activate it on (it simply timesout
every time), so instead I have to get the activation code via the
phone. Activation is a painfully silly process, which doesn't actually
stop anyone who really wants to pirate the software anyway. Hopefully
FileMaker change their minds and drop that silliness. (



Helpful Harry
Hopefully helping harassed humans happily handle handiwork hardships ;o)

I'm a bit ambivalent about product activation. On the one hand, it's
inconvenient and imperfect. Having to call in to activate software is a real
pain. On the other hand, it keeps people honest, and I do know of many
people who could care less about purchasing a legit number of copies. One of
my first clients, around 15 years ago, had something like five people in her
office using just one copy of the software. She was not receptive to the
recommendation she purchase each person their own copy.

It all seems to boil down to the details.

- Corel (and many other companies) doesn't allow you to "deactivate" or
"transfer" activations. So after you install their software three times you
have to write or call in after navigating a threacherous support site. As
I'm constantly upgrading computers or reinstalling Windows this has become a
real issue.

- Adobe claims to have 24x7 activation support, but when I called for
activation help with Creative Suite on New Years, they were closed. The
problem is that I've owned Adobe products for too long. Creative Suite 2 is
an upgrade purchase from CS1, and CS1 was an upgrade from PhotoShop. Each CD
looks for its qualifying predecessor. Ergo, if I want to install CS2 on a
freshly-installed copy of Windows, I have to install some ancient version of
Photoshop, then install at least Photoshop from CS1, then finally I get to
install CS2... or call in and have the rep give me a code. I'm not sure
which is more painful.

- Sometimes it happens that you lose a hard disk without the opportunity to
deactivate software. How hard is it to remedy that situation with the
vendor? And once you "lose" an activation to a hard disk crash, are you
forever condemned to call in for further activations? What about the ever
lengthening list of products and content that have to be "deactivated"
before reinstalling your operating system? I'd say it takes me about 30
minutes to go through the checklist now.

- What happens when a company goes away? A lot of people think Apple will be
around forever, but the future of FileMaker Inc. comes into speculation
periodically. When Symantec bought PowerQuest the activation scheme for
Partition Magic broke after a few months. They never bothered to replace it,
and phone calls into support were useless. I ended up buying a different
partition manager.

These aren't the only issues with activation, but they are part of the
reason why people dislike it.

On Feb 14, 6:37 pm, "Bill Marriott" <w... (AT) wjm (DOT) org> wrote:

Hah! I have the exact same situation. I love when the phone person has
to tell you the secret key combination to get to the "back door" ID
entry on the installer. The last time I did it, I got the distinct
feeling that the phone person thought I was a pirate.

Long time ago on the Mac version of Digidesign Pro Tools and plugins,
someone invent the perfect anti-copying key install on a Mac hard drive, I
own every liscence and one day my Mac Crash, I had to re-format and lost all
my Key install, every time I open my software, it's was asking for a 3 1/4
floppydisk to check the key! and they ask me to pay to replace my keys !!
and guess what! at that time, ProTools was only runinng if you had the
Hardware install in you Mac... that hardward start at 10,000$ and the
software came with the hardware !

After that they fix the Norton diskdoctor problem, crash problem etc etc but
was the best and the worst protection ever !


JF


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