Version 8 for Macintosh

#1

Is there enough difference in version 8 versus 7 to justify the upgrade.
I get something from Filemaker ever day concerning the 8 upgrade but
don't see enough to justify the expense for running only 2 databases.
Any advice would be appreciated.

#2

In article <larry-A68044.11353701112005 (AT) news (DOT) east.cox.net>, Lawrence
Leichtman <larry (AT) lleichtman (DOT) org> wrote:

Quote:

Is there enough difference in version 8 versus 7 to justify the upgrade.
I get something from Filemaker ever day concerning the 8 upgrade but
don't see enough to justify the expense for running only 2 databases.
Any advice would be appreciated.

I'm not certain what the changes are (FileMaker's website will tell you
in glowing detail), but as with any upgrade: if you don't need it,
don't buy it.

Far too many people fall into the "scam" of upgrading every time the
new version appears, even though they're perfectly happy with the
current version. It becomes a vicious circle of upgrading the software,
upgrading the operating system, upgrading the RAM, upgrading the whole
computer, ... and then you need to upgrade the software again.

Most software companies offer a cheaper price to upgrade than buying
brand new, BUT you have to work out whether it's worth paying $100
every year (for example) or upgrading just when you really need to and
paying $300 for the newest version at the time - if your current
version will happily last you over three years, then it's not worth it.

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

#3

I guess that is my question. There was a big jump from 6 to 7 but I
don't see any big changes in 8 to justify it. I'm not unhappy at all
with 7.

In article <021120050904333544%helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com>,
Helpful Harry <helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com> wrote:

Quote:

In article <larry-A68044.11353701112005 (AT) news (DOT) east.cox.net>, Lawrence
Leichtman <larry (AT) lleichtman (DOT) org> wrote:

Is there enough difference in version 8 versus 7 to justify the upgrade.
I get something from Filemaker ever day concerning the 8 upgrade but
don't see enough to justify the expense for running only 2 databases.
Any advice would be appreciated.

I'm not certain what the changes are (FileMaker's website will tell you
in glowing detail), but as with any upgrade: if you don't need it,
don't buy it.

Far too many people fall into the "scam" of upgrading every time the
new version appears, even though they're perfectly happy with the
current version. It becomes a vicious circle of upgrading the software,
upgrading the operating system, upgrading the RAM, upgrading the whole
computer, ... and then you need to upgrade the software again.

Most software companies offer a cheaper price to upgrade than buying
brand new, BUT you have to work out whether it's worth paying $100
every year (for example) or upgrading just when you really need to and
paying $300 for the newest version at the time - if your current
version will happily last you over three years, then it's not worth it.

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

#4

If you are happy with 7, then stick with it. When I was working with 7,
I'd wished I had stayed with 6. But after moving from 7 to 8, I never
want to go back to 6 or 7 ever again. Of course, I have to because some
of my clients are still in 6, but with 8 there is reason for them to
upgrade that I just didn't feel they had reason for in going to 7.

Lawrence Leichtman wrote:

Quote:

I guess that is my question. There was a big jump from 6 to 7 but I
don't see any big changes in 8 to justify it. I'm not unhappy at all
with 7.

In article <021120050904333544%helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com>,
Helpful Harry <helpful_harry (AT) nom (DOT) de.plume.com> wrote:

In article <larry-A68044.11353701112005 (AT) news (DOT) east.cox.net>, Lawrence
Leichtman <larry (AT) lleichtman (DOT) org> wrote:

Is there enough difference in version 8 versus 7 to justify the upgrade.
I get something from Filemaker ever day concerning the 8 upgrade but
don't see enough to justify the expense for running only 2 databases.
Any advice would be appreciated.
I'm not certain what the changes are (FileMaker's website will tell you
in glowing detail), but as with any upgrade: if you don't need it,
don't buy it.

Far too many people fall into the "scam" of upgrading every time the
new version appears, even though they're perfectly happy with the
current version. It becomes a vicious circle of upgrading the software,
upgrading the operating system, upgrading the RAM, upgrading the whole
computer, ... and then you need to upgrade the software again.

Most software companies offer a cheaper price to upgrade than buying
brand new, BUT you have to work out whether it's worth paying $100
every year (for example) or upgrading just when you really need to and
paying $300 for the newest version at the time - if your current
version will happily last you over three years, then it's not worth it.

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

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Howard Schlossberg (818) 883-2846
FM Pro Solutions Los Angeles, California

FileMaker 7 Certified Developer
Associate Member, FileMaker Solutions Alliance

#5

What were your reasons for upgrading?

In article <11mfl882ngcs9bd (AT) corp (DOT) supernews.com>,
Howard Schlossberg <howard (AT) antispahm (DOT) fmprosolutions.com> wrote:

Quote:

If you are happy with 7, then stick with it. When I was working with 7,
I'd wished I had stayed with 6. But after moving from 7 to 8, I never
want to go back to 6 or 7 ever again. Of course, I have to because some
of my clients are still in 6, but with 8 there is reason for them to
upgrade that I just didn't feel they had reason for in going to 7.

Lawrence Leichtman wrote:

#6

1) FM8 is so much more stable and relatively bug free, including many,
many Windows redraw issues.

2) Speed. Drop-down lists, finds, sorts, everything much faster and solid.

3) My absolute favorite new feature (FMP Advanced) is the ability to
copy and paste scripts, script steps, fields, tables, table occurrences,
etc.

4) Type-ahead auto-fill on fields and drop-down lists.

5) Tool tips

6) Ability to add buttons to your layout tab order.

7) Script variables that make for much more efficient scripting and,
among many other things, allow for custom naming exported files.

8) Ability to define Custom menus helps clean up the interface and ease
of use.

9) Built-in ability to export or create/mail PDFs and Excel spreadsheets.

10) Fast searching on a field through right-click context menus

11) Improved mail merge and user-interface for sending record-based emails.

12) Tab objects to more easily design and organize layouts.

13) Mouse-wheel support on OSX

14) Some easier to use functions (like GetValue, GetNthRecord, etc)

And many other little things. This release is everything that FM7
should have been. I'm sorry you invested in the upgrade from 6 to 7,
but my feeling is that you invested in the wrong version.

Lawrence Leichtman wrote:

Quote:

What were your reasons for upgrading?

In article <11mfl882ngcs9bd (AT) corp (DOT) supernews.com>,
Howard Schlossberg <howard (AT) antispahm (DOT) fmprosolutions.com> wrote:

If you are happy with 7, then stick with it. When I was working with 7,
I'd wished I had stayed with 6. But after moving from 7 to 8, I never
want to go back to 6 or 7 ever again. Of course, I have to because some
of my clients are still in 6, but with 8 there is reason for them to
upgrade that I just didn't feel they had reason for in going to 7.

Lawrence Leichtman wrote:

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Howard Schlossberg (818) 883-2846
FM Pro Solutions Los Angeles, California

FileMaker 7 Certified Developer
Associate Member, FileMaker Solutions Alliance

#7

They don't emphasize many of these features in their send-outs. These
sound like a good reason to upgrade.

In article <11mhv1akoi7mn0b (AT) corp (DOT) supernews.com>,
Howard Schlossberg <howard (AT) antispahm (DOT) fmprosolutions.com> wrote:

Quote:

1) FM8 is so much more stable and relatively bug free, including many,
many Windows redraw issues.

2) Speed. Drop-down lists, finds, sorts, everything much faster and solid.

3) My absolute favorite new feature (FMP Advanced) is the ability to
copy and paste scripts, script steps, fields, tables, table occurrences,
etc.

4) Type-ahead auto-fill on fields and drop-down lists.

5) Tool tips

6) Ability to add buttons to your layout tab order.

7) Script variables that make for much more efficient scripting and,
among many other things, allow for custom naming exported files.

8) Ability to define Custom menus helps clean up the interface and ease
of use.

9) Built-in ability to export or create/mail PDFs and Excel spreadsheets.

10) Fast searching on a field through right-click context menus

11) Improved mail merge and user-interface for sending record-based emails.

12) Tab objects to more easily design and organize layouts.

13) Mouse-wheel support on OSX

14) Some easier to use functions (like GetValue, GetNthRecord, etc)

And many other little things. This release is everything that FM7
should have been. I'm sorry you invested in the upgrade from 6 to 7,
but my feeling is that you invested in the wrong version.

Lawrence Leichtman wrote:
What were your reasons for upgrading?

In article <11mfl882ngcs9bd (AT) corp (DOT) supernews.com>,
Howard Schlossberg <howard (AT) antispahm (DOT) fmprosolutions.com> wrote:

If you are happy with 7, then stick with it. When I was working with 7,
I'd wished I had stayed with 6. But after moving from 7 to 8, I never
want to go back to 6 or 7 ever again. Of course, I have to because some
of my clients are still in 6, but with 8 there is reason for them to
upgrade that I just didn't feel they had reason for in going to 7.

Lawrence Leichtman wrote:

#8

The number 1 reason to upgrade for 8 is that for the first time, FileMaker
is offering an upgrade path from the regular version to the Advanced
(Developer) version. The features in the Advanced version are quite
worthwhile for snyone intermediate level and above.

Bill

"Lawrence Leichtman" <larry (AT) lleichtman (DOT) org> wrote

Quote:

Is there enough difference in version 8 versus 7 to justify the upgrade.
I get something from Filemaker ever day concerning the 8 upgrade but
don't see enough to justify the expense for running only 2 databases.
Any advice would be appreciated.

#9

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

Quote:

I'm sorry you invested in the upgrade from 6 to 7,
but my feeling is that you invested in the wrong version.

I didn't buy the 7, and I'm in total accord with you ; the 8 is the very
best upgrade to do.

your points 3 and 7 are my favorites, and 9 is fine
--
Philippe Manet

#10

Howard Schlossberg wrote:

Quote:

1) FM8 is so much more stable and relatively bug free, including many,
many Windows redraw issues.

2) Speed. Drop-down lists, finds, sorts, everything much faster and solid.

3) My absolute favorite new feature (FMP Advanced) is the ability to
copy and paste scripts, script steps, fields, tables, table occurrences,
etc.

4) Type-ahead auto-fill on fields and drop-down lists.

5) Tool tips

6) Ability to add buttons to your layout tab order.

7) Script variables that make for much more efficient scripting and,
among many other things, allow for custom naming exported files.

8) Ability to define Custom menus helps clean up the interface and ease
of use.

9) Built-in ability to export or create/mail PDFs and Excel spreadsheets.

10) Fast searching on a field through right-click context menus

11) Improved mail merge and user-interface for sending record-based emails.

12) Tab objects to more easily design and organize layouts.

13) Mouse-wheel support on OSX

14) Some easier to use functions (like GetValue, GetNthRecord, etc)

And many other little things. This release is everything that FM7
should have been. I'm sorry you invested in the upgrade from 6 to 7,
but my feeling is that you invested in the wrong version.

Lawrence Leichtman wrote:

What were your reasons for upgrading?

In article <11mfl882ngcs9bd (AT) corp (DOT) supernews.com>,
Howard Schlossberg <howard (AT) antispahm (DOT) fmprosolutions.com> wrote:

If you are happy with 7, then stick with it. When I was working with
7, I'd wished I had stayed with 6. But after moving from 7 to 8, I
never want to go back to 6 or 7 ever again. Of course, I have to
because some of my clients are still in 6, but with 8 there is reason
for them to upgrade that I just didn't feel they had reason for in
going to 7.

Lawrence Leichtman wrote:

I'm with Howard, FM8 has numerous improvements that you use every hour,
every design work unit. Your solutions will be lagging behind if you
don't use it. Convincing existing users with FM7 solutions is another thing.

regards

Chris