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Simple Solutions Database Development
Although we can and from time to time do develop in other environments, at BabelFix our development software of choice is nearly always FileMaker™ Pro.
We've been using this great software for many years - and as its evolved into an extraordinarily powerful relational tool, we've learned to push its envelope to the point where there is remarkably little it can't do.
Besides being a perfect specialist workgroup tool, it is becoming a really serious contender for even larger enterprise projects. New in July 2007, FileMaker 9 can now integrate directly with SQL tables, allowing a whole new world of possibilities...
FileMaker is a supremely versatile development environment - Solution files can be developed very much faster and with far more flexibility than many other systems and can also be used as a front end or prototyping tools for high end enterprise data systems such as Oracle or SQL. The in-built scripting calls, particularly when combined with plug-ins and other code bases present a comprehensive armoury of powerful options. The integrated web viewer is opening up tremendously powerful potential including the use of javascript for advanced interface elements, displays and form feedback - as well as direct web displays...
The FileMaker Product range
BabelFix are authorised resellers of FileMaker Products when they are supplied with our solutions and can arrange discounts over list price as well as negotiating the best Volume Licence Agreements on our clients' behalf.
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FileMaker Pro 9 is the standard client version - it also contains the basic tools necessary for development and though there are limitations, is also capable of serving peer-to-peer and web sharing for small workgroups.
You'll generally need one copy installed on every workstation and, (other than for very small user groups where peer-to-peer is a non-recommended possibility, for networked solutions you'll also need FileMaker Server on a dedicated CPU - unless you design a web interface and use FileMaker Server Advanced on a dedicated CPU with local browsers instead.
There are often volume discounts available for orders of 10 and more units, which can include FM Server, etc. |
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FileMaker Advanced 9 does everything that ordinary FM Pro does, but also includes very useful debugging tools, the ability to write and re-use powerful custom functions, XML database analysis and a binding tool that allows the creation of royalty free standalone solutions, (although these cannot be networked). No serious developer should be without it!
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FileMaker Server 9 is used to 'broadcast' FileMaker files over a network, using TCP/IP and is essential when there are more than 5 users - performance is greatly enhanced and file integrity is far better protected. FileMaker Pro server is available for Mac OS X, plus Windows of many flavours and can even be deployed using Citrix. The full specifications are right here...
FileMaker Server 9 Advanced is required for serving a solution for viewing with web browsers and overcomes the limitations of 'regular' server, which will only accept 10 unique connections per 12 hours. |
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| FileMaker Mobile 8 provides Palm connectivity and synchronisation, and though not fully relational may be useful for simple portable data... |
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