Server 5.5v3 released

[abfnyc]

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/1605

Here are the release notes, as they are:

2. New in FileMaker Server 5.5v3

2.1. FileMaker Server will now correctly index fields that have been set to use the Danish

language for indexing.

Did they really not try to fix the corruption bugs???

[ricwash]

It really is amazing that this was fixed before the curruption bugs, I am also annoyed that FM Server doesn't run as a daemon....to have to have the system log into an account to run, and also the manual start of databases, is unexceptable.

-Ric

[Anatoli]

FWIW -- FMS is just service on Windows, so no login required for past 7 years or so.

And it is also much faster, than on Macs.

[ernst]

>>I am also annoyed that FM Server doesn't run as a daemon<<

Quote from the Filemaker website: "On Mac OS X FileMaker Server 5.5 runs as a daemon and as such has no interface."

But indeed, it's a shame that they don't have their act completely together with the OS X version.

Maybe Filemaker got so depressed by the fact that their program runs so much better on 'cheap PC with Windows' that they just could not be bothered.

Regards,

Ernst.

[kennedy]

FMS runs as a daemon on OS X.

No account login is required... not even to start it... you can set it up to start automatically on boot up.

I have been running it this way for many months now and have not had any corruption issues (sound of knocking on wood ;^).

But like you all, I cannot imagine how a known corruption bug in FMS could be allowed to persist longer than *maybe* a week. There cannot be anything higher priority for FMI. So, that makes me wonder if FMI is in fact working at all... is the company viable... do we know that they have developers still?

[Anatoli]

RE: do we know that they have developers still?

They are busy with v. 7.

[Paolo]

Do you have any opinion (or information) about when v. 7 will be released ?

[Anatoli]

IMHO FMI will show it at FM DevCon. Maybe it will be at version 7.0. It is overdue already by 12-18 months.

[lakeside]

kennedy said:

So, that makes me wonder if FMI is in fact working at all... is the company viable... do we know that they have developers still?

Do you think anyone from FileMaker reads these forums, or any forums? Has anyone ever corresponded with anyone at FM? Have they ever responded to any of the issues raised in these forums? What type of company are we dealing with? (I'm new to the FM world.)

[Anatoli]

Apple Company culture:

Deny all bad experiences.

What we do is the best for user.

Etc.

In fact FMI is not so bad. Their products are from 100% functionality something like 1-5%, depending what you need FM for.

It is the only good workgroup database for Mac and Windows PCs.

It is "professional" company like Microsoft: Here is our product. It works. Period. Oh..... you need also support.... give us more money and you will have support.

Problem with FM support is that usually user knows more about FM, that FM support.

But here and on other FM forums you can get 1000 times better support for free.

IMHO -- with FM7 there will be lot of people departing FM and the same or greater number will be joining the FM club.

And yes, I was corresponding several times with nice engineers and also with FMI president.

[ernst]

Anatoli said:

with FM7 there will be lot of people departing FM and the same or greater number will be joining the FM club.

Hmmm, why do you think this? Do you have an idea of what FM7 will be like?

It's time for rumors, so speak up!

Ernst.

[lakeside]

Anatoli said:

It is the only good workgroup database for Mac and Windows PCs.

I used to think that, but now that I'm in a more intense environment, I'm not so sure.

It is "professional" company like Microsoft: Here is our product. It works. Period. Oh..... you need also support.... give us more money and you will have support.

Problem with FM support is that usually user knows more about FM, that FM support.

right. that's a big drag, but workable.

IMHO -- with FM7 there will be lot of people departing FM and the same or greater number will be joining the FM club.

Makes me wonder why you say that.

And yes, I was corresponding several times with nice engineers and also with FMI president.

I'd love to hear your comments on that, too.

Thanks for the info.

M.

[Anatoli]

I can only repeat some rumors from last DevCon:

1. Everything will be different :

2. Structure more like other common databases in File-Table

3. Server will serve the web, not client

4. CDML gone -- this is my assumption because of 3

5. Unicode based -- that was promised to me 3-4 years ago

Complete rewrite of everything...

[lakeside]

Anatoli said:

I can only repeat some rumors from last DevCon:

1. Everything will be different :

2. Structure more like other common databases in File-Table

3. Server will serve the web, not client

This sounds promising! What are the rumors regarding the new structure? Can you point me to some info? When is it due?

[Anatoli]

My best guess is lunch at next FMI DevCon. And rumors are not officially and publicly confirmed.

I see some issues with FM7.

Not as easy migration as between previous versions.

Some users and corporation will not update for 2-4 years.

Some users and new users will like to upgrade immediately, but only the FSA members will have some preliminary knowledge about FM7. Non members will study-it first, before first programming trials.

[ernst]

Anatoli said:

>>I see some issues with FM7.

Do you mean that you 'expect' some issues.

Or that you have some secret beta version already?

[Anatoli]

I don't have a beta and I don't know if it exist.

One of my issues is: If FM7 is Unicode based, will there be Lasso for it?

Even if Lasso will not be available I can go on with CDML. But, will there be CDML? Will there be WebCompanion, which is client based? Probably not, because of (maybe) FM Server 7 serving the network *and* web.

Do I like FM server exposed to web? Definitely not!

There will be for me so many issues ahead, that after 1 year of hard work on transition I might drop the FM 7 altogether! But maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised ^_^

[ernst]

Anatoli said:

>> There will be for me so many issues ahead, that after 1 year of hard work on transition I might drop >> the FM 7 altogether! But maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised

If Filemaker really releases a 'brandnew' product as opposed to a beefed up version of FM6 then you can almost count on a reasonably long transition period. And I can't imagine that they could come up with an reasonably finished and tested product without leaking any alpha- or beta versions.

My guess would be that IF they come with a new product that they might show a pre-release version at Devcon, have a 'public beta' version some months later and a 1.0 release in the first half of 2004.

If on the other hand they continue developping the current Filemaker by adding more features then 7.0 could be introduced on Devcon.

But again, it's all wild speculations on my part...

Regards,

Ernst.

[Anatoli]

RE: My guess would be that IF they come with a new product that they might show a pre-release version at Devcon, have a 'public beta' version some months later and a 1.0 release in the first half of 2004.

I don't think 'public beta' will happen.

But that *New* FM can be really version 8 and not 7. Since Mac X was sooooo delayed when needed, it may happen to FM as well.