Are the curent versions 100% compatible, such that data files can be exchanged over the internet after being modified under either system?

A FileMaker file is pretty much a FileMaker file. The operating system has little to do with it. Unless of course you include OS specific steps like Perform AppleScript (Mac-only obviously).

The major differences are in things like the ways windows are zoomed. Macs just zoom the one window, as is. Windows zooms all the application's windows, requiring the Maximize step first to really do it sometimes. And there's the Task Bar thing, which you can't control natively from FileMaker (though I think there are plug-ins that can; users can just hide it manually also).

Fonts appear a bit larger on Windows. But I have no real problems using Verdana, which appears almost identically on both platforms (a little wide and clunky, but easily readable).

It is/was installed on Macs by Internet Explorer. This will change in the future however, as I.E. is no longer being developed for Macs, and Verdana has been pulled from Microsoft's free fonts web site. Verdana will likely be around for a while though.

Graphics can be another problem. FileMaker-created graphics are fine. But others need to have "Preferences, Document, Store Compatible Graphics" turned on (which bloats the file if there's lots of graphics). It's also a bit tricky to get graphics to show transparency properly cross-platform (ie., no white square).

I was quite disturbed to hear the advice given in the MacAcademy/Windows Academy FMP 6.0 CD ROM tutorial: use a Windows box for FM development.

The reason given that FM Win apparently can't natively read some Mac graphics formats (true) and attempting to do so will corrupt the FM file. (I don't know about this???)

Doesn't 'Store Compatible Graphics' resolve these issues?

Anyway, worrying advice from a company that has the Mac market to thank for its survival thus far. Worse, if it happens to be true.

(I've seen Win XP, and the gaudy blue, and out-of-place buttons remind me of a FM layout done by someone with no interest in aesthetics.

I'm currently developing on Mac OS X, and that's where I want to stay.

If Mac/Windows Academy said that, they were probably talking about solutions that will be deployed on Win machines or cross-platform. If it will be used by Mac only clients, then why bother with Windows? Similarly, you wouldn't build a boat and not drop it in the water, would you?

I began developing on MacOS, and when I moved it to Windows for testing, I found that many objects were misplaced, the fields were too small and just generally didn't look as good as when it was on a Mac. The entire design had to be changed because my users were all on Windows.

I stick to 2 guidelines when putting graphics in my files:

1. I only use JPEGs.

2. I always use Insert/Picture to add images. Don't cut/paste or drag images from other application files.

Regarding fonts:

As long as the font is one of the computer's system fonts, no problem. But if you're a developer, you don't have time to make sure every PC has the font you used in the file so that it looks pretty. I believe Windows/Mac Academy even says to only use the big three fonts because they are the most common: Arial, Times, and...(can't remember the third, sorry). FM will usually convert unknown fonts to a known, but I don't trust it.

Ken