What programming does FileMaker Pro require

[BJS]

I am an Access programmer, and have been asked about developing a database in FileMaker Pro. Does FileMaker Pro actually have it's own programming language? How does the development of a FileMaker Pro database differ from an Access database?

Appreciate any information.

Thanks,

BJS

[DonH]

It is more of a visual language. Drag and drop. Pretty limited in its capabilities. The programming is not hard to figure out, but sometimes the work arounds can be.

Big difference is that FMP does not use queries as you would in Access.

[kenneth2k1]

Yes, FM uses "high level" programming, but it is similar to Access as far as object-orientation.

Although FM is different from other DBMS, I think it is actually quite capable. It might not be as capable if you are using version 3, however.

Generally, the learning curve for FM is a lot less than other programs. For example you don't have to know C, or one of it's derivatives. FM uses scripts for automation (which is very plain english) and calculations are boolean.

Ken

[SteveB]

Most of us will strongly disagree with DonH that FM is pretty limited. It certainly requires a different mind set than programming in a native language like C or VB. And yes, sometimes it's a pain trying to wok around its limitations. And you may very well ahve to purchase plugins to make your life easier. Someone with programming experience will find working in FM very easy, altho it does require some adjustment.

Steve

[-Queue-]

I can't disagree too much with the man, given that he's stuck with FM 3.0.

[rogermax]

It is always interesting to me that even after many years of developing and using FMP that there is still so much to learn. Mostly from the aspect of seeing things from a different perspective. That is why I watch these boards so much. I have done things one way and yet find others that have accomplished the very same thing only in a much more elegant way. (Even if my comment here is not so elegant). I have found very little that FM can't do.

[DonH]

Actually, as far as programming, it uses the same skills. You still need to be able to sit down away from the computer and map out what you want to do in a logical way. When that is not done, it becomes painfully obvious even to people not so familiar with the quirks of the system.

If I was to really compare it to something I would put it next to Action Script for Flash. Just in style and "feel".

As far as being limiting, well, it comes from the perspective of a person who writes their own say HTML vice using Front Page. You are limited in what you can do, so you become very creative in HOW you do things.

Basically, just use solid programming practices and the actual scripting isn't too hard.

[falkaholic]

If your going down the FileMaker road, BJS, you will find this web board VERY helpful. The 'Search' function is a great tool. Watch out though, even with the help of this forum, you are still able to get PIDTFMF (Pure Insanity Due To FileMaker Frustrations) like I am suffering from.

[Vaughan]

"As far as being limiting, well, it comes from the perspective of a person who writes their own say HTML vice using Front Page."

LOL

FrontPage is not a good example of an html tool. Does anybody use FrontPage for real work?

FMP 3.0 was very, very capable for its time. It must have come out nearly ten years ago now! FMP 6 is a very different beast.

[stanley]

I've got to agree with Roger. There's very little that can't be done in FMP. I've used it to prototype video editing software and an integrated office solution, build accounting apps, track factory orders, build an on-line store, and a bundle of other things. It's as close to programming you can get without programming. A cousin of mine (an Oracle guy) disses it because it is "only scripting." It may be only scripting, but it is pretty damned powerful scripting, once you bend your mind around the problem.

-Stanley

[tkno]

BJS said:

I am an Access programmer, and have been asked about developing a database in FileMaker Pro. Does FileMaker Pro actually have it's own programming language? How does the development of a FileMaker Pro database differ from an Access database?

I'm in the same situation you're in, BJS. I'm now beginning to learn FM6 and I find it has a totally different "feel" from Access... it has the "Mac feel" rather than the "Windows (or DOS) feel".

This forum is extremely helpful and informative and I've learned a lot in a very short time.

One aspect of Access that I haven't found in FM is the ability to create Linked Tables. I find this to be an important issue with the FM community and there are many posted "work-arounds".

If you find a way to structure your programming to simulate the Linked Tables feature of Access, please let me know... I would be most grateful!

[Singlequanta]

Hey BJS, I think all of the comments here are very fair and accurate. I've programmed extensively in PHP/Mysql, Access, and Filemaker. The three are, well, apples, turnips, and icecream sandwiches. I.e. they're completely different.

My advice re FileMaker is this: Don't complicate it by thinking complicated. As you gain experience with FM, you'll be shocked at how quickly you can achieve very complex solutions without having to pull out too much reference material.

As with all projects though, my other advice is to ensure that you're using the right tool for the Job. I'm sure you will remember there was a time when anyone with a copy of WordPerfect and a laser printer claimed to be a Desktop Publisher.

Filemaker is fantastic for it's visual ease and it's speed of development. With ODBC support, marrying filemaker to any other data source is now as simple as point and click...

Best of luck with it.

((OH yeah, and definatly pull up a chair on FM Forums... This place is great for support))

Steve

[Anatoli]

FM is much faster with 200 users and 2-3 million records database than Access.

Also programming is much faster.

In the one-week time Access guys are talking overall design and money with client, my friend is presenting to the client solution very similar to the final version and leaves run time on his/hers computer.

Also money wise it is cheaper than Access and MS SQL in the back plus development costs, so in 99% he gets the job.

Problem with FM solutions is all that connectivity to the other Office modules. But when I've show to the client, that you can write decent correspondence in FM and store it with customer database, he was excited, because Word and Excel was not necessary and whole company is using that FM system.

In any case, FM is used for $10 million and $60 million companies where I've worked. Total maintenance cost with FM server and FM network was less than $100! Show that to the M$ administrators! It never crashed!

But you must know what you are doing. The bigger installation has FM server crashing 2-3 times a day. I've build computer for FMS in September 2002 and till April 2003 it didn't crashed. It probably didn't crash till today, but I left the company in April.