I am a business owner that is designing a solution that fits my organization very well. How would Developer 7 benefit me over Pro 7? Would it be worth the purchase? The only thing I can see would be the script debugger but I'm not sure I would use that much. Any Comments?

Mateo:

Developer has two major advantages over FMP - the script debugger & the ability to create runtimes. If you can get by without the script debugger, and if the solution is an in-house solution, then you don't particularly need it. I myself use the script debugger very very little, and I create very complicated solutions.

I'd say, if you haven't found a need for it yet, don't bother yet. If you find you need the tools in the future, go out and buy it. If your solution becomes very complicated, you'll find a use for Developer. Until then, I'd say there's no need to buy something that may just sit on the shelf.

-Stanley

It should be noted that Developer now ships with a 3-user development license of FM Server Advanced - can be handy if you are developing web accessible databases using custom web publishing. The license is for development only though. You still need a commercial license to deploy FMS Advanced.

Hayesk:

You're absolutely right. I'd forgotten about that addition.

-Stanley

thanks guys

The big, big feature of FM Developer is the file renaming tool. It updates internal links and references so scripts and relationships don't break.

Plus the design report, for analyzing files. If you're doing any kind of development at all, developer just seems like the way to go IMHO.

Yes, the design report is the best feature in the developer edition. Most other features are not necessary

If your solution is good, people will notice. I saw a very nice FM solution created at a computer retail/repair shop for their personal business that tracked their repairs.

When I complimentd the creator, he stated that I wasn't the only one, and that he recently purchased Developer and had already sold several runtime solutions (I believe runtimes are not networkable)

As a novice, I found the script debugger very helpful, but I also have a lot of intricate calculations and scripts, well, as intricate as a novice can be . . .

I particularly like the ability to create and use custom functions. They have been very useful for me.