Hi,

I'm looking for input as to if what I want to do in Filemaker is viable and how hard it would be to do. Any input, tips, ideas or working examples or open source templates that might work would be great.

Environment: Car Audio/Security dealers - typically 2-5 employees - small stand alone businesses or a chain of 2-3 locations.

Adapt example forms (attached) to digital versions that can be accessed, filed out and recalled on Macs, PC's, iPads and iphones/touchs.

- Enter information

- Take and store pictures/videos

- Move from device to device as the vehicle/work is handed off from stage to stage / employee to employee

I would like to be able to have certain sections or pages be able to show up or hide depending on what is being done - IE if an alarm is being installed then a page would be added that must be filled out with alarm related information, details etc.

So, I am a Filemaker newbie, but experienced computer user and decent and learning things.

How hard will this be? Is it viable for someone to do?

If the scope of the project is way beyond a newbie starting from scratch, who would be good to build it and what kind of budget would be needed?

What version of Filemaker would you recommend?

http://www.drivenaudio.ca/iphone/images/MIP.jpg

http://www.drivenaudio.ca/iphone/images/MIP2.jpg

http://www.drivenaudio.ca/iphone/images/MIP4.jpg

A lot of the difficulty will depend on your background with database development. It looks like a fun and interesting project that would be a nice way to get into Filemaker development if time is not too much of a constraint. I would look at FM 12 because of the new themes and the ability of FM 12 to set up layouts for each of the devices you mentioned.

Are you using Filemaker Server as well?

Jump in and give it a try yourself -- you have a lot of resources here and there are a number of online resources on the Filemaker site.

And if you're planning on doing development as an ongoing thing get Ray Cologon's Filemaker 10 book -- the best resource you'll ever buy. Even though it's Filemaker 10 the concepts will apply to Filemaker 12 as well.

Good luck and happy filemaking !!!