Claris FileMaker

Pros

Claris Filemaker is overall excellent for creating custom databases. It offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features that make it easy to design and manage databases. If you know how to use iTunes, you know how to use Filemaker. It's got power and simplicity.

Cons

What frustrates me about FileMaker - as a freelancer - is the lack of out-of-the-box integration with Google, CardDav and CalDav servers, and - unforgivably - iCloud (considering that Claris is owned by Apple.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Choosing Claris FileMaker

Switched From

Reasons for Switching to Claris FileMaker

Pros

File Maker is super easy to set up and super easy to become proficient in. It's super reliable to use a tool that's 30 years old, and still getting powerful additions regularly.

Cons

FileMaker is an oddball in the database field, and it can be hard to find best practices and tutorials for FileMaker.

Pros

I like the search functionality. I can create custom searches and get all the information I want at my fingertips with a couple prompts.

Cons

The UI is very dated. It's clunky, it stalls, it's difficult to use. You need training to really grasp it; it's not the most user-friendly product. It's robust but clunky.

Pros

I first started using this years ago when I ran an art department for a publishers, and wanted something more robust than Excel to manage the data! I instantly fell in love with this humble but powerful software!
Once you get past the "If Then" stuff it's a doddle to set up very complex seeming databases that analyse, your data and build reports for you!

Cons

If anything it's pretty minor they could use an idiots walk through to get you over the initial hurdles of understanding logic queries, but even without this, this software is so elegantly simple even a moron like me managed to get by!

Pros

The easy and stable way to use it and improve it daily, as you want.

Cons

Only iOS mobile App (no Android). Restriction without big consequence for me.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Claris FileMaker

Pros

We inherited a critical database in Filemaker workstation format, we needed to move to a cloud-based solution, so Filemaker Cloud looked like the obvious choice.

Cons

In reality, our purported migration never worked well. Some features simply stopped working after Filemaker "upgraded" the cloud version. Support was completely unable to help. What it worse we found the cloud software laggy, and underperforming, slowing what was the usual workstation workflow.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Claris FileMaker

Pros

Ease of Use
Features
Stability
Updates
Integrations

Cons

Licensing prices . Fees to obtain newer and better versions.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Choosing Claris FileMaker

Switched From

Reasons for Switching to Claris FileMaker

Pros

There is the almost universal view that FileMaker applications are for tracking invoices, inventories, employees, club members and other human and non-human resources relating to businesses and organisations.

But it is also a hobbyist's dream come true as other kinds of data processors can be created such as for note-making and planning screenplays (please visit https://notemakerdatabase.com for proof — both these data processors are offered free). In a strange way, it's these non-business applications that highlight FileMaker's incredible power as a platform for building any kind of a data processor. Only because FileMaker is incredibly customisable and highly versatile that NoteMaker and ScriptPlanner have become possible. The promotional phrase "low code" is a misnomer. The level of sophistication of NoteMaker and ScriptPlanner could never be achieved with "low code" or "no code" (ie, just click and pick). So, even though FileMaker is promoted as "low code" (to compete with internet-based database-creation software) — yes, it's true in the sense that an invoice and other business applications can be developed with little recourse to code, but — it's not a true picture of the powerful high-code capability that is FileMaker.

FileMaker is what is called an All-In-One. It has the design tools to create the front-end (or the user interface), it has a superb internal programming language (aka "middleware") to create the logic and finally it has an astonishing storage capacity for data (the "backend") — here, we're talking about millions of records.

As experience grows so too will your ability to create more sophisticated applications. Warning: the more you learn the more addictive FileMaker becomes. When you experience the magic of the simple Go to Layout script step, creating layouts becomes explosive. When you the learn the more complicated Loop script step, creative use for it explodes. And that's how it is: the more you learn, the more empowered you feel, the more you dare to be creative.

There is a large body of professional developers who work full-time to build custom solutions for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). So, with FileMaker comes a healthy community of skilled personnel. If you are an SME, speak to a FileMaker developer and as well as to other database providers and see what they can do to help you manage your valuable resources.

Cons

Versions 19, 20 and new (released June 2024) version 21 have focused on empowering professional database builders to deliver and connect their systems to the cloud, network servers and mobile devices (such as smart phones and tablets) and to build more effective e-commerce websites — all at the "cost" of providing hobbyists with more functions for building (perhaps innovative) data processors in and of themselves for delivering to local hard drives of fellow hobbyists.

But the full-on evolution of FileMaker in entering the greater digital world is understandable if it is to maintain competitiveness with MS's ubiquitous Access, MYOB, giant SAP and solely internet-based database-creation platforms such as Caspio and the like. By all accounts, FileMaker continues to be competitive in this crowded marketplace of solution-providers to small-to-medium businesses and organisations.

But, alas, some hobbyists miss powerful functions like While(). Since v18, nothing like While() has been implemented. Instead, functions that enable greater deployment options, increased connectivity and improved websites have dominated FileMaker's evolution since v18.

So headlong has FileMaker jumped into the brave new world that it has become all about empowering professional developers — rarely taking a look back to see some of the hobbyists who have been left behind.

Pros

When you need something more than off-the-shelf software, FileMaker allows you to build a custom app quickly.

Cons

It can be slightly expensive for smaller businesses.

Pros

This software is very easily manipulated to create databases to store data, create reports and worksheets and many other tasks. We use it daily for operations.

Cons

The newer versions of it seem to run slower. In fact, we reverted back to version 18 for our production environment because of slowness issues. This was on FAST machines with lots of RAM. Consider an older version.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Claris FileMaker

Pros

Good product to able manage files especially for computer based softwares

Cons

Should be faster. Some bug and communication problem can be mitigated

Pros

The database management is great, easy and powerful. The scripts and conditional logic are superpowerful, you can make almost any kind of process with the scripts, just takes time and a high learning curve to squeeze all its possibilities.
Building simple static interfaces is fairly easy and quick.

Cons

A) UI: the interface engine is completely outdated for a modern app, is not that you can't build beautiful UI, you can, as far it does not require real responsiveness and conditionals. When a layout (page) needs to have a dynamic interface, which means conditionals for show/hide elements and adapt the rest of the elements, you just can't. Is possible to hide elements of course, but not to adapt the behavior for the rest of the elements. In a simple interface with only a few fields, you can handle it easily, but for complex/flexible UI, it becomes a nightmare with a lot of data that you cannot show dynamically.
10 years ago it was all that was out there, and therefore the CRM UI were those big messy layouts with a lot of data. For nowadays the web design moved to dynamic UI where less is more, if you want an interface to be easy to read and understand, you really need to show less data at the same time, for that you need dynamic and flexible UI, which is not possible to build with Filemaker.

B) Data access/constraint: relations in the database are made in a way (classic relations between tables) that while is intuitive and easy to understand, is very difficult and limited for big and complex relations. Why? It is possible to make any relation, but the quantity of relations you need and the complexity (usually chaos) that comes with is huge. Also, real constraints far data calls from the UI are not possible, you always have to call the full data from the UI.

Pros

Filemaker is extremely adaptable. It can be used by a small one-or-two computer setup, right up to a huge conglomerate. The software remains the same, and enables your business to grow without having to keep changing software.

They are constantly updating the extra functionality; with the latest revision there is more possibility for engagement with other applications, enhanced security, and a re-designed interface for PC users.

I have been using FMP for the last 10 years, first as a tool in my business, and latterly as a developer with many companies. It is as robust today as it was when I started, and keeps getting better.

Cons

Enabling the use of FIlemaker on a large-scale for a small company is very difficult. Let me explain...

Company A provides security guards to Clubs, Shops, Companies, etc... They have a full-time workforce of 10 employees, and then 400 security personnel on their books as either casual or part-time employees. The 10 full-time employees utilise Filemaker Pro to book jobs for the part-time and casual employees, the software is also used for vetting potential new recruits, invoicing companies, and keeping a history of who has worked where, and any comments from either side about that.

An extra function would be to allow the part-time and casual employees the ability to see part of the Filemaker database, so they could access their upcoming jobs and leave any comments. With iBeacons, a safety system could also be utilised to make sure they are on patrol at a certain time in a given location.

With Filemaker's current structure, each casual worker would need their own license to make this extra functionality easily happen, which of course is prohibitively expensive.

But if that is the only drawback I can think of, then they are doing just fine!

Pros

I love that if you can think it, Filemaker can produce it. Given the time to develop motion, you can get the software to repeat that motion over and over. That saves time and time is money. I love how it provides mental exercise while developing but also is intuitive when it comes to building a custom application that the whole business can take advantage. After an introduction to a new "app" built in Filemaker, it isn't long that all departments ask "what could it do for us?" And the answer is "what do you need". It is so versatile. Integration with things like email, Google, Office can lead to great productivity.

Cons

The think I like least is the capability in reports to do some word processing capabilities. But it's still a great Form library. But I wish it could insert a page break that would be understood while printing a report.

Pros

I have been using FileMaker since probably 1988. That would be 32 years. It is the most valuable tool in my office. I can easily create a database to manage specific information. I have databases I set up early on that I still use. I created a time and billing program when Macs still ran on system 9, and it has worked ever since with no modifications. I have been using FileMaker in court to win cases since the first Apple laptop computer. Kf you want command of your information, FileMaker is the tool to help you do it.

Cons

1. It does not work well with Adobe Acrobat. When I import pdf's I am unable to annotate them or even highlight passages.
2. FileMaker server requires ports used for web hosting. I had to set up my website host computer at a separate location. I am sure I could have found a workaround, but that is beyond my ability.

Pros

Serves well the client that are used to it and non-technical. If you use FileMaker go for SaaS - reasonably priced, easy to transition, easy to manage.

Cons

Limited functionality, but serves well for what it is used by specific departments. Would prefer to use the same DB system as the rest of the college.

Pros

You can quickly and easily design powerful and sophisticated custom applications that run on Mac, Windows, iOS, and the Web. You develop once and deploy the same base code on all platforms, customizing your forms according to each platform's needs.

Their iOS runtimes take great advantage of Apple technologies like:
the buit-in GPS hardware and external iBeacons for location/geolocation based workflows
 the built-in camera for snapping photos and reading 2-D Barcode (barcode scanning)
multi-touch, for gesture-triggered actions and capturing on-screen signatures

Their Server and Cloud products are among the easiest to deploy and maintain.

Their proprietary WebDirect technology is the easiest and fastest way to deploy web-based applications for workgroups that I have ever seen.

Their suite of built-in web-integration capabilities spans the gamut: PHP, cURL, REST APIs, XML, and WebDirect.

Cons

Lack of a built-in push notification mechanism, either thru their Servers or via the host OS. Also, their Cloud product could benefit from Load Balancing support.

Pros

I came in as a total novice, not a coder or any kind of database professional, and was able to build the forms and pages I needed to keep the info on my contacts organized and clear. It's a lightweight program that doesn't use much memory even for a database with thousands of pages, so it can move quickly and sort easily. I'm still discovering functionality years later that I didn't know existed, but happy with what I have already figured out.

Cons

I found it annoying that when I recently got a new computer and had to get a new copy of Filemaker, it couldn't read my .fp7 file, so it had to update the file, which then makes it unreadable on the old software on my old computer. Why couldn't they have just made one universal Filemaker file extension type? But that's a minor complaint.

Pros

It has a visually pleasing and easy to use user interface. It is highly customizable and quite easy to set up. It has the drag and drop tool that makes it easy to create presentations. It has a significant number of templates ready to use. The ability to combine plugins streamlines the process for creating applications.

Cons

They can give you greater dynamics Incorporating integrations of applications commonly used in the office and its cost is significantly high.

Pros

I found this software super easy to learn on the job. It gave me instant access to millions of customers, searches, custom finds, everything I could imagine I needed right there.

Cons

We had so many customers and pets in our system it would often crash on us leading to a whole skew of problems at the office and more work when it came back online to catch up all the changes we needed to make to each client file that called.

Pros

It has a complex structure which makes it robust yet it is very easy to use and learn. It makes the planning very easy for our projects. Commands and scripts can be easily combined. It has many custom solutions for different needs and you can get it working in no time. It is very flexible and customisable.

Cons

It lacks some of the visualisation techniques for the representation just same as excel sheets. It should also have more licensing options for the small scale to medium scale companies.

Pros

Feature set is quite large.
Very easy import/export of data.
Great tool for proof-of-concepts for large systems, or for small to mid-size applications.

Cons

Initial login interface is not very customizable. To truly make a custom login, you have to essentially "log in" with a dummy account, go to a specified layout, and then re-log in with the credentials supplied by the user. This opens up potential security holes.
Using the native security virtually eliminates this gap, but leaves little to no customization of initial user experience.
The FileMaker platform is still not easy to replicate asynchronously, and it does not scale all that well to multiple widespread locations without serious effort.

Pros

Any type of process or data collection is possible. You will need to learn some basic programming for the scripting if you do it yourself or hire an professional. The layouts and scripts allow you to create any type of form or view for the user. We have dashboards for departments to only show what they need and it is very helpful. Windows and apple products both can be used on the same database, which is awesome.

Cons

There are some things that were available when we started using filemaker custom app, but now we have to revise scripts and layouts to utilize new features. Not something bad really, just tweaking of the app to make it even more powerful. The bad thing about being able to do much is the requests from staff for new additions.

Pros

My favorite part about this software is the amount of things you can accomplish using it. I work for a facilities maintenance company and we track all of our emergency and normal schedule work orders, our contractors, and all of our customers as well. It stays organized, up to date, and we maintain a high production rate using it.

Cons

The only thing I dislike is the main interface can be a little intimidating when first learning it as there is a lot going on, and a lot of tabs and buttons that can easily change settings and usage. But, once you get to know it, it gets easier and easier and will be a great asset to your company.

Pros

Can do just about anything you want. Great online community and support. Good security and server encrypted. Love the iOS native application and your users will too.

Cons

Needs a company sponsored tutorial on advanced scripting. The knowledge base is out there but needs to be brought under the FileMaker roof.