A Quick Look at the New FileMaker Pro 8

Estimated Time To Read This: 5 – 8 minutes

This year’s Developer’s Conference in Phoenix Arizona saw the introduction of a brand new application family: FileMaker Pro 8. The family includes FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Advanced (previously known as Developer), FileMaker Server and Server Advanced and FileMaker Mobile. The server products and Mobile won’t be shipping until later this year.

Past history had many in the developer community wondering if the new features warranted a whole number increase in the version. It is our belief that it is warranted. Where past updates had mostly added marketing functionality and not a lot for developers, FileMaker 8 provides lots of good end user benefits as well as a host of developer goodies. We should also mention that FileMaker 8 shares the same file format as FileMaker 7 so there’s no conversion issues like there were moving from FileMaker 6 to 7.

Here are some of the new features to be found in FileMaker Pro 8 and 8 Advanced

New Features in FileMaker Pro 8
PDF Maker	Create PDF files directly from FileMaker Pro 8 and share with others
Excel Maker	Export Microsoft Excel spreadsheets of your FileMaker data for easier sharing and reporting
Fast Send	Email the contents of any field, including images, documents, Excel files, and more, right from within FileMaker
Fast Match	Find all matching records in your solution with one mouse click
Layout Alignment Tools	Align fields and set equal field lengths to groups of fields and objects
Email Merge	Send emails to one or many contacts in a few simple steps without scripting
Table Import	Automatically create new tables upon importing information into FileMaker Pro 8
Improved Relationships Graph	Click a table and see all related tables – even add notes
Tab Control	Build a layout with multiple tabs in a single step
Auto-Complete	Get faster and more accurate data entry by adding the ability to fill-in field content automatically based on previous entries or Value Lists.
Calendar Drop-Down	Enter dates quickly and more accurately by adding a simple point and click Calendar Drop-down to any field.
Visual Spell Checker	Check spelling of data entry with the new visual spell checker that underlines misspelled words and allows you to edit and correct on the fly.
Field List Filter	View and choose from the fields used on the displayed layout only – and not from every field in your entire database to make choosing the fields you want to sort or export much faster.
Script Variables	Streamline database schema by storing global and local variables in scripts eliminating the need to create unnecessary fields in your database.
Mouse-Wheel Support	Scroll through records or fields faster and easier using a mouse-wheel.
Return Value From Script	Create more flexible, re-usable scripts using this new script step saving development and maintenance time. Now a script can perform a function, and return the result to the calling script.
Relationships Graph	Duplicate tables and relationships in the Relationships Graph. Document your database design by adding notes in the Relationships Graph.
Go To Related Record	Easily show all related records for an entire found set with this enhanced script step.
Set Field Script Step	Supports dynamic selection of field repetition through the use of a calculation.
Value Lists	Display more meaningful information in Value Lists while hiding cryptic associated values. For example, you can display a product description in a Value List, but store the associated part number in the database.
New Features in FileMaker Pro 8 Advanced
Custom Menus	Customize your database by modifying FileMaker menus to execute scripts from menu items. Rename, add or delete menu items, customize keyboard shortcuts and even add or delete entire menus.
Custom Tooltips	Make your database more intuitive and guide data entry by adding Tooltips to fields or layout objects. Mouse-over an item (in either Pro or Advanced) to which you’ve added a Tooltip, to display helpful tips for using your solution or even calculation results.
Data Viewer	Monitor fields, variables, and expressions to gain more insight when debugging your scripts or troubleshooting your database. Test calculation formulae without modifying your database schema.
Script Debugger	Pinpoint problem areas more easily by reviewing scripts step-by-step as they’re executing. Trace script history to quickly see details of calling scripts.
Disable Script Steps	Disable script steps to test portions of a script. When you execute a script, disabled script steps are skipped.
Reuse fields, tables, and more…	Easily reuse fields, tables, scripts, and script steps by copying and pasting within or across tables. Build or modify databases faster by importing multiple tables at once. Reuse fields and tables without importing records.
Database Design Report	Get more comprehensive information on database schema and options, like portals, merge fields and new features like the Tab Panel Control, Custom Menus, Tooltips, and more. The enhanced reports now help you troubleshoot missing references, broken relationships, calculations, and more.

The new features of FileMaker Pro 8 are exciting and we’re proud to show you a closer look at them in coming issues. In this issue you’ll find an article on Saving as Excel, new Layout tools and Copy/Paste Fields, Tables, Scripts and Steps as well as an article on the new Script Variables.
Steve Hearn