Posts Tagged ‘FileMaker Go’
FileMaker Pro is hands down the best database application on the desktop! While both FileMaker Go and Bento remain tops in their respective categories on iOS, the good folks over at FileMaker have not stopped or rested on their laurels. The lastet update to FileMaker Go (1.2) for both iPhone/iPod touch and iPad has added three great features. The first one is probably the one that makes the most sense on a touch device. FileMaker Go can now capture signatures right on your device. This is going to be GREAT! You could now have people digitally sign those workorders, contracts, etc. right on the spot and have them saved either locally on the device or remotely via your FileMaker Pro Server running on the desktop.
The next new feature allows for live graphing right on the device. As you update the data in your records your graphs and pie charts will update right before your eyes. Great for reporting on the go and checking in on the go to see how the business is running. I'm a visual guy, so this is awesome!
Lastly and probably one of the ones that will mean a lot to a lot of people. While AirPrint support is great, when it comes to FileMaker AirPrint alone may not be enough. With a FileMaker Pro database your reports are data driven and often times the printing will change based on the layouts and the calculations. A screen dump is not enough. FileMaker Go 1.2 does native printing via AirPrint as well as the ability to print to PDF natively. This update is free to existing FileMaker Go users.
You can get FileMaker Go for iPad here 
You can get FileMkaer Go for iPhone/iPod touch here
You may remember my original review (here) of FileMaker Go and how excited I was to see a full fledge mobile version of FileMaker come out for the iPad and iPhone. Although I was very pleased with the initial release there were two things on my wish list. The first one from a use FileMaker Go as an inventory/data collection tool in the field perspective, was the ability to ADD/IMPORT an image on the spot. Although the iPad doesn't have a built-in camera (I think it needs one for applications just like this), there are other ways to get images onto your iPad including the camera connection kit. With the iPhone and new iPod touch this is a no brainer. So image import on the go is a big deal to me. The second one and probably even more useful for the general public is the ability to SHARE the reports you generate from FileMaker. The original version would let you run your FileMaker reports, but there was no easy way to share just the report data with others. I'm very pleased to see that FileMaker Inc. listened and added exactly what I wanted.
The 1.1 update now lets you:
- Add photos to the database and email them as an attachment
- Convert records to PDF and email the file from the database <-reports
- Save a copy of the database and email it as an attachment <-great for people who work offline and need to send their work to the office
- Import records from FileMaker Pro databases to FileMaker Go via scripts
These are great features for an already great App! If you're a FileMaker Pro user and you have an iOS device, this is a must have app!
You can get FileMaker Go for iPad here from the
You can get FileMaker Go for iPhone/iPod touch here from the
I actually began my consulting business many years ago setting up FileMaker databases for clients. Back then I would have definitely considered myself to be a power user. I looked at each client's needs as a challenge on how I could not only solve their problems with FileMaker Pro, but also automate as much of their workflow as possible. While I'm no longer a consultant, I'm still a FileMaker Pro user and I use it to manage my non-profit organization MacGroup-Detroit, Inc. The database I built years ago still gets the job done. It's in need a face lift and I'm sure I can take advantage of some of the new features that have been added to FileMaker Pro over the years, but I haven't really needed to fix it up because it just works!
Now I can access my database on my iOS devices
FileMaker Go comes in two flavors. There's an iPad version and an iPhone/iPod touch version. I opted for the iPad version simply because it makes more sense to do this kind of work on the larger iPad screen. However, make no mistake about it, if you need FileMaker Pro database access on your iPhone or iPod touch, there's an App for that too! While I've been anticipating this app for some time now, I'm actually glad that they (FileMaker, Inc.) didn't rush it. FileMaker Go is AMAZING! From the moment I launched it on my iPad, I knew then that this was going to be a great App. I love it when a developer pays attention to detail. For example, when you launch it you'll have the local databases (the ones actually installed on your iPad) on the left and any FileMaker Pro databases running on the network on the right. Since I figured that installing my database on the iPad would probably work just fine (just like the Bento app), I was more interested in the networking abilities. So I fired up my FileMaker Pro database on one of my Mac desktop computers and then went to the iPad. The iPad (FileMaker Go) saw it right away and was able to open it wirelessly without any problems.
I can do everything I need
If you were to ask me what would I expect to be able to do with an iPad version of FileMaker Pro? I would say that I want to be able to add records, find records, edit records, delete records and switch layouts. FileMaker Go not only does these things, but the UI (user interface) is well thought out. I can see this App along with the iPad being an inventory, order taker, evaluator, or administrative assistant's dream come true. Of course there are lots of other use cases too, but those immediately came to mind. For anyone that needs to access THEIR data in the palm of their hand, I can't think of a better solution. FileMaker Go is not for new database creation. You're better off building the databases on your computer anyway.
What about the price?: The price of the iPad version is $39.99 and while that will put some of you into sticker shock, it's really not bad when you consider the possibilities and target (business) market. The iPhone/iPod touch version is only $19.99. My only wish is that for those willing to pay the $39.99 for the iPad version, it should be a + (plus) App that runs both on iPads and iPhones. That would feel more fair to me. As it stands now if you want to run this on both an iPad and iPhone, you would have to either buy both, or buy the iPhone version and not take advantage of the iPad's native size. Otherwise, I don't have any issues with the prices being charged. You either need this kind of app or you don't and if you're just a consumer (not a business user), then you're probably better suited with the Bento App.
The Bottom Line
Other than a couple of minor layout glitches in my database, FileMaker Go did a phenomenal job representing my exact FileMaker Pro layouts on my iPad. I found the App easy to use and there really isn't anything I can think of that I would ask for. I know that some of you are going to be upset because there is no printing. However, that's not a limitation of the App, it's a limitation of the iOS. Although an Export/Print to PDF would be nice. At least that way you could share a report more easily on the go. If you're a business user or you deploy FileMaker Pro Apps, this is a must have for you and your clients!
You can get FileMaker Go for iPad here from the
You can get FileMaker Go for iPhone/iPod touch here from the
