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FileMaker Pro Developer 5.5 Review by: Gary Coyne Provides: Creation of standalone databases and
much more
It was not that long ago I reviewed FileMaker Pro Developer version 5 (March, 2001). I gave it a hearty review, and now I'm giving its successor an even stronger review. If you are a professional FileMaker Pro developer, this is now an even greater "must have" tool. For those unfamiliar with this version of FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Pro Developer is mostly a program that lets you create "standalone" versions of your FileMaker Pro database. That is, if I were to hand a FileMaker Pro document to someone who does not own FileMaker Pro, there is not much that person could do with that document. The Developer Edition of FileMaker Pro allows me to create a special version of FileMaker Pro that is "married" to that one document. So, if I wanted to share my database of ferrits and weasals, I could give a standalone version of this database to anyone and they would have the pleasures of my ferrit and weasal database without having to own FileMaker. In effect, what this does is let others run your database as Acrobat Reader allows others to read Acrobat documents.
Like Acrobat Reader, what the users of a standalone database cannot do is to create their own database. Depending on how the database is configured, they may or may not be able to add or delete records, make alterations, import and export records. The database designer can allow or prevent most of the normal operations of the database with the exception that standalone databases do not have the Layout selection, and therefore, one cannot alter or adjust a layout. In addition, there is no script creation or alteraltion. In short, a standalone version of a database is for use, not creation or alteration. Additionally, a standalone database cannot be used for web hosting. There are some important considerations for a developer of FileMaker Pro files and perhaps the most important one is that ALL support must be provided by the developer. That is, FileMaker Inc. will not answer ANY support questions for the holder of a standalone database. So, unless you are prepared to be available for handling all questions related to your database (instalation, operation, etc.) you may not be a candidate for creating standalone versions of your database. In past copies of FileMaker Pro Developer, one received not only the Mac AND the PC version of FileMaker Pro Developer program, but also the Mac and PC version of FileMaker Pro. Curiously, FileMaker Inc. claims that version 5.5 does not come with copies of FileMaker Pro. Yet, when I installed the Developer program, there on my HD was a copy of FileMaker Pro. So, I started the program and the startup screen showed "FileMaker Pro Developer 5.5." Thus, one does not receive FileMaker Pro with the Developers Edition, one receives something better: FileMaker Pro Developers Edition with Script Debugger.
The Script Debugger is an extra selection found under the Script menu. With the Script Debugger engaged, one can execute through your scripts one line at a time as well as subscripts, execute a script from any step in the scriptset, and create or clear breakpoints. With breakpoints, you can execute a script and set a point where it will stop until you let it continue (only within the script debugger). This is a very cool tool.
My only complaint with the debugger is that there were no pop-up, identification names for the various tools on the Debugger window. I didn't find the tools icons intuitive, but the names given to them in the manual were sufficient to tell me what action they performed. As in previous versions of FileMaker Pro's Developer Tool, here also one can create standalone databases, create a database for running in a Kiosk, rename files and update internal links, prevent modification of the database structure, insert your own About, Help, and/or Scripts menu, and/or add or remove a FileMaker Pro extension (".fp5"). Regrettably, one of the long missing features in the Developers Tool is a button to collect all the files in a selected folder. Specifically, as you work your way through the Developer's "Wizard" to create your runtime version of the database, at one point you must tell the Developer what files you want to include in your solution. When you select the "Add File..." button, you get a standard Mac open box and can select the file you want. The catch is the operative word "file," not "files." Fortunately on the Mac you can do a Shift-click or Command-a and select all the files to bring them into the Wizard, but on the PC, this doesn't work and you must manually bring over each one, one-at-a-time. One of my wish lists would be for them to add a button that says "Add all files in selected folder."  One interesting item missing in the FileMaker Pro Developers Edition is that there is no menu selection to open the FileMaker Developers Tool--the program that lets you create Runtime solutions. I mention this primarily because Adobe did it right when they included an access to Adobe Distiller in one of the menus of Adobe Acrobat 5 (not the Reader). Considering that FileMaker Inc. considers this version of FileMaker Pro Developers Edition considerably different from the regular version of FileMaker Pro, why not provide a greater distinction? But above the other new features, the extra treat for Mac users now is that one can create standalone OS X databases. Not only does this work, but a standalone database is created in perhaps 1/10th the time as it takes in OS 9. I haven't timed this, but it is remarkably fast. Meanwhile, databases within OS X are completely carbonized and have all the look and feel of any OS X application. Included with the program is FileMaker's instruction manual for FileMaker Pro and one for FileMaker Developer 5.5. Although, as mentioned, one cannot place a runtime solution on the web, one can create web databases with FileMaker Pro and an extensive amount of information is provided for publishing your database with XML, JOBC, and CDML. However, be warned, the FileMaker you receive here can only serve 10 IP Guest Limits in a 12 hour period. If you want more (unlimited) you must purchase the FileMaker Pro 5.5 Unlimited software package. And that package will not let you create runtime databases. These two products serve different customers, and they do not overlap in what they offer. In short, if you create FileMaker Databases that you need (or want) to distribute freely (and are willing to undertake the full responsibility for public support of that database), and wish to create OS X versions of these databases, AND are excited about the Debug Scripts feature, run and get FileMaker Developers Ed. 5.5. While it is disappointing that this came so soon after the release of FileMaker Developers Ed. 5.0, such is the story of hardware and software. As you read the above review, you will undoubtably note that the criticisms were relatively trivial. All I can say is "that's right."  Buy Filemaker
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