FileMaker Pro 10

Latest version of venerable database software is powerful, easy to use



IF YOU'RE NEW to FileMaker Pro or databases in general—and don't know a record from a field or a schema—you'll have little to fear from FileMaker Pro 10. Though more suited to intensive tasks than its simplified (and Mac-only) consumer cousin Bento, FileMaker is now easier and more powerful than ever.

FileMaker Pro 10 comes in four different versions; the one we reviewed, which costs $299, can be bought from most software resellers. The app provides 30 "starter solutions," preconfigured database templates such as Contact Management, Expense Report, Home Budget, Photo Catalog, and Time Cards, and you can also start databases from scratch by importing Excel, CSV, SYLK, or tab-delimited files (or Bento files, if you're a Mac user).

Longtime FileMaker users will notice that the familiar keyboard commands and pull-down menus remain intact, but the interface has had a major overhaul. For starters, the long-standing left-hand navigation bar is now at the top of the application window. (Its functionality remains unchanged.) Most notably, the status toolbar, which runs common functions such as Open, Close, Find, and Re-find, no longer requires extensive programming— it's now customizable via drag-and-drop, something that many top commercial and open-source software packages have offered for quite some time.

Another of FileMaker Pro 10's useful features is its ability to connect directly to an SMTP server to send e-mail blasts. (In the previous version of FileMaker, you had to connect the database to Outlook.) We tested the SMTP feature with a few services: It worked well under Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 and with a few ISPs, but not with Google Apps. This is a powerful feature that should be used with care, since there's nothing preventing you from uninten- tionally sending a useless (or embar- rassing) e-mail to many, many recipients.


This new version of FileMaker Pro can also connect to an external SQL database, and it supports Software Management Services and IPv6. These features are critical to those who use FileMaker in large, corporate settings, and they should extend the reach of users who want to develop their own databases.

In our tests, we were able to quickly find and replace, create, delete, and edit records in our 500,000-record database. The wait times were very short: A simple search that took FileMaker Pro 9 about 6 seconds to complete took less than 3 seconds. For better search time and overall efficiency, we recommend running FileMaker Pro 10 on a computer with at least 1GB (or even 2GB) of RAM rather than the recommended 512MB.

One aspect of FileMaker that can be improved, however, is customer support. Although you're allowed an unlimited number of free calls to deal with installation problems, free technical support is limited to forums, knowledge-base articles on www.filemaker.com, and an extensive online community of FileMaker users, developers, and hobbyists. FileMaker Priority Technical Support is avail- able by phone on a per-call basis for $45; the company offers a five-call package for $180 and a yearly contract of unlim- ited calls starting at $899. Managing the ever-growing amount of business and personal information is an important step toward being able to quickly access it.



With its intuitive interface, FileMaker Pro 10 makes data management and access much easier, giving you a professional-level database without requiring you to enroll in geek school. -James Marino

Computer Shopper March 2009