FileMaker Pro... Go... WebDirect... FileMaker NOW!
Updated March 18, 2015

FileMaker Pro... Go... WebDirect... FileMaker NOW!

Gary Teuber | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Software Version

13.0

Modules Used

  • All

Overall Satisfaction with FileMaker Pro

We are a development company that provides FileMaker Pro solutions for individual departments and entire organizations. We eliminate "Islands of Technology" by providing a central database that can be accessed on any device from anywhere. The FileMaker Go mobile platform allows us to provide custom applications fast (less expensively), a hot topic with most of our clients.

Pros

  • FileMaker Go client app for iPad and iPhone help make "going mobile" a breeze
  • FileMaker WebDirect allows for a "desktop database in a web browser" without the need for extra development tools
  • FileMaker Server provides a robust central database server. It's easy to set up for workgroups or entire companies
  • FileMaker plays nice with most legacy systems. It allows you to wrap your database solution around data from other systems

Cons

  • Speed. It does a most things fast, but some things (calculations) could be faster
  • Some limitations in creating print layouts (compared to Crystal Reports, for example)
  • Elimination of desktop based spreadsheets throughout the organization (islands of information)
  • Elimination of paper
  • ROI is off the charts
  • Easy to find what we need to find
  • Easy to continuously improve the system, even while we are working in it
  1. Microsoft Access - No contest
  2. QuickBooks - as a front end to QuickBooks, no contest compared to other solutions on the market
  3. SQL - No contest for ease of use and single tool functionality for building front- and back-ends that work on all devices
  4. Microsoft Word / Sort Merge with Excel forget about it!
  5. Excel - de facto standard in spreadsheets but with FileMaker who needs spreadsheets?
FileMaker NOT suitable for very large data stores (i.e. millions of records and / or millions of transactions) and large continuous use workgroups (i.e. more than 250 people at one time). It should not be construed as a "small company solution" only, however. It fits well in most workgroup-sized environments except those that are very large.

Using FileMaker Pro

We use the application all day, every day. Reasonably priced, fast development time, etc. Any application you can think of can be built in FileMaker. It's not a database. It's a software development platform.

FileMaker Pro Implementation

Suggest you use an iterative R.A.D. or AGILE development approach. (i.e. rather than writing a gigantic spec for a system, then building it). FileMaker facilitates quick prototypes. Developing an example, then allowing users to "try it out" is a snap.
  • Professional services company
G-Tekk, Inc. We are THE professional service company.
Yes - Ongoing development is easy with FileMaker. We just keep improving as we go along.

Using FileMaker Pro

FileMaker Pro Reliability

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