FileMaker = Flashback to the past

For a variety of reasons, I reached class in a rather frustrated state of mind. NOTHING like Sharon's day. Was just in a bad mood to begin with. Then FileMaker......

Trying to work FileMaker, was like working on my first computer, and HP 2000 mainframe in 1976. Error messages that were non helpful..... "Does not compute". People who were not 'helpful' (understood that the instructor was making a point) who said look it up in the manual. At least the manuals in 1976, unreadable as they were, tried to give some hint. And I did learn Benton Hardin Extended Basic. Heck, I still remember the commands for the line editor for writing programs. (shudder).

What was obvious from the presentation is that FileMaker is a very powerful program, and there is a distinct learning curve there. As to whether I would ever use it, I don't know. At this point, I rather doubt it. Except for the report card, I did not see anything that I couldn't get from either Excel or Access. Nothing I can think of needing today requires the fine font and layout control that the Sunnyvale report card requires. At $400.00 a pop, I can live without that fine control on a personal level. As an example of a program to avoid with my students, it was a wonderful program. Excel has a better online help manual then FileMaker does. And will serve as a database program, on top of Access. By the way, Access is usually bundled with MicroSoft Office (as is excel), which can usually be in included in the purchase of a new computer. Window's lacks the presentation software that AppleSoft apparently includes.

This makes me wonder about after market books for FileMaker. The reaction when I asked about it last night was luke warm to say the least, but when I've played with relational databases in the past, such books were very helpful. My experience with such programs is start small, learn how various parts work and then work your way up to a formal report card. Once you get the hang of how the programmers envisioned the program working, then it's much easier to deal with, the error messages start working, and the little help that the online manual gives actually turns into something useful, as you've learned what the online manual keeps leaving out.

As someone who has bought MUCH cheaper software from companies like Intuit, I would have to say that FileMaker has fallen down on the job. At $190.00, QuickBooks does a much better job of relaying what the program can or can't do with their online manual. At $400.00 I would expect an EXCELLENT manual, that matches the sophistication of the program, which is NOT what I got. gr........