This is geared toward the casual user and is free! The software requires only a web browser and the latest version of Flash 9 to run. It works with any platform except the iphone and ipod touch due to its reliance on Flash. You can organize, edit, and share your jpeg images. Check it out!

Labels: design, Photoshop

Basecamp announced that they will be adding a new feature where you can reply to messages via email. You will be able to post a comment to a message by replying to the new message notification email. Check it out!

Labels: 37Signals, basecamp

Excelisys Seeks 2 FileMaker Experts for 40 Hours a Week:

- Certified Lead FileMaker Pro Developers
- Junior FileMaker Pro Developers

EXCELISYS, Inc. (www.excelisys.com), a custom database solutions
development and consulting group, is currently seeking talented and
motivated individuals to join the Excelisys FileMaker production team.
Our goals are to foster solid long-term technology partnerships with
our customers, and provide a creative and positive environment for our
team members that empowers each with the confidence to thrive and do
his or her best.

You’ll be working side-by-side (either virtually or physically)
with some of the best-of-the-best in the FileMaker development
industry while honing your own skills and talent designing, developing,
and managing a variety of custom FileMaker projects.

The benefits of being part of the Excelisys team are numerous:

- Work wherever you like – at home, at Starbucks – anywhere!
- Pick your own hours – bit of a night owl? No problem.
- Tap the knowledge pool of our talented and experienced team
- Learn while you work – think you’re hot now, just wait!
- In-house contests that award winners with trips and mula!
- Advance access to new technologies and product development
- Reimbursement of the FileMaker Certification Exam fees!
- Better pay and incentives for Certified FileMaker Pro Developers
- We help you stay organized using our web-based project mgmt system
- A refreshing “culture” that stimulates growth and emphasizes individualism

————————————————————————————————————-

Here’s what some of our developers have to say about working with Excelisys:

“I used to spend a lot of my time looking for development work or
chasing down clients who owed me money. In between, I’d squeeze in
the time to do the actual work. Even though I charged a decent hourly
rate, I was really making much less since I couldn’t work 40 hours a
week, let alone 20. Excelisys has allowed me to focus on what I
really love most: creating, designing and programming. I don’t have
to wear all those other hats anymore; instead I have more time to
work and earn a living, plus more leisure time to spend with my family!”

“Since joining Excelisys I’ve learned so much. I used to think I was
a pretty good programmer; they must have thought so too since they
hired me. But now I’ve become so much more valuable! It’s not enough
to know how to program, you’ve got to know how to get the customer
excited about the work, show them your passion. Before, I used to try
to impress them with some wicked code I wrote. But since it’s hard to
see what’s under-the-hood, that wasn’t always enough. Being part of
the Excelisys team has taught me not only how to be a better
developer, but how to present my work with much higher value and keep
the customer steadily satisfied and confident.”

“I’m proud to work with Excelisys. They’re not just another meat
grinder looking for “code monkeys”. They are the real deal. They
truly care about their customers, AND their developers!”

————————————————————————————————————-

The individuals we’re looking for can handle projects of all sizes
and possess strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills. In
addition to being well organized, efficient, and able to work with
limited supervision, candidates must be reliable and possess strong
communication skills.

These openings are for skilled and experienced FileMaker developers
willing to commit to 40/hrs a week who can work well within a virtual
office environment under minimal supervision as well as part of a team.

VERY IMPORTANT- SAMPLES OF YOUR FILEMAKER WORK WILL BE REQUIRED!!

We are looking for both junior and senior level developers…

PLEASE, FILEMAKER NOVICES NEED NOT APPLY!

Min. requirements for these 2 positions include:

- 4+ years experience developing with FileMaker Pro (1-3+ years with v7/8/9)
- Strong understanding of relational database design
- Working knowledge of complex calculations and conditional scripting
- A good eye for human interface design
- Experience with requirements gathering, cost estimating, and scope preparation for custom FileMaker projects
- Must be a team player
- Must have broadband (Cable/DSL) internet access or better
- Mac AND Windows workstations, or the ability to run Windows and OSX
- Working knowledge of OSX, Win XP, NT, 2000, 2003 and Vista environments a plus
- Hands-on experience working with FileMaker Pro Server & (Advanced) a plus
- Committed to making and meeting deadlines
- FileMaker certification preferred, but not required

Optional BONUS Skills:

Proficiency in Web programming languages such as HTML, Lasso, PHP,
and XML as well as development experience with Servoy, .NET, SQL
Server, MySQL, ODBC, JDBC, and Excel is a definite plus.

Responsibilities:

- Reports to Project Manager
- Works close and participates with Project Manager and Client from concept to completion
- Provides weekly build deliverables and progress reports
- Writing and debugging code for custom solutions

Compensation and perks:

- Hourly ($30-$60) plus bonuses and LG commissions (lead generation).
- Hourly rate determined by skill set, proficiency & certification status.
- Annual bonus plans based on performance

To apply for a position, send your resume in PDF format to:

jobs@excelisys.com

We review all employment submissions.

Labels: FileMaker Jobs

We are proud to introduce our new blog! Come back often to see new posts!

Labels: blog, new

FileMaker Tip from Andrew Persons

I run into this situation very frequently, as I'm sure most developers do: I have a record, such as a contact, that is related to a company record via the serial ID. I want to display the company name, so I just place the company name field via the relationship. Pretty standard so far.

But I relate to that contact record in many different places in the relationship graph. I don't want to have to attach a new Company TO to the contact record for every occurrence, so I create a CompanyName unstored calc in the contact table that references the company name through the relationship. That's how I've done it before, that is. Starting in 8.0, FileMaker introduced a feature of pop-up menus (not drop-down lists). Create a new value list in the Company table. Set the first field to the serial ID, and the second field to the company name. Then check the "Show values only from second field" box. Now, any field with that value list attached will display the company name that matches the serial ID in the field, if one exists. Here's the cool thing: this works even if the field isn't enterable. So, you can use this to leverage the contact-company relationship anywhere you want, without cluttering up the RG. And, it has good performance across many records, unlike the unstored calc.

Labels: Andrew Persons, Excelisys, Filemaker pro, Tips

FileMaker Inc. today introduced an interesting new product called Bento. Here at Excelisys we are always looking into to new technology that may help our clients as well as our company. Over the next few months while still in beta we will be evaluating the program from top to bottom. Our internal stafflist was lit up today with Bento talk. In the mean time check out this story from Wired.com for the scoop. I will post other links if they add value later.

UPDATE Here is a nice look at Bento from AppleInsider

Labels: Apple, bento, database, Filemaker, Filemaker pro

Sure Leopard is great, but it is no good if you can't use FileMaker. Grab the updater to help with Leopard compatibility.

Labels: Filemaker pro

"Practices of an Agile Developer: Working in the Real World (Pragmatic Programmers)" (Venkat Subramaniam, Andy Hunt)

Labels: Life

Company to showcase new built-in FileMaker API for PHP for creating
dynamic data-driven Web sites

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Oct. 8, 2007 – At this year’s Zend/PHP
Conference and Expo, FileMaker, Inc. will showcase the new
award-wining FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced, as well as FileMaker Server 9,
Oct. 8-11 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport.


Attendees will see the certified FileMaker API for PHP, which is now
built into FileMaker Server 9 and FileMaker Server 9 Advanced.

The API helps developers deploy dynamic data-driven Web sites from
applications built with FileMaker, a development tool that combines
graphical layouts, scripting, and business logic programming into one
seamless package. FileMaker will also showcase how anyone can make
live connections to MySQL data sources, create reports and analyze
data in a fraction of the time required for traditional programming
tools.

FileMaker will also demonstrate the new PHP Site Assistant, which
enables users and Web developers to easily publish information to
external Web sites, gather information from Web visitors and create
new solutions combining a Web-based front-end with a rich, FileMaker
Pro back-end.

New PHP Site Assistant Accelerates Web Site Development
A link in FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced provides a one-click launch of the
PHP Site Assistant in FileMaker Server 9. The PHP Site Assistant and
FileMaker API work together to put FileMaker data on Web sites
quickly. The PHP Site Assistant asks step-by-step questions to produce
PHP-based Web pages that address the most popular Web uses. These
include data collection forms, list searching and database record
editing. Users can then publish the pages as they are or edit them in
Dreamweaver or another html editor.

Labels: Filemaker pro

We Want 2 Remote FileMaker Experts Wanting to Work 30+ Hours a Week:

- Certified Lead FileMaker Pro Developers
- Junior FileMaker Pro Developers

EXCELISYS, Inc. (www.excelisys.com), a custom database solutions development and consulting group, is currently seeking talented and motivated individuals to join the Excelisys FileMaker production team. Our goals are to foster solid long-term technology partnerships with our customers, and provide a creative and positive environment for our team members that empowers each with the confidence to thrive and do his or her best.

You’ll be working side-by-side (either virtually or physically) with some of the best-of-the-best in the FileMaker development industry while honing your own skills and talent designing, developing, and managing a variety of custom FileMaker projects.

The benefits of being part of the Excelisys team are numerous:

- Work wherever you like – at home, at Starbucks – anywhere!
- Pick your own hours – bit of a night owl? No problem.
- Tap the knowledge pool of our talented and experienced team
- Learn while you work – think you’re hot now, just wait!
- In-house contests that award winners with full-paid trips to DevCon!
- Advance access to new technologies and product development
- 50% reimbursement of the FileMaker Certification Exam fee upon passing
- Better pay and incentives for Certified FileMaker Pro Developers
- We help you stay organized using our web-based project mgmt system
- A refreshing “culture” that stimulates growth and emphasizes individualism

————————————————————————————————————-

Here’s what some of our developers have to say about working with Excelisys:

“I used to spend a lot of my time looking for development work or chasing down clients who owed me money. In between, I’d squeeze in the time to do the actual work. Even though I charged a decent hourly rate, I was really making much less since I couldn’t work 40 hours a week, let alone 20. Excelisys has allowed me to focus on what I really love most: creating, designing and programming. I don’t have to wear all those other hats anymore; instead I have more time to work and earn a living, plus more leisure time to spend with my family!”

“Since joining Excelisys I’ve learned so much. I used to think I was a pretty good programmer; they must have thought so too since they
hired me. But now I’ve become so much more valuable! It’s not enough to know how to program, you’ve got to know how to get the customer excited about the work, show them your passion. Before, I used to try to impress them with some wicked code I wrote. But since it’s hard to see what’s under-the-hood, that wasn’t always enough. Being part of the Excelisys team has taught me not only how to be a better developer, but how to present my work with much higher value and keep the customer steadily satisfied and confident.”

“I’m proud to work with Excelisys. They’re not just another meat grinder looking for “code monkeys”. They are the real deal. They truly care about their customers, AND their developers!”


————————————————————————————————————-

The individuals we’re looking for can handle projects of all sizes and possess strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills. In addition to being well organized, efficient, and able to work with limited supervision, candidates must be reliable and possess strong communication skills.

These openings are for skilled and experienced FileMaker developers willing to commit to 30/hrs+ a week who can work well within a virtual office environment under minimal supervision as well as part of a team.

VERY IMPORTANT- Samples of your FileMaker work will be required and reviewed as part of the interview process.

We are looking for both junior and senior level developers…
PLEASE, FILEMAKER NOVICES NEED NOT APPLY!

Min. requirements for these 2 positions include:

- 4+ years experience developing with FileMaker Pro (2+ years with v7/8)
- Strong understanding of relational database design
- Working knowledge of complex calculations and conditional scripting
- A good eye for human interface design
- Experience with requirements gathering, cost estimating, and scope preparation for FileMaker projects
- Must be a team player
- Must have broadband (Cable/DSL) internet access or better
- Mac AND Windows workstations, or the ability to run Windows and OSX
- Working knowledge of OSX, Win XP, NT, 2000, 2003 and Vista environments a plus
- Hands-on experience working with FileMaker Pro Server & (Advanced) a plus
- Committed to making and meeting deadlines
- FileMaker certification preferred, but not required

Optional BONUS Skills:

Proficiency in Web programming languages such as HTML, Lasso, PHP, and XML as well as development experience with Servoy, .NET, SQL Server, MySQL, ODBC, JDBC, and Excel is a definite plus.

Responsibilities:

- Reports to Project Manager
- Works close and participates with Project Manager and Client from concept to completion
- Provides weekly build deliverables and progress reports
- Writing and debugging code for custom solutions

Compensation and perks:

- Hourly ($30-$60) plus bonuses and LG commissions (lead generation).
- Hourly rate determined by skill set, proficiency & certification status.
- Annual bonus plans based on performance

To apply for a position, send your resume in PDF format to:

employment

We review all employment submissions.

Labels: Filemaker pro

Grab a copy at Amazon.

"Filemaker Pro 9" (Filemaker Inc.)

"Filemaker Pro 9 Upgrade" (Filemaker Inc.)

"Filemaker Pro 9 Advanced" (Filemaker Inc.)

"Filemaker Pro 9 Advanced Upgrade" (Filemaker Inc.)


"Filemaker Server 9" (Filemaker Inc.)

Labels: Amazon, Filemaker pro

Read about the latest version of FileMaker and MacWorld.com They give is a 5 mouse rating the highest available.

FileMaker Pro 9 contains a number of nice but non-dramatic improvements over previous versions of the product, and one major surprise: support for direct access to Structured Query Language (SQL) databases. Feel intimidated by the very sound of it? Don’t be. FileMaker still has the lowest geekiness-to-power ratio of any database management system on the market.

Macworld’s buying advice

For new buyers, FileMaker Pro 9 is the most attractive version of the product ever. But, should current users upgrade? For most, the answer is yes. If you are still using FileMaker 6 (or 7 or 8 or 8.5) and you tend just to tinker around—something FileMaker almost encourages—download the demo and decide for yourself if features like Append to PDF and conditional formatting are worth the cost of the upgrade. At least nothing will break while you try out the new version, since FileMaker 9 uses the same .fp7 file format as the last three releases. But for those users who work with FileMaker a lot, version 9 is the third home run FileMaker has hit in its last four times at bat.

Read the entire review here.

Labels: Filemaker pro, filemaker9

Why is it that we try to make things too complicated? Why make a Rube Goldberg device when simple and elegant will do the same thing? Sometimes the simple solution doesn't seem a good because it is so simple. Here is an example of something so simple that it could have easily come to market 100 years ago but didn't.

Read more here

Labels: Gear, Life, simple, toothbrush

SANTA CLARA, CA – July 10, 2007 – FileMaker today announced the immediate availability of FileMaker Pro 9, a major new version of the most award-winning desktop database for Windows and Mac OS.

The new FileMaker 9 product line, which the company called its most dramatic new offering in years with over 30 ease-of-use breakthroughs, is available today, and includes FileMaker Pro 9, FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced, FileMaker Server 9 and FileMaker Server 9 Advanced.

FileMaker Pro 9 includes many new features, for end users and developers, to simplify creating, automating, sharing and reporting from databases, including a new Quick Start screen for new users to be quickly productive; Conditional Formatting, which highlights data based on parameters the user sets; and the ability to email a link to other FileMaker users, which they can click to instantly access your database.

The new version also offers breakthrough easy-to-use tools so FileMaker users and workgroups easily can connect to the world of company and Web data residing in external SQL data sources: MySQL, Oracle SQL and Microsoft SQL Server.

The new Server 9 products, which enable workgroups to share databases over the network and the Web, come with a completely modernized and streamlined Admin Console, so FileMaker Pro users can easily set up and administer Server software.

“FileMaker is the acknowledged leader in easy-to-use database software which empowers workgroups,” said Dominique Goupil, president of FileMaker. “With FileMaker 9 we go further. We make it easier than ever for developers and users to manage information in amazingly productive and creative ways. For example, our goal is to make FileMaker Server 9 so easy that FileMaker Pro customers can install it in 20 minutes or less, and quickly share database solutions.

”FileMaker 9 is perfect for innovative organizations who realize the benefits of empowered self-service workgroups,” Goupil said.

Connect to the world of data in External SQL Data Sources
Using the new one-way or two-way live connectivity to popular SQL sources, FileMaker Pro 9 users within any business or organization can safely and securely create custom reports, add calculations and other fields, and even build relationships with existing FileMaker data – just using the easy-to-use tools of FileMaker Pro.

With the new PHP features of FileMaker Server and FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced both users and Web developers can publish information to external websites, gather information from Web visitors, and create new solutions combining a Web-based front-end with a rich, FileMaker Pro back-end.

Mac users of the new FileMaker products can connect to SQL sources with the Actual ODBC Pack version 2.7, now available from Actual Technologies LLC ( http://www.actualtechnologies.com ).


New Data Integration and Easier Database Design Features in FileMaker Pro 9
FileMaker Pro 9 ( http://www.filemaker.com/fm9_announce_pr ) features many new capabilities to make databases more “connected” for users, as well as a suite of advanced but easy-to-use development and customization tools for developers.

New features include:
• Connecting to a world of data, by easily creating links and integrating live MS SQL server, Oracle and MySQL data as if it were FileMaker-based data.
• Ease of use breakthroughs, including the FileMaker Quick Start Screen, which remembers your favorites and gives you access to the new videos in the FileMaker Learning Center, Send Link Database Sharing, a one-click feature that sends an email with a hyperlink so you share a database with other FileMaker Pro users, and Append to PDF, which allows users to consolidate multiple data reports into a single PDF file.

• More productive database design, including script grouping and editing tools, conditional formatting, auto-resize, enhanced layout objects, enhanced tab control and an improved Web Viewer.

Advanced Database Design Even Easier with FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced
New features in FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced ( http://filemaker.com//fm9_announce_pr) that are focused on giving users faster and easier ways to create advanced and customized database solutions include:

• Enhanced Database Design Report and File Maintenance tools, making it even easier to modify and maintain databases.

• Improved Script Debugger and Data Viewer, for identifying and correcting script errors earlier in the design process.

• PHP Site Assistant Link, providing a one-click launch of the PHP Site Assistant included in FileMaker Server 9.

FileMaker Server 9 Products Feature Most Significant Upgrade in its History
FileMaker Server 9 and FileMaker Server 9 Advanced feature one-click integration with the Web using PHP, a simple 20-minute or less install time for basic installations, plus the most significant redesign of the server interface ever. With FileMaker Server 9, users can generate a fully working PHP website using FileMaker data without writing code in just minutes.

Other major new features include PHP Custom Web Publishing for creating dynamic data-driven websites, shared access to live data from external SQL sources, and a web-delivered server console.

Pricing and Availability
All FileMaker 9 products are immediately available. New users may purchase FileMaker Pro 9 for $299 (U.S. suggested list price) and FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced for $499 (U.S. suggested list price). Existing users of FileMaker Pro 7, 8 and 8.5 may upgrade to FileMaker Pro 9 for $179 (U.S. suggested list price). Existing users of FileMaker Developer 7, FileMaker Pro 8 Advanced and 8.5 Advanced, and FileMaker Pro 7, 8, 8.5 and 9 may upgrade to FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced for $299 (U.S. suggested list price).

FileMaker Server 9 is $999 (U.S. suggested list price) and FileMaker Server 9 Advanced is $2,499 (U.S. suggested list price). Existing users of FileMaker Server 7 and 8 may upgrade to FileMaker Server 9 for $599 (U.S. suggested list price). Existing users of FileMaker Server 7 Advanced and 8 Advanced may upgrade to FileMaker Server 9 Advanced for $1,499 (U.S. suggested list price). FileMaker offers license discounts for volume purchasers as well as for education and non-profit organizations.

Special FileMaker Pro 9 Limited Time Offers
Two limited-time offers mark the launch of the new products:

Buy FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced and get a free 1-year FileMaker Technical Network membership, valued at $99. Available through Sept. 21, 2007 (more details at www.filemaker.com/technet_pr) .

The FileMaker 9 VLA Workgroup Bundle (10 FileMaker Pro 9 licenses, one FileMaker Server 9 license and one FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced license) lets corporate, education and government customers save more than $750 off regular prices, and is available through Sept. 28, 2007 (more details at www.filemaker.com/bundle_pr ).

Labels: Filemaker pro