DevCon-A-Rama

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

Whoa - I can't believe how fast time flies! It's been five months since my last column... For those of you who read this column (bless you all!), I sincerely apologize for the long delay in getting "back into the swing" of things.

A lot has happened in the past few months:

• ClickWare merged with Stratisoft
  
  
• I've been shuttling back and forth between the Stratisoft headquarters in London
  
  
• I've been busy honing my skills with Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, ASP (Active Server Pages), IIS (Microsoft Internet Information Server), ColdFusion, Lasso 3.5... well, you get the picture.
  
  

Besides all of the great technology stuff I've been working with - I've had the pleasure of meeting tons of new FileMaker developers all around the world. It's extremely exciting to meet people from Holland, Australia, England, France, Sweden, South Africa, etc. and talk about the ins-and-outs of FileMaker. It's amazing that everyone I've spoken to has the same problems/workarounds and basically the same feature requests: faster, better, and SOON! More on that subject in a moment...

Also, I had the opportunity to speak at this year's FileMaker Developer's Conference in San Diego. I believe the official attendance was around 1,500 people (almost DOUBLE last year's attendance)! It was a truly amazing sight. Wall-to-wall FileMaker enthusiasts from every walk of life. I personally spoke to policemen, firemen, school teachers, state government officials, in-house corporate developers, well-known FMP developers, new FSA members all gathered in one place - AWESOME.

I spoke on several subjects - Beginning Web, Intermediate Web, and "16 FileMaker Pro Secrets You've Just Gotta' Have" (co-lead with famous and fabulous Marc Norman of Prefix). We had near standing room only crowds for all the sessions - and I HOPE everyone who attended any of the sessions learned something new and/or cool.

In addition to the conference sessions, I also co-taught a Stratisoft post-conference training session on ODBC with the Jan Aleman (better known as Taff) of PDM the makers of the ODBC Plug-In for FileMaker. After resolving some initial technical snafus - the class went well. I even learned something from Jan about the ODBC plug-in that I didn't know before! In the class we learned all about the plug-in technology; ODBC and how it works; and we even built a fully-functional, cross-platform user interface in FileMaker that searched, added, updated and deleted data in a SQL Server 7.0 database running on a NT machine. Cool stuff!

Enough about me. The absolute highlight of the show for me was when FMI demonstrated the new 5.0 version. Unlike other NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) sessions that were held in the past, FMI really delivered the goods in regards to 5.0. They showed the new Web Companion and all the groovy technology that it supported, as well as the new features of the 5.0 application, they even showed (via video) the new FileMaker Pro 5.0 Server. Now, since that entire session was under non-disclosure, I can't really go into heavy details about what was said - but if you read the rumors floating about on Mac The Knife or you were lucky enough to catch the stuff posted on the Apple Insider before it got pulled... all I can say that there was that and more.

On a different note, for those "propeller heads" (techno-geeks) out there - I find the new technologies supported by IE 5.0 (especially on the Windows platform and coming "in fall" to Mac OS) especially interesting. The new buzz is XML and if I were interested in using some cutting edge technologies - I'd run out an get a book on XML. Although only IE 5.0 on Windows (at the time of this writing) supports a XML parser on the client, there are ways to use XML with IIS and ASP to deliver HTML out to any browser. Since FileMaker 5.0 will support being a ODBC datasource (see the public beta of the new FMP ODBC drivers at: http://www.filemaker.com/products/odbc/preview.html) I predict that we'll all be seeing many more uses for XML in the days and months to come... so you might want to start learning about it SOON.

Thunder Down Under

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

G'day mates! I just got back from a trip to the land "down under", and let me tell you - there are some extremely excited FileMaker folks there.

Before I get to the details - let me apologize for the length of time that has elapsed since my last column. Between my newly minted Oracle skills and a whirlwind travel schedule, I allowed outside distractions (like keeping the lights on!) distract me from updating this homespun rant. I pledge to keep the updates coming on a more timely schedule in the future.

As I was saying, my wife, Brenda, and I just completed a two week adventure to the lovely land down under. After an extremely trying plane trip (3 movies, 4 sitcoms, 2 meals, 3 snacks and 14 hours) we arrived (at MIDNIGHT) to find out that the hotel was not expecting us for another three days. In typical Aussie customer service-driven fashion they leaped tall building in a single bound to accommodate us. We were granted a room with a hot shower (a GOD SEND) and a comfortable bed (chocolate mints on the pillows).

After sleeping a whopping five hours, my wife and I awoke to the full moon splendor of Darling Harbour (yes, I know - but that's how THEY spell it!). We walked out of the plush hotel (Park Plaza) across the street to the newly remodeled harbor boardwalk for a preliminary look-see. We were greeted by over 150 young people exiting a nightclub (quite sober - drinking WATER) at 6:00am and we instantly fell in love with the beautiful, tranquil city of Sydney. We walked around for about an hour, then had an "interesting" breakfast at a local eatery. When we asked for coffee, we were assaulted (in a nice way) by the dozens of choices ("short black, tall black, short white, capuccino, capuccino with milk, etc., etc., etc.). Being the Aussie "newbie", I asked for "just plain coffee". I received a nice steaming mug of... well... mud. I mean this coffee could strip paint! Normally a black coffee drinker, I doused my beverage in fresh cream and sugar (in neato pixie-stick-like packaging), and even then I was bouncing off the walls.

Being the consummate "tourista" we proceeded to the Sydney opera house, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the trendy boutique neighborhood "The Rocks", finally settling at the FABULOUS bay side restaurant "The Oyster Bar." We enjoyed a Lobster Salad (I mean fresh-off-the-boat 1/2 a Lobster and some salad) with an exquisite bottle of Australian white wine, a beer, coffee and dessert (about $50US), returned to the hotel and crashed.

We were met my by our most gracious FMI representative (Steve McManus) at the airport at 6:15 am and were on the plane to Melbourne at 7:00am. We arrived in Melbourne and were whisked away via hired car (a taxi with no sign on top) to our hotel (the All Seasons Premier Grand Hotel). I put my bags down, and caught another taxi to a customer meeting (with our friends at "Customers for Life" in Cantebury). From there it was back to the hotel for a quick in-room rehearsal and then off to the Melbourne FSA meeting at yet another BEAUTIFUL hotel in downtown Melbourne (the Rockmans Regency Hotel).

WOW. What a meeting! Let me tell you - these FSA members were dressed for success. FMI provided pre dinner cocktails (VERY nice touch!) in the hotel lobby bar and the INCREDIBLE PR team from Kinetics Pty Ltd (THANK YOU Jody Lennon and Matina "don't call me Matilda" Mrakovcic) set up our computers and arranged all the last-minute details that combined to make the evening a terrific success. There were over 30 hard-core FMP developers in attendance and we all had a very nice time.

After the meeting it was back into a taxi, back to the hotel (around midnight), and up the next morning for two FileMaker Inc Conferences at the Melbourne Convention Center. As I awoke at 5:30am in preparation for a 7:00 am rehearsal, I was met in the lobby by the tireless Steve McManus as well as the ever-ready Aussie Webmaster Steve McDonnell. These guys were FRESH and READY to go. I mean, my gosh, you would think they had 10 hours sleep...

We did two seminars in Melbourne - one at 9:00am, and one at 2:00pm. I was only one tiny part of the team - there were four presenters in all. I talked about ODBC connectivity (using my G3 PowerBook I imported data from an Oracle 8 Enterprise database and Excel to create a mail merge letter, and showed some graphic tips and tricks), I was followed by Steve McDonnell who showed off FileMaker to Web connectivity (using Instant Publishing and HomePage 3.0 - truly an INSPIRING DEMO!), followed by a "tea" break (coffee, tea, and cookies... ummm... I mean "biscuits"), then the trainer extrodinare Ardsley McNeilly and the talented CD-to-FMP team from Debrany's in Singapore.

After returning to the hotel at 7:00pm we took a taxi to the airport for the 8:15pm flight back to Sydney. Wednesday night I did a seminar at the Apple Headquarters in Sydney along with the presentation team - and fell into bed at 10:00pm on Wednesday night. I was at the Powerhouse Museum at 8:15am (I was supposed to be there at 7:00am but I had a BAD sore throat and head cold) only to find out that the AV completely screwed up (couldn't project the computers to the screen). Thanks to Jodi Lennon and her team from Kinetics Pty Ltd (AGAIN!) they had a cab waiting to get a projector from a local dealer (along with a technician) and got us back on track - all before the 9:00am deadline.

After a rip-roaring two seminar sessions (ending at 5:30pm), we got in yet another taxi, and went to yet another beautiful hotel (the Park Hyatt Hotel) for the Sydney FSA meeting. These folks are FIRED UP about FileMaker! I met a lot of fun, interesting, and TALENTED developers who were (and are) true FileMaker fanatics. We had a wonderful pre-meeting cocktail hour, followed by yet another great presentation by Jodi Lennon and Steve McManus. Then it was my turn.

In typical style, I was a bit BRASH (I know, it's hard to believe), but I hope the presentation was relevant. Many thanks to Bob, Charmaine, and Patrick of BCP Distribution (the outfit that fulfills all the FileMaker orders in the Pacific Rim) - you were all incredibly good sports and I thank you for the great conversation and your incredible hospitality. At the end of my Robin Williams inspired diatribe, Steve McManus was kind enough to present me with an EXTREMELY COOL FileMaker watch. Needless to say, I was AGAIN completely blown away by the kindness, hospitality, and excitement from both my hosts and the FSA members. After a quick nightcap at the Marriott bar next door it was back to the hotel and a good night's sleep.

The next day (Friday), I wasn't feeling my best, but Brenda and I "managed" to have a great lunch at a local pub (don't order a burger with "the lot" or they'll put an EGG on your burger!!) and then explored a local casino. Las Vegas - look out! This air-conditioned mecca (which is why we even bothered in the first place) is very much like Las Vegas - except you have to pay for drinks (even when gambling) and the slot machines (called "Pokies") are DIFFICULT to figure out (even for a programmer!) - we had a great time. Brenda even won $350 AU! Cool!

From there, we were the guests of Steve McManus (and family - including dog "Buddy") and I was fortunate enough to be part of the crew for the final yacht race of the season (Steve is a HUGE sailing fan). WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! Two minutes of hell (when we "tacked" into the wind, or put up the big "kite" sail) and ten to fifteen minutes of heaven (sailing between the course pylons).We came in 4th (out of 32 boats) and FIRST in Steve's club - which was good enough to earn him the club championship! Boy, what a FANTASTIC experience!

As soon as we got back to the dock, Steve and I jumped into the car and met our wives at the "Footies" (Football or "Rugby" as my Aussie friends refer to it). Now, I must tell you - this is a no-holds-barred ballroom BRAWL! This makes the NFL look like a game for WOMEN. Basically - you get 6 "downs" and there are NO TIMEOUTS or breaks. Once you get tackled (and I mean TACKLED! - there was literally blood flowing from heads, knees, lips and arms!) you immediately pass the ball to a team mate and they then get their asses kicked, and so on and so on. What we call a "touchdown" is not as easy. You have to PLANT the ball in the endzone - no plant, no "TRY" (touchdown). WOW.

The beers were COLD and the pies (like Swanson Pot Pies - just no tins) were HOT, and the action was great. The only wrinkle was that the entire event was sponsored by Pepsi - and in typical YANK fashion - they overdid the sponsorship bit (i.e the sky divers at half time and the Pepsi cheerleaders with painted-on uniforms and a Pepsi logo on their asses...).

On Sunday we went on a "Bushwalk".. and I thought it would be a nice nature walk of a mile or so... but NO! It was a LONG walk (took 4 1/2 hours!!) and I was bushed. On Monday morning Brenda and I flew to Coolangatta (an hour north of Sydney) on the Gold Coast of Australia. Steve and his wife (name concealed to protect the innocent) graciously lent their timeshare condo to Brenda and I for the week. WOW!! Now I can't tell you the exact place we stayed (I'm under strict non-disclosure for fear that everyone in the WORLD would mob the place), but I CAN tell you that the bay we overlooked was FABULOUS. The water was 78 degrees and crystal clear. The surf was 4 to 5 feet and was excellent. I can also report that the food, surf, wine, local beers and Steve's EXTREMELY tolerant and FUN friends were without question the HIGHLIGHTS of the trip.

In conclusion, if you haven't been - GO TO AUSTRALIA - it's lovely! To my new mates down under - good onya and thanks for a fair dinkum time!

Out With the Old, In With the New!

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

Happy New Year!!!

As the pre-Y2K festivities around the world begin in earnest, and every single show on television features its Year-In-Review episode, I too wanted to take a moment and reflect on the past, revel in the present and prognosticate on the future.

1998 brought a lot of change:

As the winter leaves fell from the trees, so Claris dropped all its consumer products and became FileMaker Inc. (FMI), and FileMaker Pro became 4.1. Along with the new name and logo came many new faces, and lots of changes within the organization. The painful transition caused quite an upheval in both the developer community as well as marketplace. Seeing many of my friends and cohorts at Claris being laid off by the dozens was very difficult. However, the resulting company is now focused on a single product, and, in theory, should be a lot more responsive to the developer community and the general marketplace. I caught a small glimpse of this new focus at the HUGE turnout for the third annual Developer's Conference in Monterey. The conference goers were (and are, from what I can tell) enthusiastic and the mood was optimistic about FileMaker's future (both the company, and the product).

The Web - basically everything changed. From tools for developing content to servers, to mergers (AOL and Netscape - who knew?), to Mr. Bill being center stage in yet ANOTHER Federal probe, the only thing consistent about the Web in 1998 is that it was (and is) a constantly changing landscape.

At ClickWare, we left behind our "terrible twos", released our most popular product to date - ClickStats Pro, created the ClickWorld web site, folded the ClickWorld website into this site, completed the technical editing of the first year of the FileMaker Advisor Magazine and in general, had a great year.

1999 will continue to be a year of change:

The merger fever of overvalued Web companies will continue, as well as the bevy of newly incompatible browser versions.

FileMaker Inc is rumored (according to MacTheKnife - http://www.mactheknife.com) to have a new release in the works - including a new Server version and a new Developer Edition. Hopefully, FMI will "lift the kimono" a bit higher at the upcoming MacWorld in San Francisco, to give us all a glimpse of what the new version will look like.

Hopefully, 1999 will see XML will catch on and the good folks at FMI will give us a way to use XML with FileMaker. Again, hopefully, FMI will also provide more ODBC functionality (i.e. FileMaker as an ODBC data source, FileMaker WRITE OUT SQL, etc.)...

ClickWare has a number of new products in development - slated for release by early summer. We are also on verge of becoming an Oracle Certified Applications Developer - so watch for more SQL tips and goodies (also contact us if you need Oracle and/or FileMaker Pro custom development).

And finally, I want to thank the thousands of you who continue to visit this site, and for all your great suggestions and comments. We want to continue to be a leading resource for FileMaker information in 1999 and beyond - thanks for your continued support.

Virtuosity

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

So I'm in day 3 of a 5 day, $2,000 Oracle training class in Costa Mesa - between the packed classroom, complimentary expresso and deli-fresh bagels - I have an epiphany: FileMaker ROCKS!

Don't get me wrong - if you want to run an ATM, or you have a million or so records to process - a SQL based RDBMS (Relational DataBase Management System) is the way to go. For EVERYTHING else - just use FileMaker.

Take a class in one of these gigantic database systems - and you'll find out how much we take for granted in FileMaker. Like finds. Like WYSIWYG (mostly) reporting. Like data entry screens. Like the ability to assign elements different colors. Like ScriptMaker. Like defining calculation fields. Like... well... everything else!

For example - do a find in FileMaker for all customers in California or Florida with a balance due greater than $5000. The FileMaker way: Choose "Find" from the "Mode" menu - enter "CA" into the state field and "5000" in the "Balance Due" field, choose "Duplicate" from the "Mode" and change "CA" to "FL" - click continue. Done.

Now the Oracle way - first, go to the COMMAND LINE program (SQL*Plus), and enter the following:

select * from c.customers, i.invoices where sum(i.bal_due) > 5000 and (c.state = 'FL' or c.state = 'CA') and c.customers = i.cust_num

This is assuming you know what the fields are (you can use desc customers and desc invoices), and you have to know how to do an equijoin... etc., etc.

Now, TRAIN all your employees and customer's employees to do this kind of query. Even IF you do get the syntax correct - that's not the report - it just "prints to screen". If you want a report (god forbid!), there's another 3 day class on how to write SQL to get the report back. And, if you want a "Data Entry" layout - there are TWO more 4 day classes for the "easy-to-use" forms designer... OUCH!

Of course Oracle can run on just about anything - minis, Unix, NT, Linux, etc. (NOT Mac OS) and it can support 25,000 users (PLUS), and has the ability to manage up to 512 petrobyes (512,000 GIGAbytes)... BIG iron, BIG development costs and time, BIG databases. Which brings me to the point of this column:

The beautiful Oracle training center had Dell NT Workstations connected to a Sun server (in the Bay Area) via multiple T-1's and T-3's. We learned, then practiced our little examples, and the performance was VERY good. However, due to the fact that it was TWO people per computer (and my "training buddy" was less than cooperative) - I wanted to practice in my hotel room. I got back to the hotel, fired up NT Server 4.0, fired up Oracle Enterprise Edition, and was able to practice to my little heart's content. Did I mention that I don't have PC laptop? I do, however have an APPLE G3 PowerBook - and that's what I ran Oracle and NT Server on! Yep - Virtual PC 2.01 does it again. You can bet that lugging ONE computer is THE way to go. I'm planning on loading Linux and BeOS as well...

FileMaker Sequel

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

That's "sequel" as in SQL (Structured Query Language). For those of you "on the fence" - wondering if you should upgrade to FileMaker Pro 4.1 - the answer is - kinda'-sorta'-ish.

If you don't know what SQL is - don't bother upgrading. However, EVERYONE should upgrade to 4.0v2 which is available on the FileMaker, Inc. site (www.filemaker.com).

Mac OS Users - the upgrade will clean up some bugs, speed network file opening, and other GREAT fixes - so upgrade when you can.

Windows 95 or NT Users - DO THE 4.0v2 UPGRADE NOW! FMI fixed some HAIRY BUGS in 4.0v2 (which is actually the same code fixes and updates in 4.1). For example - after working in ScriptMaker for a while - if you move around script steps - the machine would HANG (the first time). If you restart and edit the same script again (i.e. moving around script steps) and it HANGS again - there was a HIGH probability that your file would be PERMANENTLY destroyed. This bug has been fixed. There are a number of other bug fixes, speed enhancements (replace works MUCH faster), etc. It's well worth the time and effort of updating.

Also new to 4.1 are (from the FMI Web site):

EURO CURRENCY SUPPORT - FileMaker Pro 4.1 now provides cross-platform support for the new European currency symbol. To use the Euro symbol with FileMaker Pro, you must also be using an operating system and font that support the new symbol.

SUPPORT FOR CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS - In FileMaker Pro 4.1, you can see and use features enabled in the FileMaker Pro Developer Edition application, such as Kiosk mode, custom script menu name, custom help and about menu options and the removal of master access. For example, if a solution has been created using the FileMaker Pro Developer Edition to run in Kiosk mode then FileMaker Pro 4.1 will also run the solution in Kiosk mode.

I still haven't gotten the Kiosk mode thingie to work yet... maybe I'm just doing it wrong - but as you can see - most of the improvements have been "under the hood."

Back to the issue of SQL... the biggest (and only VISIBLE) update to FileMaker Pro 4.1 is the addition of the ability to IMPORT data from a SQL database via ODBC. If you don't know what ODBC is - don't bother to upgrade to 4.1.

For those of you who DO know what SQL and ODBC are - here's the "skinny" on ODBC/SQL integration in 4.1:

• You can IMPORT from a SQL datasource via ODBC (cross platform) by using the traditional "import" menu item in the File menu (choose the new "ODBC" file type from the pop-up menu [or combo box] when you're choosing the file to import from);
  
  
• You then select the datasource alias (has to be pre-configured with the ODBC control panel) and enter a username and password;
  
  
• You CAN specify the SQL select statement by either typing it in - or by using a 3 panel "assistant" to select the datasource, choose the column(s), and structuring the SQL where statement;
  
  
• FileMaker then does an IMPORT of the data (just like any other import) you specify the order and matching fields in your FileMaker db (just like any other import);
  
  
• You CAN script the auto-importation of data from a datasource (it stores the SQL select statement, data source, username and password with the import order - so DO click the "Restore" checkbox in the "Import" script step).

However there are some SERIOUS limitations with the released SQL plug-in in 4.1:

• You CANNOT WRITE back to a SQL datasource;
  
  
• You CANNOT use a FileMaker database as an ODBC datasource (i.e. no "READ" capabilities);
  
  
• You CANNOT specify a field for the SQL statement (i.e. each import from each datasource for each set of columns for each "where" statement must be scripted SEPARATELY);
  
  
• You CANNOT script the datasource name, username or password (would be able to make import connections "on-the-fly").

If you need the ability to WRITE back to a datasource - check out the EXTREMELY COOL SQL plug-in developed by Professional Data Management and Rumora Automatisering en Advies (http://www.profdata.nl/pages/english.html). From their website:

"The ODBC/SQL plug-in, available for download on this site, allows users to send any SQL-92 command from within their Filemaker Pro database to an ODBC datasource. In doing so, they can create, modify and delete tables and/or rows. Data can be sent to and retrieved from the ODBC datasource. The upcoming version 1.2 of the plug-in even allows users to import pictures, sound and movies from an ODBC datasource into a Filemaker Pro database. It will furthermore have support for ANSI and OEM character sets."

As of this writing - this is your only option for using a FMP database as a SQL or ODBC Client. Hopefully, FMI will add true ODBC compatibility in the near future.

DevCon - WOW!

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

So now that I've caught up with the 300+ emails while I was away at the 3rd annual FileMaker Pro Developer's Conference (DEVCON) in Monterey - I can sum the experience up in one word: WOW!.

This year's attendance was AMAZING - over 900 FileMaker Pro fanatics from a dozen countries! WOW.

In years past, I have presented a number of the sessions (4 the first year and 6 last year) - but this year I decided to be just an average shnook attendee. WOW. It was mind-blowing.

I've been doing this a long time - but never, never, have I seen 900+ people in one place ALL talking about FileMaker. WOW. I mean it was great - people huddled over PowerBooks and ThinkPads in the lobby, people talking about scripting techniques in the elevators, all 900 people sitting down for lunch to help complete strangers with any advice they could... WOW.

The conference sessions were also pretty good. They don't quite get a "WOW" - but hey, that's the way it goes some times. I particularly liked the session by Chris Moyer on "Intro to ODBC" and Rich Columbre and Brian Yoder's session on "The Business Side of FileMaker". I also got a lot out of Jay's session on "WinBatch and FileMaker" - he's done some AMAZING stuff (even if it IS on the platform controlled by the "dark side").

Yes, the sessions were good, but the PEOPLE were GREAT. I had the opportunity to meet (and drink heavily with) a bunch of good folks from Sweden, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. It turns out that several of these people had even HEARD of ClickWare - WOW! Not only that - but I discovered that they had come up with the same methodologies for the same problems that I've faced when doing custom development. WOW.

I also learned that you don't EVEN want to get into a contest to see who can be the last person standing when it comes to alcohol consumption... OWW... I mean - WOW. Were else could you get the opportunity to talk FileMaker, meet interesting people, have the cocktail of your choice, and wind up talking until 6:00am - EVERY NIGHT? Let's just say "sleep" wasn't high on the priority list for the entire event!

People helping people was the overriding theme. I would run outside to grab a smoke, and would wind up talking with 10 or 15 people on everything from the best way to dynamically sort a portal to uses for FileMaker that boggle the mind. I talked with people from Fire Departments, State Legislators, elementary schools, independent developers, in-house developers, hobbyists, first-time users, plug-in developers, and FileMaker, Inc. technical support folks.

I also had the opportunity to get to know several very important (and high-ranking) people from FileMaker Inc. Yes, it's true! They made themselves available and were anxious to gain input on how to make the product even better than it is today. Specifically, David Aune (Executive VP of Marketing, Technical Support and FSA manager) and Christian Thomas (a FileMaker Product Manager) were extremely generous with their time, energy and efforts in soliciting people's opinions and gathering input on a wide variety of topics.

Beyond the parties, beyond the actual sessions, beyond the food, beyond the beautiful surroundings, beyond the lack of sleep, the thing that made the conference for me was the people. A true Community. The FileMaker community. All I can say is WOW!

Viva Las Vegas

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

So I went to Las Vegas with some friends to celebrate my birthday. I hadn't been there in four or five years so, needless to say, there were five or ten new "mega attraction" hotels just waiting to swallow my hard-earned money.

We stayed at the Tropicana. When it was built - it was one of "the" places to be. Now, not so much. Although the pool is great - the food sucks and the slots are tighter than a... well, let's just say they don't pay off very much.

I'm convinced that the casino business is the best business model on the face of the planet. Where else in the country can you go and not see one single clock or calendar? It's true. All the flashing signs shout the praises of $4.99 prime rib, show video clips of upcoming concerts, and some even display ADS (like they're not making enough money!) - but there's not a clock to be found in the entire city.

Not only that - but I personally witnessed several people playing $5 and $10 slot machines. This means that for each "spin" it would cost $5 to $25 (1 to 5 "coins" per "spin"). And people would sit at these machines for HOURS. I also saw people playing at the $100 minimum blackjack tables. That's $100 PER HAND, mind you. All these suckers (myself included) kept throwing good money after bad - absolutely CONVINCED that they would win "the big one." Sheesh!

I wish that the software industry used the casino's business model. First of all - it would cost you money just to visit a web site (say, $10). Once you got on to the site, each link you clicked would cost you 25 cents... and there was a CHANCE that you would actually win the "big one" and go to the link you wanted.

Buying software would work the same way. You plunk down a small fee - say $10 and you can get started. You then insert money, pull the handle, and if you get a certain combination (say three cherries) you get a certain feature enabled. So, if you need email capabilities, you would have to keep pumping in money and trying your luck. You know it's possible, because you hear the sounds of glee and actually KNOW PEOPLE who have won. If you win the "big one" (odds are about 1,000,000,000 to 1) - you actually win the entire software with all the features intact.

Hmmmm... I wonder if I have Bill Gates' home number...

CH-CH-CH Changes

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

Internet stocks (especially Yahoo), have changed - they've gone through the roof!

Apple's profitability has changed - they actually have a profit (at least on paper).

At FileMaker Inc, a few people (some who are close friends) have resgined or been moved to Apple.

The proliferation of FileMaker Plug-Ins continues to grow (Troi's Plug-Ins are AWESOME, and so are the new ones from Waves In Motion).

New browsers are brewing from Netscape and even the people we love to hate, Microsoft.

Why even this very site has gone through some dramatic changes in the past month.

I'm all for change. Change can be great. But change can also suck - BIG TIME. Sometimes change is a good thing (like the internet stocks, Apple's profitability, the changes on this site, and the proliferation of new FMP Plug-Ins). An example of when it sucks - who the hell needs yet ANOTHER browser version that is totally incompatible? And for what? So that each browser developer can force people to choose either their browser or the competition's. Each browser developer is also forcing webmasters to choose to support one browser ("Optimized for IE" or "Optimized for Navigator") over another - while completely ignoring the scores of folks who still use the AOL 3.0 browser (which, itself, is incompatible with EVERYTHING).

The bad news is that you can't control change. The good news is that you control how much these changing events affect you. I use Netscape Navigator 3.0. Yep, that's right, 3.0. Why? It WORKS. It hardly crashes. It supports JavaScript fairly well. It is friendly with 99.9% of all sites. It handles QuickTime 3.0, ShockWave, and RealPlayer flawlessly.

Sure, we have the "latest and greatest" versions of all the browsers on our server (NT 4.0 - who knew?) - but I like what I like, and I like 3.0.

The newer versions CRASH like hell, and give nice, ANNOYING "features" that no one in their right mind needs. I mean, come on, how many sites use DTML? When was the last time you just HAD to go to the latest VRML site? Unless you're in a corporate setting with LOTS of co-horts in far-flung places - do you REALLY need "whiteboard" capabilities in a BROWSER? I'm not a big fan of the Windows 95 User interface - but are you telling me you think it's a GOOD idea to have people use a BROWSER for the interface on a desktop computer?

Nah... all this stuff is pure B.S. It's designed to force you, the weary daily surfer to choose one browser over another. Why? Money. Once they give you the "free fix", they're betting that you'll "protect your investment" in browsers by PAYING for an upgrade down the road. As for me, personally, I'll keep using NN 3.0 until I can't browse my favorite sites anymore. At that point, I'll switch to my cell phone which will browse in TEXT ONLY mode...

The Truman Show

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

I saw the movie "The Truman Show" this weekend... what a COOL movie!

Yep, if you liked the previous "The Crucible" review I did... you're in for another treat. If you hated the previous "The Crucible" review I did - then you can stop reading here.

OK, for those of you still here - the basic idea of the movie is that a human (yep - Truman Burbank played by Jim Carrey) was legally adopted by a large broadcasting company (OmniCam Corporation) for the sole purpose of providing a "real" TV show.

This poor person goes on about his life, without knowing that EVERYTHING in it is being controlled and manipulated by the "mad genius" Christof (played by Ed Harris) the person who conceived and has directed, produced and supervised it through it's entire 30 year run. Christof observes (directs) the entire show from a control room that is disguised as the moon (as in "man-in-the").

Truman lives in a beautiful beach side community called Seahaven. It's a typical picture-perfect little town, compete with beach, picturesque beach cottages, a small downtown including a bank, restaurant, hardware store, etc. However, the entire picture-perfect town of Seahaven is actually a gigantic sound stage. Truman's friends and family - everyone he meets, in fact - are actors - INCLUDING his WIFE, Meryl (played by Laura Linney).

To top it all off he lives every moment under the unblinking gaze of over 5,000 hidden TV cameras. I mean they have these things everywhere from the radio in his car, to behind the two-way bathroom mirror, to the bedroom, kitchen, and thousands of spots all over town. Literally, Truman's every move is caught on tape, and he doesn't know it.

Because it's a live TV show that's on 24 hours a day, seven days a week (including a live international feed) - WITHOUT any commercials. Everything in the show is "for sale." His wife, Meryl (a Carol Brady/Donna Reed/Shirley Jones combo), extolls the virtues of the coffee drinks, the house they live in, the car they drive... holy product placement, Batman!

I know what you're thinking - why the hell doesn't he just get in the car and drive away? Ah ha! It seems that there's only one bridge out of town - and that bridge crosses water. When Truman was a kid, his "father" drown so he's terrified about anything having to do with water, over water, etc.

Fast forward a bit.

He has received clues from some of the "actors" that his life is really a TV show. Of course, he doesn't believe it (I mean come on - would YOU??)... but then he realizes that it's all true. He still has no idea he's actually on a giant sound stage - and when he takes a route out of town, all of a sudden there's an instant traffic jam. He makes a U Turn, goes around the block, comes back to the same intersection and there's not a car on the street.

Good stuff! I won't ruin the ending, but it didn't suck nearly as bad as I thought it would.

So, this is the part of the program where I try to tie this movie into the computer industry... here's goes.

It might as well have been called "The Windows 98 Show." No matter what channel you tune to, or what magazine or newspaper or ezine you read, Windows 98 is the top story. No matter what country you live in.

Although "Christof" is a much cooler name than "Bill Gates" - they are both playing the wizard behind the curtain. Gates, like Christof, is the man behind the conception, production and direction of the entire show. There have been well over 5,000 cameras with "live" coverage of Windows 98, and there will no doubt be more as time goes on.

Like the product placements in Truman's world, everything on the Internet Explorer Desktop (oops, I mean "Windows 98 desktop") is for sale: IF #1 - you're NOT Netscape, #2 - you want to give exclusive content to Microsoft, AND #3 - they don't actually buy your company first.

Gates hasn't yet bought the moon, but he does have a $50 million home on Puget Sound from which he can control the entire show. The picture-perfect setting that Microsoft is trying to portray for Windows 98 users costs about as much as a huge sound stage, but thankfully, we're all free to leave at any time.

FREE - but at what price?

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

Ok, Ok, I know. It's been a couple of months since I've been able to update this column (in fact, the entire damn site!)... I deserve 1000 web lashings.

There's been a ton o' changes to the FileMaker Pro landscape (and computing in general) since the last column. Claris has become FileMaker, Inc., Apple Computer has announced an all-in-one mac called the iMac, Rapshody has become Mac OS X (ten), and we've been entertained by Mr. Bill's courthouse antics. At ClickWare, we launched ClickWorld (the definitive FileMaker Pro resource) in January, and so far have almost 10,000 registered users of the site.

But growth comes at a price...

For FileMaker Inc, the loss of ALL other products other than FileMaker Pro also meant the loss of some fantastic people (and some real JERKS) at the restructured company. It was with an extremely heavy heart that I slowly lost touch with some of the people who were with me at the beginning of my FileMaker journey.

For Apple... well, you know the story. If not, you can check it out here.

For ClickWorld... alas, I feel the end is near. We currently have a Macintosh G3 (233 mHz) computer running WebStar and Lasso 2.5 - that powers the ENTIRE site. The performance has been excellent! The problem comes down to dollars and cents. When we launched the site, we launched it in cooperation with an ISP in the Bay Area (Infoasis). They were creating a FileMaker Pro Hosting service, and in exchange for a connection to their T-1, we provided free banners on certain pages forever.

Well, this week, the "other shoe" dropped. It seems Infoasis is now re-thinking their hosting business, and therefore do not need the banner ad. No banner ad = no "free ride" on their network. Translation: either we have to pay $350 per month to co-locate the computer, or ClickWorld goes away. Now, if you've cruised this ClickWare site - or you've surfed on over to ClickWorld, you know that we provide tons of free tips, free software, and resonably priced tools for FileMaker folks. You also may or may not know, our web presence is for YOU. We strive to be a resource, a depository of information, tips and files that are of use... all for free.

The ClickWorld site is free, the discussion area on ClickWorld is free, the international developer on ClickWorld is free, you can quickly locate and purchase the latest FileMaker Pro books (in association with Amazon.com), there are articles (including this one) that are free.... well, you get the idea.

We don't make any money from our web sites. The product sales simply help to cover the costs of the web presence - we make our money by doing custom FMP and Web development. The reality is that since the ClickWorld site has taken a considerable amount of time and money to implement, it's simply not possible to continue dumping money into a "free" resource.

UPDATE 6/13/98: Shawn Hogen from Data-Point Software has arranged for an ISP to co-locate the server. THANKS Shawn!

Whatever the fate of ClickWorld, rest assured that THIS web presence (ClickWare) is NOT going anywhere. We're committed to keeping it up and running as long as ClickWare is in business. We want to update the site according to what YOU want. Tell us what you LIKE and HATE about this site - and I promise that we'll do everything we can to help.

Thank you all!

Go For The Gold!

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

Tara Lupinski and Monica Kwan. Done deal. All I can say is this: God bless them.

If you can do well, make the sacrifices these woman (girls?) have - then talk to me. To be the best in the world in something - anything - means that you give 100% all the time. Not for the cameras, not for the commercial endorsements, but for you. YOU. The end.

I just watched those fine young athletes get the gold. I watched as they mouthed the words to the Star Spangled Banner. I watched as the flag of the United States of America was raised (along with China!). Breath-taking.

We all have that ability in us. It may not be as public, as in-your-face as the Olympics. But we do. Business is people, people IS business. I would enourage you to be a "gold-medalist" today.

Tracy and Kwan - we in the U.S.A. are proud of you. Proud of your achievement. Proud of your sacrifices. Proud that we had the honor of being represented by people like you who gave not only your talents, but your lifestyle - for years and years - to represent our country.

My hat's off to you, and to all the Olympians - you DID GOOD regardless of where you "placed" in the end.

Clip And Save!

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

Now that FileMaker Pro has been out for a few months, and more and more people are experimenting with the new web features - I've been receiving a lot of email with questions regarding how to test a web solution. In order to use the custom CDML tags in your own HTML there are several settings that MUST all be configured in order to preview your solution in your browser.

On the FileMaker side: 1) set your computer's networking to the correct TCP/IP configuration; 2) turn on the Web Companion (Edit -> Preferences -> Plug-Ins; 3) make your database(s) available to the Web Companion by choosing "Sharing..." from the "File" menu and choose the checkbox for the "Web Companion." Steps two and three appear in the FileMaker Pro documentation, but step one does not. After combing the web, talking to peers, and checking our own network setup, I've compiled the following guide to help you properly configure your Mac or PC:

Macintosh:

Using MacTCP:

Open the MacTCP control panel and assign the web server an IP
address of 192.168.0.2. Click the "More" button, and make sure that it is set to Obtain Address Manually, that the IP Address is Class C, that the
Gateway Address is 0.0.0.0, and that the fields in the Domain Name Server Information box are blank. If you do have a router address and are using a
local Domain Name Server, you can enter this information instead.

• If you are using a local AppleTalk network or a single computer, open the Chooser and make sure AppleTalk is Active.
  
  
• Next, open the Network control panel and select LocalTalk.
  
  
• Open the MacTCP control panel again and select the LocalTalk icon, then verify all your changes and restart the computer for them to take effect.

If you are using an Ethernet network, you can select EtherTalk in the Network control panel, and Ethernet in the MacTCP control panel instead.

For Open Transport:

Open the TCP/IP control panel, and assign the web server an IP address of 192.168.0.2.

If you are using a local AppleTalk network or a single computer, set Connect via: to AppleTalk (MacIP),Configure: to Manually, then click the "Select Zone" button and select the current AppleTalk zone. All other fields should be blank, unless you are using a router or Domain Name Server for your local network.

If you are using an Ethernet network, you can set Connect via: to Ethernet, Configure: to Manually, and enter a Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Again, all other fields should be blank unless you are using a router or Domain Name Server for your local network.

Any client computers should be configured to use the same connection method (LocalTalk/AppleTalk or Ethernet), but should have different IP addresses, higher than the server, such as 192.168.0.3 or 192.168.0.4 (you can also use 192.0.1.2 for the server and 192.0.1.3 and up for clients, if you like).

Check out: http://arpp.carleton.ca/mac/question/network.html for more instructions, including some great pictures of every step.

Windows 95/NT:

TCP/IP Network Settings

For single computer users:

• Click the "Start" button and chose "Control Panels" from the "Settings" menu.
  
  
• Double click on the "Network" icon.
  
  
• From the listing of network components installed, choose the one for TCP/IP and click the "Properties" button.
  
  
• From the "IP Address" tab, check the "Specify an IP address" and type 192.1.2.2 in the "IP Address"
  
  
• Enter 255.255.255.0 for the "Subnet Mask"
  
  
• Click "OK", and click "OK" again to close the window

For Network Users

Contact your network administrator to ask them what the IP address is of your computer. If you don't have one, you can follow the directions above.

Browser Settings

For Microsoft Internet Explorer:

• Choose "Options" from the "View" menu.
  
  
• Click the "Connection" tab
  
  
• UNCHECK the "Connect to the Internet as needed" under the "Dialing" section.
  
  
• Check the checkbox "Connect through a proxy server" and click the "Settings..." button.
  
  
• In the space next to HTTP: type 192.1.2.2 and leave the "port" space blank.
  
  
• Click "OK", Click "Apply" then click "OK" to close the Options window

NOTE: When you want to use your dial-in access again, simply UNCHECK the "Connect through a proxy server" checkbox and CHECK the "Connect to the Internet as needed" checkbox.

For Netscape Navigator: No changes to the preferences are necessary.

Got Web?

Editor's NOTE: This is a moldie oldie that I pulled from a text dump archive. None of the links will work anymore (or 99% won't) - but the names and companies have NOT changed.

Now that FileMaker Pro 4.0 has hit the streets, I can finally talk about the cool stuff that this reasonably priced upgrade ($99 US) contains.

You'll be hearing a lot from Claris about the built-in Web Features: HTTP server, Instant Web Publishing, CDML (Claris Dynamic Markup Language), etc. These are extremely cool. I'll glaze over this topic later, but in a nutshell the new web integration feature basically means that you can serve FileMaker Pro 4.0 data from Windows 95, Windows NT, and the Mac OS without any other software. You can publish a database without creating custom HTML, or, if you're like us, you can create custom HTML pages that use Claris CDML tags (similar to Blue World Communication's Lasso 1.2 product) to add, delete, update, or find information.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

You can now define a SORT order for each relationship - that's right, you can now have sorted data in portals! It's worth the $99 just for that one feature. Although Claris Tech Support may tell you it can't be done, you CAN Dynamically Sort data in a portal. This is something that every developer (and customer) has wanted for a long time.

There are several new "Design" functions that allow you to get information about other databases that are currently open. You can get the names of the open databases, the fields, the layouts, what fields are on a specific layout, the value list names, value list values, relationship names, relationship specifications, etc. This is awesome! In fact (WARNING: Shameless plug ahead) we've completely re-written our best selling ClickStats to take advantage of all these new features and more (watch this site for more details in a couple of weeks - including a free trial version).

There are multiple "smaller" features as well - you can now choose to display the last x opened databases (where x is any number), there's a couple of new Status() functions (including a cool one for telling what modifier keys are held down when clicking on a button, etc.), and there's a new API for writing your own external functions, Java API for the Web stuff... and... WAIT! Did you just hear what I said? Yep, there's an external API (Application Programming Interface) so that third parties can write C or C++ code to make their own functions! And yes, there is a Java API (including all necessary classes) for the new Web Companion.

"When do we get em'?" Well, I can't really say... or I could be shot. Suffice it to say that these specifications should be available about the same time as the SDK (runtime) for 4.0. "When's that?" Ummm... soon-ish.

I'm excited about the possibilities of third parties writing "plug-in" external functions. If (when) the specifications are made public, and you write an external function, or Java stuff, please let me know and I'd be happy to include your work on our site.

Also, for those of you who are just dying to do cool stuff with FileMaker Pro 4.0 - check out the new magazine "FileMaker Pro Advisor" - it ROCKS. Ok, ok, so I'm the Technical Editor... but it's a really COOL mag. There are some sample files up on the site showing you how to get started with a basic search form on the Web, and more.

The Impending NC Revolution

So Steve Jobs will finally have the last laugh. He co-founded Apple, got booted out by the Board of Directors, started a new hardware company - NEXT - (that never caught on so they changed to a software company), and had enough money from his Apple holdings to buy Pixar. What a "visionary"... NOT!

But, like the unwanted guest in the movie Poltergiest, "...heeeeee'ssss baaaaaack.." but only as "interim CEO" a job he "never wanted."

Guess what? We don't want him EITHER. In the past few months, he's managed to fire (or in Applespeak, "..cause to excercise options..") of all the best and brightest Apple directors - Eileen Hancock, Guerino De Luca, and scads of others. I have it on good authority, from a person who works in highest levels at Apple, that Steve was actually seen walking down the halls in a fit saying to random people in the halls "You're fired! You're fired! You're all fired!".

Yeah, that's mature.

Better yet, he's ousted or "..caused to excercise options..." of almost all of the Board of Directors and replaced them with his own long-time, apple-bashing friends. The most distasteful of these has to be Larry Ellison (CEO and founder of Oracle - a kick-ass company with kick-ass products). Larry has had a "hunkering" for a new type of PC, called an NC (Network Computer) that has no internal hard drive. This type of computer would have a Java operating system, and would link to a powerful server computer to run all the applications.

Old Larry has been hyping his vision in the press, but as yet, no one has actually bought a NC computer, because they don't exist (in mass quantities). Now this makes really, really good demos at computer shows, but that's about it.

Now Larry has convinced Steve that NC's would be a good direction for Apple.

Danger! Danger! Danger Will Robinson!

What in the hell can Steve actually be thinking? I mean do we really want to return to the era of bell bottoms, tie dye, afros, and platform shoes? In the 70's and early 80's NC's (or "dumb terminals" as they were called) was the ONLY way of networked computing. The theory was that you have monitor and keyboard for all the lowly "users" and that all the applications and "cool stuff" to make it all work was housed in a big computer room under the watchful (and often tyrannical control) of the "MIS" department.

Then came the "desktop revolution" that de-centralized the control of the "dumb terminals" with the advent of the "personal" computer. Now every user had the ability to save, copy and open their own files, upgrade their hardware and software, and add new features to their computers without having to wait the 4 to 6 weeks for some MIS guy to "get around to it."

People liked it. Lots of folks sold lots of computers. Bill Gates became a billionaire (for the first time). It was good.

Now we're supposed to buy this NC thing? It's a simple return to the "good ol days" of centralized computing. It takes all the power from the user and re-instills it to the MIS department. Don't get me wrong, some of the MIS people I know aren't maniacle, power-hungry, tyrannical despots who lord their "keeper of the keys" mentality over every "lowly user"... but some are.

Do we really want to return to those days? As for me and mine - the answer is a resounding NO! Hell no, we won't go (NC).. hell no we won't go.. echos from the hallways as I write this.

Maybe I'm too cynical. I long for the kind of Apple that produced the in-your-face-IBM commercial in 1984. I wish for the Apple "evangelists" that would beg, cajole, and actually LISTEN to developers. Was it all for naught? Some say yes (i.e. ALL the PC press), some say no (like me, for now) and some are doing something about it.

If you REALLY want to recapture the passion of empowered computing check out this little company called Be Computing... I know I'll be watching them closely as the replacement for what the Mac COULD have been.

Clone Home

Rumors have been flying fast and furious over the last few weeks as to the future of Power Computing. For those of you who don't know (or care) - PowerComputing is (has been) the #1 clone Macintosh manufacturer and the industry leader in Mac OS technology for the past two years. Reported price: $100 million.

It is reported that Apple will purchase Power's assets. Power will retain its name and logo, and continue operating through the end of the year.

Apple's clone market slogan from the beginning has been: "Expand the market, don't cannibalize it." Read: "Don't do anything better than us - like marketing, sales, delivering on-time, offering customers lifetime support, creating cool technology, etc. because it will 'cannibalize' OUR crappy sales efforts, lame products, late delivery, no support and general mis-management."

It looks like Steve Jobs got far more for the $150+ million that Bill Gates recently "invested" in Apple - he picked up on Bill's "if you can't beat them, buy them and beat them up" strategy.

As if taken from the Official Microsoft Play book - Apple is effectively "buying off" the competition. Loud competition. Real in-your-face competition. Competition with a REAL marketing department. Competition with a REAL management team.

Who'll lose? Us. PowerComputing is now going to be making Wintel machines (including notebooks). Just what the world needs - another hardware manufacturer. Hopefully, the folks at Power will be able to pull it off, and provide the same quality/feature to price ratio as they had in the Mac OS market. If so they'll succeed. If not, they'll fail.

What about the future of clones and cloning? Well, Motorola still remains the most viable cloner (as do the companies such as PowerTools which buy its OEM equipment from Motorola). You see, Moto is a licensor of Apple's OS, not a licensee. Not even Steve's buddy Bill Gates has enough money to buy THEM - and even if they did, Bill doesn't want another Justice Department proctology exam.

While other clone makers have voiced their continued support for the Mac OS clone market (i.e. UMAX, et al), it looks like Moto is going to be, by default, the big winner. It's not going to "bet the clone farm" on just the boring PowerPC boxes, but has recently inked a deal with Apple to build and market CHRP (Common Hardware Reference Platform) machines. These machines will run ANY OL' OS - not just the Mac OS. It seems that even THEY are hedging their bets...