Month: April 2014

In a guest column from CitizenTekk, Brad Wilson, the Rentals Manager at Keslow Camera, spoke about how his company has been able to improve business processes through the use of FileMaker. As one of the largest camera rental companies in the Hollywood area, the organization provides equipment that is used in some of the biggest television shows and movies.

However, this also means there can be piles of paperwork to make sure all cameras are accounted for. This is where FileMaker can come into play. Wilson described several ways that operations have improved include:

• Going paperless – It is now much easier to look up order forms or check inventory. This lets employees answer client questions quickly, closing deals more effectively.
• Incorporate additional hardware – Because FileMaker can be used with multiple systems easily including Macs, iPads, iPod Touches and iPhones, employees now have a much easier way to access information and can help address customer needs from anywhere. This also helps manage business in off hours or during emergency calls.
• Improve speed – In a competitive marketplace, speed is everything. With this database, the company can submit bids quickly after checking to make sure they know all the information needed for an accurate assessment.

"The database is hosted on a Mac Pro for easy access across Keslow Camera's offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Santa Fe, and New Orleans," Wilson said. "Managers and staff can tap into the information they need anytime, from anywhere, including via iPads and iPhones. The FileMaker Go app brings the full, rich application to Keslow's iPad and iPhone users – it's not just a slimmed-down version of the database."

With the help of a FileMaker service provider, any organization will be able to follow this path and create a better form of database.

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is one of the top software conventions in the industry. Last year, the company gave developers the first view of iOS 7 and OS X 10.9 Mavericks. These were then put into Beta and those with access started troubleshooting.

According to Tech Day, this year's annual event will be held June 2 through 6 at San Francisco's Moscone West. The five-day convention will again present the future of both the mobile and computer operating systems and if history holds true, this years event will have announcements that point to the next big moves for the company and consumers.

While tech enthusiasts will focus on this event because it is a major unveiling for the company, it also means that partner companies will need to adjust to change. Aside from software, the company has also unveiled hardware upgrades like the radically redesigned black cylinder Mac Pro that was unveiled last year.

For companies like FileMaker, this is the unveiling of the platform and hardware that their solution will be paired with.

As we reported last month, FileMaker recently announced its Developer Conference for July 28-31. It is highly likely that what is announced at the WWDC will impact this event, as it could have a direct impact of what the company has planned.

Regardless of what is announced by Apple, it will play a role in the future of solutions that are created by custom database software developers that use FileMaker as their primary tool.

Every software solution goes through a number of updates in order to remain effective. These can be patches to rectify new security threats, updates to existing software glitches or improvements to an existing solution. A majority of the time, these updates are needed to keep the systems firing on all cylinders.

This week, FileMaker released new versions of many of its solutions. This includes FileMaker Pro 13.0v2, FileMaker 13.0v2 Advanced, FileMaker Server 12.0v5 and the Mac version from OS X 10.9 Mavericks only and FileMaker Go 13.0.3 for the iPad and iPhone.

The Pro update addresses the limitations related to the FileMaker Pro URL protocol. It also includes general bug fixes pertaining to calculations and scripting, layout rendering and text editing.

FileMaker Go 13.0.3 expands file transfer capabilities to include moving files between iOS apps on the same device and transferring files between apps on other devices using AirDrop. It also addresses bug fixes and various compatibility issues. 

Making the decision to upgrade a software solution is not easy, especially if it is being used with critical business operations. The IT department needs to make sure that any and all updates are compatible with the other systems. For example, if you are running an older version of the Mac OS, the new FileMaker Server update will not run on this.

If you are a small business, keeping track of all this can be complicated. With the help of a Connecticut FileMaker developer, any organization will be able to assess their current solutions and learn about the new ones.