Author: John Mathewson

This September, Claris had several new announcements and updates. Of course, we can expect to see developments and news ramp up as Claris continues to build towards their recently announced rebranding and overhauling suite of offerings.  In addition to the typical tweaks and fixes, there are some exciting changes that pave the way for the future of Claris FileMaker. Users can expect more updates in line with this one as Claris continues to roll out their previously announced plans.

Claris’s major announcement is the release of Claris Studio. Part of their new lineup of offerings and naming convention, Claris Studio replaces Claris Connect. It offers the same functionality: insights through charts, reports, and dashboards. 

Claris Studio allows users to run reports, create charts, and more. Data is updated and reflected in real-time across the Claris platform. Features include:

• Dashboard: Claris Studio’s dashboard allows for quick and easy access to a holistic view of your data.
• Forms: Collect and view data.
• Spreadsheets: Aggregate data and sort or filter it by specific parameters.
• List-detail: Organize information into a list, with the ability to view or edit.
• Kanban: Track project progress.

Claris has also promised that users can expect other features and functionality to be added in the future.

Update 19.5.4 is here and it brings several helpful updates. The most notable of these is the in-software news updates.

Highlights include:

• In-product Notifications: Claris can now share the latest news directly in the FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Server software. Users can be alerted to new changes and updates as they roll in.
• macOS: The quick start experience is no longer available.
• New Files: FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Server can now open files that could not be reopened after modifying the settings in the File Options dialog box with a limited access account.

Other recent updates include:

• • Use a Single Claris ID: A single email and password can be used to log into Claris Pro, Claris Studio, and all other Claris products. It’s a simple but appreciated quality of life change.
  • New File Extension: Apps created with Claris Pro now use the extension “.claris”. Claris server can now host these files.

• Claris Go App: Claris Go will soon be available on the app store for iOS and iPadOS.

Kyo Logic will continue to bring you exciting Filemaker news and updates. If you have any questions about these changes, or you’d like to know how FileMaker can work for your business, you can reach out to us here.

Data storage is a critical component of any modern business. Virtually every piece of information from customer invoices to employee resources is stored digitally. While this makes for incredibly convenient access, it also makes this information susceptible to loss. Corruption may render files inaccessible. Employees may accidentally delete or modify critical files. Malware can infect or steal data. Flooding or fires can even destroy the physical server that stores the data.

Backing up data consistently and following best practices can help mitigate the impact these losses can have on business operations. If you’re using Claris FileMaker, there are also a number of features you can utilize to put these practices into action.

Ensure your data is backed up often. For any number of reasons, from power outages, to floods or fires, to human error, data can be lost. It’s important to have this data backed up elsewhere, in the event that your data server is somehow rendered inaccessible.

Data should be backed up at least every 24 hours. This ensures that, even in the event of a catastrophe, teams will still have access to relatively up-to-date information. Depending on the nature of the industry and how often critical pieces of data are updated, some businesses opt to back their data up more often.

Claris FileMaker can automate this process to help protect data and guarantee timely backups.

Backup data off-site. It’s incredibly important that your primary server and backup server are not in the same location. If a catastrophic event impacts the viability of a server in one location, the other server will not be affected.

Encrypt sensitive data. While accidents can certainly happen, it’s also important to encrypt data. Encryption ensures data cannot be changed or stolen, either by malicious third-parties or employees making accidental changes. Encryption acts as a second layer of protection that ensures the safety of your backups.

FileMaker offers encryption features that make this process seamless.

Utilize security measures. Password protect important data or employ a system where only necessary users have relevant access. This helps prevent attacks from third-parties, but also ensures employees won’t accidentally access information they shouldn’t be able to access.

Claris FileMaker includes the ability to password protect information and grant or deny specific users (or groups of users) access.

Account for endpoints. While your database may act as a single source of truth, it’s also possible that employees out in the field are using their personal devices or company-assigned devices to access your platform. In some instances, namely when reception is poor, the data updated on these devices may not reflect in real time. Backing up individual devices can help to create a more robust and accurate backup.

If you’re looking for ways to back up data or want to know more about FileMaker, Kyo Logic is here to help. You can reach out to us here.

After building a custom platform, it needs to be hosted somewhere. That is, all that information needs a place to “live” so it can be accessed through the web. Claris offers its own hosting solution for FileMaker called Claris Server. It’s a fantastic option for FileMaker-based platforms specifically because it integrates so seamlessly into the rest of the FileMaker ecosystem. However, there are other options available that offer their own advantages and disadvantages.

Note that there is another option: businesses can choose to host the content themselves. This typically requires dedicated employees, purchasing servers, and having space to store them. Going with a third-party option is generally more cost-effective and streamlined. Businesses may opt to use one of these hosting solutions if they’re already paying to have these companies host their website or other data.

Amazon Web Services. Amazon offers hosting services that support a wide variety of platforms. AWS is scalable and offers very flexible pricing options. AWS offers a range of services, and their databases can host FileMaker. AWS also gives subscribers a considerable degree of control over their usage. Additional servers can be up and running within minutes, if needed. AWS works with both relational databases and NoSQL.

Microsoft Azure. Microsoft offers a similar cloud solution with features that closely parallel AWS. Their databases also support NoSQL and relational databases. However, they do tend to be more expensive than AWS. 

Google Cloud Databases. Google also offers hosting. However, it is only available as a cloud platform. Cloud hosting is easy-to-use, scalable, and nimble. However, because your information is only available in the cloud it is susceptible to data loss, data leakage, or even theft. Connection issues or outages could render your information inaccessible.

IBM Cloud. IBM provides database solutions that support PostgreSQL and MySQL. However, like Google, these offerings are cloud only.

FileMaker Server. For businesses utilizing FileMaker, FileMaker Server is truly the best option. It offers out of the box compatibility with FileMaker. It allows clients to open FileMaker files. Data can easily be shared with FileMaker databases and websites or other touchpoints.

Kyo Logic offers hosting solutions, and we’d be happy to walk you through these options and more. You can reach out to us here for a free consultation.

Claris FileMaker Pro and Zoho are both popular database solutions. If you’re shopping around for a database that works well for your business, deciding between the two may feel overwhelming, or even confusing. But, there are several important differences between the two, and knowing these differences may help make your decision easier.

Zoho

Zoho CRM’s Creator Tools are a low-code development platform designed for drag and drop application building. It comes with over 60 applications prebuilt, making it easy for those with no knowledge to snap something together (relatively) easy.

This accessibility translates to its entry fees. Zoho has a free trial that’s fairly limited: it only allows for a maximum of two users and three applications. However, it does allow small businesses to take it for a “test drive” at no cost. 

It also allows for slightly more flexibility in terms of pricing. Although it’s cost for individual users is more expensive ($25 per month per user for Zoho vs $19 per month per user for FileMaker Cloud), Zoho allows for single person accounts. FileMaker Cloud requires 5 users at minimum.

Zoho offers unlimited users which (pricing notwithstanding) makes scalability easy as businesses grow.

Zoho offers one major thing FileMaker does not: native Android support. There’s a Zoho app for both Apple and Android devices, making it easy to access regardless of the device employees are using. While Android users can use FileMaker, they have to do it via FileMaker’s web tool, WebDirect (as opposed to an application).

Claris FileMaker Pro

FileMaker Pro is also a database solution, this one a RDBMS (relational database management system) with its own front-end GUI. Frankly, it may not be as simple out-of-the-box as Zoho. Zoho prioritizes making things as easy as possible, while FileMaker can be incredibly powerful in the hands of the right developer. It may not be as intuitive for the average person, but virtually any database solution is possible through FileMaker.

Claris Connect also allows FileMaker Pro to interface with virtually any existing application. If your team already uses Outlook or Slack (or any other number of software), FileMaker Pro can easily communicate with them. It effectively slots into your existing infrastructure. It’s that simple.

That flexibility and simplicity can also be found in FileMaker’s reporting features. FileMaker Pro automatically creates table, list, and form views as databases and forms are added. Scripting and customization can all be done within the GUI with very limited coding knowledge.

FileMaker Pro also allows for scalability. The platform itself allows for nine simultaneous users, which at first glance, isn’t many. But FileMaker Server means that you can rent out servers as you grow, for hundreds of consecutive users accessing the database.

It should be no surprise that FileMaker Pro’s security measures are equally as flexible. Administrators can restrict users down to the most granular level, so departments or individual employees can access some databases, layouts, or fields and not others.

Conclusion

Zoho is a great alternative for smaller businesses and those who have no experience with building out low-code and no-code platforms. For small businesses that anticipate fewer than 4 users, it may even be cheaper.

Of course, Zoho doesn’t scale as well from a pricing perspective. FileMaker’s minimum of 5 users at $19 per month is  a total of $95. That’s already $5 less than 4 users on Zoho. As the number of users increases, so too will the pricing disparity.

While Zoho can be great (especially for smaller businesses), FileMaker Pro offers better pricing and potentially more flexibility and options in the long-term. This is especially true in the hands of a capable development team. If you want to learn more about developing custom platforms for your business, you can contact Kyo Logic here.

“Developer” is a broad title. It’s so broad, in fact, that it’s sometimes difficult to parse, especially for industry outsiders. While all developers create software (or contribute to the creation of software in some way), there are dozens of branches and proficiencies. Individual developers may focus on writing code, strategizing, or providing quality assurance. There are a staggering number of programming languages that individuals or teams may choose to focus on.

And that’s all without mentioning the specializations within that. Entire companies may specialize in building customer experience portals, internal communications applications, or back-end sales tools. They may focus entirely on web development, and within that, focus on a handful of needs.

There’s nothing wrong with being highly specialized, of course. There’s such a breadth and depth of knowledge when it comes to development, that it’s essentially necessitated. But it’s precisely for this reason that Claris, the creator of FileMaker, has a certification process and a partner program. The certifications are tied to specific services offered, as well as overall knowledge. Currently, the certifications  and partner classifications available are as follows:

Certified: These partners have passed the FileMaker Certification exam. This is a timed, multiple-choice exam that tests for FileMaker understanding and application.

Consulting: These partners will work with you to create a custom application, including planning and eventual deployment.

Training: This certification goes to partners who focus on teaching custom application development. This includes teaching developers and non-developers alike.

Reselling: Resellers offer authorized licenses of Claris FileMaker and other Claris products. While you can purchase FileMaker directly from Claris, these resellers may offer Claris products alongside other software, often at a discount.

Hosting: Hosting partners will offer solutions for hosting your custom software in the cloud.

Connect: These partners focus on Claris Connect, which assists with workflow automation and integration.

As noted, there are a variety of certificates that individual developers and corporations can hold, but the highest honor is a platinum certification. 

Platinum partners are hand-picked by Claris for their technical prowess and excellent customer service— there are only a handful of Platinum Certified Claris FileMaker developers in the country. Furthermore, they’re innovators in the space, redefining what FileMaker can do and sharing these discoveries with Claris. They offer comprehensive services and complete, holistic solutions. Platinum partners will offer virtually all of the services and options listed above. 

For example, at Kyo Logic (a Platinum Certified Claris FileMaker Developer) we offer development, hosting, and license management. If you want to learn more about how a Platinum Certified developer can help you, please contact us here.

At its most recent Webinar update, Claris announced a name change that will impact its offerings. Long-time FileMaker users are probably aware this isn’t the first time the tech giant has changed names; Claris previously changed its name to “FileMaker” and then back to Claris in recent years.

 

What does this mean for Claris products? There’s a naming overhaul planned and a spiffy new gradient visual branding to go along with it. The name changes themselves are as follows:

• FileMaker Pro is now Claris Pro
• FileMaker Server is now Claris Server
• FileMaker Go is now Claris Go
• Claris Connect is now Claris Studio

 

It’s a pretty simple change to understand, and one that customers will pick up on quickly. Claris is ditching the “FileMaker” moniker and branding everything with the parent name. Interestingly, Claris promised that while Claris Studio will contain what used to be Connect, it will also be the umbrella for “new stuff.” Claris Vice President of Engineering, Peter Nelson, describes the new stuff as “functionality that will be available as part of the Claris platform.” While they didn’t get into the details, it sounds like they’ve got big plans in terms of expanding on what they offer their customers. Claris is anticipating the initial release of Claris Studio this fall.

 

Claris sees this as a way to create a central identity across all platforms while also allowing for better integration between platforms. This change will also make it easy for new clients to adopt these platforms. Claris also assures their existing users that nothing will fundamentally change for existing platforms. To put it more bluntly, these preexisting platforms won’t break as Claris updates their offerings.

 

Of course, this is just the foundation Claris is placing, and they promise to have more in store in the near future. At Kyo Logic, we’ll be sure to monitor and update as Claris rolls out new developments. We’re excited to continue to use Claris tools to create the best custom platforms and databases for our clients.

Claris FileMaker is designed to make custom databases available to virtually everyone. This accessibility is a key component, not just in terms of ease of use and flexibility (although it certainly checks those boxes), but also in terms of how end users can literally access these databases.

Currently, FileMaker offers built-in support for desktop, web, and mobile phones, allowing for interfacing from anywhere and from (almost) any device. This allows businesses to focus on use-cases and problem-solving, as opposed to worrying about device compatibility.

FileMaker Go is the specific application that allows for this, available on both Android and Apple phones or tablets. This allows for much more efficiency during development. As opposed to creating two similar applications in parallel, FileMaker can effectively automate the process of adapting a desktop application for mobile. There are a few steps required, but they’re simple and time efficient (especially in comparison to building a mobile application from the ground up).

It’s as simple as dropping existing windows into a container designed for mobile. Some designs might require tweaks to the layout, especially in terms of button placement and size, to make navigating on a touchscreen device more intuitive. 

These applications can then be shared with FileMaker Server, allowing users to navigate the application and update information in real time. This is perfect for businesses that have employees doing a variety of work in a variety of locations (like a warehouse and office), employees who do remote/hybrid work, and companies that have employees in the field. Conversely, feature sets and layouts can be turned into an offline, self-contained solution. 

By default, FileMaker Go also allows users to take pictures and record video, scan barcodes, use electronic signatures, and manage local files, all within the app. This allows for each of these items to be implemented into workflows.

For example, warehouse workers can use tablets to scan the barcodes of incoming or outgoing shipments. These shipments are then automatically updated in the database in real-time. Now everyone, from the sales team to the accountants, knows if an order has shipped, and can take next steps.

Similarly, employees can draft invoices while visiting a client, and the client can sign and provide payment all through the app. For businesses with employees in the field, FileMaker Go makes conducting business much more efficient.

It’s worth noting that FileMaker Go is designed to function as an extension of FileMaker, not a replacement. That is to say, users cannot add new files or create databases and feature sets within FileMaker Go. FileMaker Go still requires these platforms to be built out within FileMaker proper, but once they are, exporting them to the mobile application is easy.

If FileMaker and FileMaker Go sound like they’d be great additions to your business’s toolkit, Kyo Logic is happy to help. Just click here to request a consultation, and we’ll show you all the ways a custom application can streamline your operations.

If you’ve been looking at custom platform solutions like FileMaker, Quickbase, or Zoho, you’ve likely seen terms like “low-code” and “no-code” used. Put simply, these platforms allow users to create tools that would otherwise only be made possible via coding. 

Traditionally, software would have to be built by developers, a process that requires years of experience and hours and hours of manpower. These developers build software using a programming language. You may have heard of Java, C++, or Python, but there are dozens of programming languages. The operating system on your computer, Microsoft Word, and the apps on your phone were all coded using a programming language that tells it what to do and when.

For comparison, consider the early home computer that ran MSDOS. Users were presented with a black screen, and had to type command prompts to navigate the computer and run software. Microsoft’s Windows was revolutionary because it created an operating system with a GUI that made navigation much easier and much more intuitive.

Coding allows a person or team of people to create virtually anything imaginable, but as mentioned, the process is time consuming. Low-code and no-code solutions utilize a graphic user interface (or GUI) that simplifies the process while all the “coding” happens in the background. It’s a way to allow users with limited coding experience to create what they need. It also allows experienced developers to save time on projects by streamlining the coding process. 

Although low-code and no-code are often grouped together (and sometimes even erroneously used interchangeably), there is a difference. Low-code seeks to streamline the coding process. It makes creating platforms, databases, and applications require less time and involve less tinkering with strings of code. However, it still requires some understanding of coding to really get the most out of this software (this will vary by the software). While the average person could still make use of low-code software, a seasoned developer will still be able to do much, much more. FileMaker and Zoho are great examples of “low-code” platforms.

No-code removes coding from the equation entirely. While coding familiarity may help, the entire process is done within the confines of the software’s GUI. Of course, “no-code” could apply to just about any piece of software if the definition was truly that broad. It’s used to identify platforms like Airtable: databases that are possible to create without code, but are built for non-developers. They prioritize easy-to-understand solutions.

Both low-code and no-code platforms are changing the way businesses approach their software needs. These tools can still be very powerful, and by nature can create (and modify) custom tools in a fraction of the time it’d normally take to craft these solutions. It allows businesses to be much more nimble and dynamic; they can react quickly to new employee needs and customer demands.

If you’d like to learn more about how low-code platforms like FileMaker can help your business, you can reach out to Kyo Logic here for a free consultation.

FileMaker Pro was built for small-to-midsize businesses in mind. It’s the perfect tool to optimize resources, compile data, communication across teams, and more. It can function as a comprehensive solution for a company top-to-bottom, or slot into an existing suite of tools where needed.

1. Unparalleled Customization. While there are a variety of software options for everything from sales to communications, they take a one-size-fits all approach. For businesses or industries with specific needs, FileMaker can be used to customize every aspect of your platform. Beyond that, it ensures that these otherwise disparate pieces– inventory systems, customer portals, and more– can all work with each other in a singular ecosystem.

2. Affordability.  A lot of the software and platforms designed for businesses can get expensive. Typically, it means paying for licensing fees for every piece of software and every employee or workstation. With FileMaker, there’s an upfront cost, but you’ve created a platform you own. No annual renewal fees or licensing costs to worry about.

3. Integration with Third-Party Apps. While FileMaker can be used holistically to create a platform that services your company’s every need, it can also slot into an existing business. If you use Slack or Outlook or any number of other popular business applications, FileMaker can work with them. For example, FileMaker can alert staff via Slack when a customer has sent an invoice. It can pull info from Salesforce and update records. It’s malleable enough to fill in the gaps your systems currently have.

4. FileMaker Cloud. A virtual necessity in the modern age of working from home, FileMaker Cloud allows employees to access applications and systems via a web browser. It’s a simple feature that can be a lifesaver in emergency, off-hours situations. 

5. Out-of-the-Box Data Management. FileMaker makes it simple to store, organize and manage data. Store, modify, and share documents, databases, and more for easy collaboration 

6. Easy-to-Use Communications Management. FileMaker is fantastic at managing workflow communication across departments and channels.

7. Easy Add-On Integration. There are a whole host of add-ons available. Everything from signature capture to data API can work with FileMaker.

8. CRM Tools. FileMaker is capable of performing a wide variety of CRM-related actions. Manage customer contact info, orders, quotes, invoices, and more, all on a single platform.

9. Data Reporting. Create custom reports and analytics based on real-time data changes. See a bird’s-eye view of your company or deep dive into granular information quickly and easily.

10. Flexible Hosting. FileMaker works with a variety of hosting options, including Linux, making it easy for any company to integrate.

11. Voice Commands. A recent addition, FileMaker now works with Siri voice commands, making it easier to operate hands-free and integrate with phones.

12. FileMaker Go. Speaking of phones, FileMaker Go (currently only available for Apple devices) allows users to use FileMaker on their mobile devices. Paired with FileMaker Cloud and traditional options, it means your platform and applications can be accessed virtually anywhere.

13. Easy to Learn. FileMaker is designed to be “low-code,” with the intention that virtually anyone can pick it up and begin using it.

14. Limitless Possibilities. To really unlock it’s potential, FileMaker is best used with professional developers. That’s where Kyologic comes in. We can help you build a FileMaker platform specifically for your business. If you want to learn more, please reach out to us here.

Modern workplaces have an overwhelming number of options to choose from when it comes to productivity-focused platforms. Whether your business needs better tools for communicating remotely, organizing workflows, or sorting data, there’s a platform out there designed to help. Here are some of the best, most reliable workplace platforms of 2020.

1. FileMaker. Arguably the most flexible and powerful program on this list, FileMaker allows mid-sized companies to create virtually any application they may need. That even includes customized applications that are comparable to many others on this list. Of course, all this untapped potential does come with a caveat: for companies to truly maximize their return on investment, it’s best to work with a company that understands how to get the most out of FileMaker. Although it’s touted as a “low-code” development tool, the average user won’t be able to create more than the simplest applications.

That’s why it’s so important to use developers who understand the capabilities of FileMaker. If you’re curious what FileMaker can do for you, Kyo Logic would be happy to give you a consultation. Please contact us here.

2. Airtable. Airtable describes itself as a “spreadsheet/database hybrid” which is accurate, but doesn’t quite communicate just how powerful this tool can be (especially while working remotely). Dozens of users can collaborate in real time, working on different aspects of a project as if they were sitting around a physical conference table. There’s a lot of value in tools that can get as close as possible to face-to-face interactions in a virtual environment.

3. Salesforce. ASalesforce is a dominant CRM tool for many larger sales and marketing teams. It’s cloud-based, so it’s easily accessed from virtually anywhere, and is designed to allow for many users at a time. It’s also designed to collate, aggregate, and customize data in real-time. Data can also be displayed differently based on the user accessing it. For example, a CEO can use Salesforce to track expenses and share it with different departments, allowing them to access only their relevant information.

4. Spigit. Spigit is one of the few platforms available designed around ideation and brainstorming. It allows users to create and escalate project ideas, and Spigit’s patented algorithm filters and collates ideas so key decision-makers can choose what deserves resources.

5. Asana. A popular project management tool, Asana allows users to share projects, collaborate, and track progress. It also tracks users workloads, and helps project managers accurately utilize resources.

6. Slack. The corporate communication platform that has eclipsed all other corporate communication platforms. Slack is straightforward and reliable, but more importantly, it allows for seamless integration of other applications. Share Google Docs or Dropbox links, or new Trello boards within Slack, and the program will ensure other users will have quick and easy access.

7. Basecamp. Another project management tool, Basecamp focuses primarily on smart, dynamic “to-do lists.”
8. Trello. This listmaking tool is designed to make organizing workflows simple and easy. In just a few clicks, users can have a snapshot of their day or week, and see the progress being made on each project or deliverable.