Overview
What is Claris FileMaker?
Claris' FileMaker is presented as a Workplace Innovation Platform, and is used to create a custom app. Manual processes can be automated with Claris FileMaker Pro, and apps can be created to manage contacts, track inventory, organize projects, etc.
Can't go wrong with this one!
It is very useful, smart to use, and saves time
The Problem Solvers Problem Solver
Can't beat this amazing platform!
Obsolete and impossible to integrate or migrate.
Database Management Doesn't Have to be a Pain
When You Want Your Software to Fit the Business Instead of Forcing Your Business to Fit the Software
Gets the job done but has some issues
FileMaker Pro works well for complicated databases
All in One
FileMaker Pro
Filemaker Pro for all Business Needs
FileMaker Pro At Work
FileMaker keeps your event files organized
FileMaker Pro Library Software Review
Pricing
Platform Subscription
$21
Individual desktop license
$594
Entry-level set up fee?
- No setup fee
Offerings
- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Starting price (does not include set up fee)
- $21 per month per user
Product Demos
FileMaker/HTML5/JavaScript GPS Map Demo (iPad)
Text Parsing in FileMaker : Live Demo - Example 1
FileMaker Pro 11 Course for Beginner
Product Details
- About
- Competitors
- Tech Details
- FAQs
What is Claris FileMaker?
FileMaker Pro comes with built-in templates delivered through a marketplace. And Claris FileMaker Go for iPad and iPhone is a solution presented as ideal for mobile teams in the field or away from a desk. It can be used to (for instance) check inventory in the warehouse, create invoices during client visits, or perform inspections onsite.
Claris FileMaker Video
Claris FileMaker Competitors
Claris FileMaker Technical Details
Deployment Types | On-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based |
---|---|
Operating Systems | Windows, Mac |
Mobile Application | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Comparisons
Compare with
Reviews and Ratings
(171)Community Insights
- Business Problems Solved
- Pros
- Cons
- Recommendations
FileMaker has been widely adopted by small and medium enterprises in various sectors to address a wide range of business needs. Users have leveraged FileMaker to solve business problems and automate processes, such as time tracking, invoicing, reporting, and more. The software has become mission-critical for companies, with every employee using it on a daily basis. It has been utilized for office administration, invoicing, expenses, data collection, contact management, and inventory management. Companies have found FileMaker to be a versatile tool that eliminates islands of technology by providing a central database that can be accessed on any device from anywhere. It has been deployed on Mac and Windows desktops, web browsers, and native iOS and Android applications.
In addition to its versatility, FileMaker Pro has proved valuable in specific industries. For example, it has been used in the medical sector for solutions like managing patient records and tracking medical data. Agricultural businesses have employed FileMaker to streamline processes related to crop management and inventory tracking. Similarly, transport companies have utilized the platform for tasks like logistics planning and fleet management. Additionally, FileMaker Pro's flexibility has made it useful in designing questionnaires, developing web applications, and creating custom solutions tailored to meet specific requirements across various domains.
Furthermore, FileMaker Go mobile platform has enabled fast and cost-effective custom application development for iOS devices. It has allowed businesses like Merch Media to manage contact information efficiently while processing orders and managing detailed data. Peer Bearing Company has customized FileMaker Pro to fit their specific needs, making it their primary software solution. In the education sector, FileMaker Pro has facilitated staff management, activity tracking logs, billing processes assistance, student progress monitoring, homework logging, report card generation collaboratively.
The software's impact extends beyond individual company functions as well. For instance, it has played a role in event planning by assisting with tasks like food and beverage tracking or organizing catalogs and libraries. Studios have relied on FileMaker Pro for production staff to search inventories and generate layouts. It has also been used as a replacement for Microsoft Access databases, providing improved reliability and multi-user access.
Overall, users have found that Claris FileMaker is an effective tool for solving various business problems, automating processes, and improving productivity across different industries. Its flexibility, adaptability to different platforms, and ability to streamline workflows have made it a valuable asset in managing data, creating custom solutions, and facilitating collaboration.
Seamless Integration: Several users have praised Claris FileMaker's ability to seamlessly integrate with other applications, specifically highlighting its commendable integration with the finance application MYOB. This integration feature has eliminated the need for manual data entry, saving time and improving accuracy in timekeeping processes.
Data Integrity and Confidentiality: Reviewers have expressed their satisfaction with Claris FileMaker's capability to maintain data integrity and confidentiality through its integration with MYOB. This aspect is highly valued as it ensures the security of sensitive financial information.
Improved Productivity: Many users have found that the integration between Claris FileMaker and MYOB has enhanced their overall productivity. The ability to integrate with other applications has significantly improved workflow by saving time and increasing efficiency. Users appreciate how easily Claris FileMaker integrates with MYOB for various business needs and requirements, showcasing its versatility and adaptability.
Confusing and Not User-Friendly UI: Several users have expressed dissatisfaction with the user interface of Claris FileMaker, describing it as confusing and not user-friendly. They have encountered difficulties in editing calculations and scripts, as well as creating print layouts compared to other software like Crystal Reports.
Lack of Essential Features: Reviewers have pointed out that Claris FileMaker lacks certain important features. These include a built-in version control mechanism, a centralized security module for multiple files, and a modular code structure. Developers find it challenging to work without these features, which impacts their productivity.
Limited Customization Options: Some users feel that FileMaker Pro is not customizable enough, particularly from the user side. They encounter difficulties in customizing the program's appearance and sending rich text emails. This limitation hinders their ability to tailor the software to their specific needs.
Users commonly recommend the following:
-
Learn and explore: Users suggest learning what FileMaker is good at and how to get the best out of it. They recommend attending the DevCon conference to collaborate with other users and learn about the platform's features.
-
Start small and customize: It is advised to begin with a small project to understand how FileMaker works and how easy it is to modify. Users suggest playing around and experimenting with FileMaker or hiring a certified developer for assistance. Updating to the latest release of FileMaker is also recommended.
-
Consider customization and collaboration: Users highlight FileMaker's ability to connect to big data, design creatively, and build on a reliable data engine. They recommend hiring third-party developers for advanced customization. FileMaker is seen as a great platform for diverse mobile teams to build custom apps. Additionally, users highly recommend FileMaker for its seniority, usability, reliability, and the vast number of people available for collaboration.
Attribute Ratings
Reviews
(1-25 of 47)Can't go wrong with this one!
- Customized database
- Reporting
- Wide scope of features
- Interaction with other software
- Not easy to initially set up
It is very useful, smart to use, and saves time
- Ease of creating a database for employees
- It is easy for developers and IT specialists to improve the performance and manufacture of applications
- Ease of following up on customers and monitoring their opinions, whether positive or negative
- Some updates in languages, including Arabic, are missing
- When sending long emails, it is not the easiest thing
- It needs to be a little faster
otherwise Not very suitable for large projects that need a lot of complex systems that are important to have available, but it is rather useful
The Problem Solvers Problem Solver
- Adaptable to most any use.
- Easily scale from small tasks to very large complex solutions.
- Create fine grained user roles.
- Connect to other applications using a REST based API.
- Allow other solution to connect using a REST based API.
- Not great for use by multiple developers at the same time.
- Could benefit from built-in audit logging of field level changes.
Can't beat this amazing platform!
- multi-user support
- database integrity
- simple user interfaces
- speed
- efficiency
- better utilization of web/cloud support (its coming, but roll out has been slow it seems like)
Obsolete and impossible to integrate or migrate.
- Offers a fast way to store things like "products" on which screens can be build in a fairly easy way.
- There is a low learning curve, which means that non-developers can use and maintain this.
- It offers separate environments (test and production), that are fairly easy to keep synchronized.
- Data is stored in a "hidden" layer that is very difficult to port to a "real" database. This makes it difficult to query using standardized query language, and difficult to import/export to other relational databases.
- There can be only one session open at any given time. This makes it impossible for more than 1 person to maintain it at any given time.
- The user interface is a bit chaotic, and the environment itself seems overly complex. Compared to, say, MS Access this makes it a seemingly very professional tool, when in fact it's a rather amateur way of exposing data. Much like MS Access, but MS Access does not pretend to be any more than that.
Database Management Doesn't Have to be a Pain
- Intuitive, user-friendly database management
- Powerful scripting features
- Easy to create attractive layouts from templates
- I'd like to see more granular control of user access, such as the ability to allow certain users to modify a field while others are only allowed to view it, etc.
When You Want Your Software to Fit the Business Instead of Forcing Your Business to Fit the Software
- Highly customizable. The software is easy to set up to match our existing processes.
- Fast customization. New features can be added quickly and easily.
- Open standards. Easy to get info from and push info to the outside world.
- Have had challenges feeding data to a php website. Are moving to the new Restful API for this.
- Would like to be able to send rich text emails. Can now do it with CURL commands but not the easiest.
- Has very detailed layout editing tools, but built in themes with more auto layout functionality would be helpful.
It is well suited to teams or organizations that do things differently than their competitors and want their electronic systems to be reflection of who they are instead of using a canned system that forces them to work the same way everyone else does.
It is not well suited to teams where there is high turnover of employees and managers as custom systems may never get a foothold or be maintained in that environment.
Gets the job done but has some issues
- This program is able to store a large amount of information that is easily accessible.
- This program can run a variety of reports that can be helpful with my everyday tasks and projects.
- This program has very easy search functions.
- This program can be difficult if you have an environment that is distracting because it does confirm changes. They are automatically saved.
- This program can be frustrating when entering data in multiple fields because the tab button does not send you to the next field, it jumps around.
FileMaker Pro works well for complicated databases
- It is extremely versatile, if you are, or have a good programmer, it can be used for many purposes to organize data.
- It seems to not take a ton of RAM to run, my computer has no issues running it.
- Although the file can be stored in a cloud, I like that it is a locally run program, regardless of internet access.
- It is very technical, you have to really know what you are doing to come up with the initial use.
All in One
- The ability to store all different types of information. This eliminates the needs for additional programs.
- The ability to pull multiple styles of exports. There are so many details and you can build the exports to be exactly what you need.
- It can be used across multiple departments, allowing each one to contribute the information they need to build the product.
- Descriptions only allow for a minimum character count, forcing a lot of abbreviations.
- When merging styles, it can remove images.
- Sometimes, information can be missing when pulling exports.
FileMaker Pro
- FileMaker does a good job of allowing customization to layout and design for ease of use.
- FileMaker allows us to control who can access certain areas in the system for security and business needs.
- FileMaker is user-friendly for data entry purposes.
- Building reports can be cumbersome.
- We're unable to print a doc generated in FileMaker without having to download the pdf every time.
- You're unable to sync a line added to a purchase order after the PO has already been synced to QuickBooks.
Filemaker Pro for all Business Needs
- Formatting for specific needs
- Capacity to store data is huge
- Server support if interested but not necessary.
- Autosave can be a huge con
FileMaker Pro At Work
- FMP allows us to easily add information and fields to existing applications as our business needs dictate.
- FMP works very well with a workforce that is spread throughout the country.
- FMP allows us to add roles to individuals so that we can tailor their views to what they do.
- FMP Server can be difficult to work with at times. Not easy to migrate to a new server.
FMP is not suited for quick, on-time solutions. This may be better suited to another app such as excel.
FileMaker keeps your event files organized
- tracks dates & times
- tracks food and beverage
- tracks costs centers
- The food and beverage portion is a bit clunky when trying to type what you need
- There is not enough space in the rooms needed portion for a large campus-wide event
It works well if there aren't tons of instructions. I say this because their field for this is a bit short and we sometimes run out of room when detailing our needs.
FileMaker Pro Library Software Review
- FileMaker Pro makes searching through internal inventories very easy. You can search by many different keywords.
- FileMaker Pro is very simple to use when populating the inventories and catalogs.
- The software is very customizable. Which is great for many different types of uses and businesses.
- Customizing FileMaker Pro can be tricky for people who aren't super familiar with that type of work.
- The software is really good, just needs a little more user friendliness or simplicity.
FileMaker Pro is essential to our business, making sure that we are organized and stay on top of our day to day operations.
- Customized database. We have all the information that we need and could possibly want at our fingertips.
- Organization. We have client information, vendor information, and personnel information organized in a logical and secure way. Because of the custom settings, only certain people are able to view all of the data - while others are only allowed to view what is needed.
- Working with FMGo - we are at the forefront of reporting technology. Our people personal work independently across the country and we see their results in seconds.
- Making changes is sometimes difficult and we do work with an FM developer. While we like our developer, we do wish it was easier to do on our own.
- FMPro is sometimes glitchy with how it outputs data. Because we've been working with it for so long and it's so customized, we have work arounds, but something we just want to be able to export things as spreadsheets in the first place. :)
Filemaker Pro would likely not well with companies who are more creative and fewer data heavy. There is little room for creative ideas, it is more...numbers/by the book focused.
Filemaker to save the day!
- Develop custom solutions very fast
- Simple to use for non-developers
- Easy rollout of solutions company-wide
- Easy setup of server to host custom solution
- Developer features need to be beefed up - namely adding the ability to search code for a phrase or keyword and the ability to do the same in the "relationship graph" in the database.
- Add ability for users to edit the same table record at the same time by version control.
- Allow Filemaker Server to use more than 1 core; currently multi-processing is not supported and it can be tricky to find just the right server to support the application you've built to the fullest capacity.
One example is that my company requires orders to be submitted where based on product type, purchase location and company category all impact the price that is charged. I've used several e-store solutions and most of these are very cut and dry. You can have a product with 1 price, the only exception is a coupon code. Filemaker allowed us to create an store that allows our users to create an order based on our crazy pricing structure.
FileMaker Finesse
- It is very customizable. Our IT department can add or remove anything our company needs which helps as we grow and our needs change.
- Our purchasing department likes the fact that creating a PO is intuitive and sending POs to our vendors is very simple.
- Our sales department likes that quotes are always saved along with a version of any changes. It also turns quotes into invoices with a simple click which makes the fast-paced sales easier.
- One issue we have is that the accounting portion of this software is not easy. It takes a lot of extra labor to do easy things. Like creating debit memos.
- Because it is so customizable it can open things up for errors that shouldn't have been there so people weren't allowed to add whatever they wanted.
- The last thing I would say is that the version we use does not allow us to pull a lot of marketing reports and we always have to involve IT to help pull the simplest of reports, like if we want a list of email addresses for our customers.
Filemaker Pro is awesome!
- It works great for Quotes and Purchase Orders.
- One thing I love about Filemaker is how it interacts with MYOB our Finance App
- Filemaker is always great at timekeeping
- I have no complaints regarding Filemaker, I think its a great app
Filemaker, making life simple
- Reporting is very easy and managers setup their own custom reports.
- The layout tool is very WYSIWIG and simple to master.
- The scripting is very straight forward with very little programming understanding required.
- The online SaaS versions are still a bit slow.
- Would love to see true SaaS services.
- Built-in Adwords and similar integration, typical of other SaaS tools
- The relational database management system makes the program highly customizable to fit the needs of any product. You can add a ton of information to each record and update your inventory on a regular basis with an Excel import or manually inside of the record. It has the capability to incorporate barcoding, which can manage your available inventory with ease.
- The scripting language allows FileMaker to automatically calculate complex algorithms automatically or generate report outs with the click of a button. This allows for greater UI, especially with active users who are not familiar with writing code. Almost all of our internal data is linked to the FileMaker database
- The server license allows many users to update the database in real time, which is handy if your inventory is constantly changing. We have users with Macs, PCs, iPhones and handheld tablets linked to our FileMaker database and they are updating the information constantly throughout the day.
- If you invest some time into formatting and scripting the database, there is a high ease of use for users without knowledge of any programming or FileMaker itself.
- Cross-platform consistency - the iPhone version is not nearly as functional as the desktop version, which could cause troubles if you want to update your inventory with a mobile device while actively performing a task. The layout is cluttered and inconsistent.
- The development of a functional database will require a highly skilled FileMaker programmer, or multiple people working to address specific requirements for the database. This could take months to construct and can be costly if you want to create a highly customizable database with the proper scripts.
- The Excel exports are rather simple and require re-working if you are trying to make anything visually appealing. I'm sure more backend programming could be performed to address this issue, but for the average user, the programming and links can be rather complex.
FileMaker - the perfect solution for a custom database.
- Sorts and classifies data according to your exact search parameters.
- Makes detailed information easy to find.
- Produces up to the minute progress reports.
- Have typically needed to purchase outside reference materials to help understand harness the powerful FileMaker.
FileMaker Pro: Good but....
- Easy to complete a mail merge inside the system, without having to download contacts and re-upload them. Very simple to print personalized post cards or emails to groups of clients at one time.
- Lots of customization options, for reports, mail merge etc.
- Easier to do online
- Making it simple to format and changes
FileMaker -- A Low Code and Flexible Database Solution!
- No prior knowledge of programming languages required
- Drag-and-drop UI builder
- Auto-population of PDF forms
- Flexibility with Script Builders
- Exporting data can be a challenge for many-to-many table relations
- Limited to just the tools given to you by FileMaker
- Expensive to host on the cloud or on-premise
FileMaker Pro Offers Low Code Custom App Development - Cross Platform for macOS, Windows, IOS, HTML5
- Greater File Size - 7TB per file, compared to 2GB per file with Access .ACCDB files.
- Reliable multi-user networking thru Peer-to-Peer or server based implementations.
- Improved developer productivity.
- Capability of being run locally on IOS devices with the free FileMaker Go client software.
- It would be nice to have some automation improvements.