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What Is FileMaker
FileMaker is a database, interface, and script interpreter all bundled into one. It runs on Mac & PC computers and the iPhone & iPad. It's able to connect to other databases using SQL, ODBC, or JDBC. It can publish data to the web either through PHP or FileMaker's own WebDirect technology which displays the interface designed in FileMaker on the web. It supports plugin calls allowing developers to create a whole array of external applications. Some of these include the ability to interact with a USB port, control a PBX phone system, transfer files via FTP, read and write barcodes, process credit card transactions, send and receive emails, communicate with accounting packages, and managing files and folders on hard drives.
 
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FileMaker Software
FileMaker Runtime - this is a free application generally created by a developer using FileMaker Pro Advanced. It has almost all the same capabilities as FileMaker Pro but the ability to change data structure, interface, and scripts is removed as is networking. It only opens FileMaker files that were specifically encoded to it and allows the end user to create, edit and delete data using the interface and scripts created by the developer. This is ideal for situations where only one user at a time needs to work with the solution.

FileMaker Pro - this application can be run on either a Mac or PC, is used to create and modify all parts of the FileMaker files, and to modify the data stored in them. The FileMaker files opened by FileMaker Pro can allow guest access to 5 other copies of FileMaker Pro, Pro Advanced, or Go clients.

FileMaker Pro Advanced - has all the same capabilities as FileMaker Pro with the added ability to generate a FileMaker Runtime, copy and paste scripts, and a script debugger for quicker development. Generally this application is only used by developers.

FileMaker Go - is an app for the iPhone or iPad. It is similar to the FileMaker Runtime in that it can not be used to create FileMaker files nor to change data structure, interface, or scripts. It can however connect to files through WIFI or open files stored on the iPhone & iPad. This is ideal for accessing data on the road.

FileMaker Server - this software is usually run on a server to increase the number of guest connections available. It runs as a service on Windows and a daemon on the Mac. It opens FileMaker files and allows guest access to the files. It supports a total of 250 FileMaker Pro or Pro Advanced clients, 100 FileMaker Go or Web Direct clients, up to 2,000 web publishing sessions through PHP and an unlimited number of ODBC / JDBC connections.
 
 
Brief History Of Filemaker
1990 Version 1.0 is released by Claris, a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple and only runs on Mac computers.
1992 2.0 runs on both Mac & PC computers.
1995 3.0 it become a relational database with a script interpreter.
1997 4.0 plugin calls are added allowing third party developers to create external programs.
1998 The company name Claris is changed to FileMaker Inc.
1999 5.0 minor changes.
2002 6.0 minor changes.
2004 7.0 allows multiple tables in the same file.
2005 8.0 minor changes.
2007 9.0 added the ability to connect to MySQL, Oracle, and other large databases.
2009 10 minor changes.
2010 11 added charts & graphs. Released FileMaker Go for iPhone & iPad.
2012 12 added execute SQL. Stopped charging for FileMaker Go.
2013 13 added WebDirect, perform script on server, and 256bit encryption between server & client.
2015 14 minor changes.
2016 15 minor changes.
 
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