The latest release of FileMaker’s flagship product has a host of new features that gives it the power of an enterprise-class database; in combination with the ability to create greatlooking front-ends to actually get at that data, FileMaker Pro 7 should have been a wonder to behold. Unfortunately, it has cock-up written all over it.

In the world of databases, FileMaker has several unique selling points that has endeared it to anyone who’s needed more power than AppleWorks but hasn’t wanted or been able to afford the vast capabilities of an Oracle system, say. Firstly, it was very easy to use: just about anyone could create a database with FileMaker Pro with only minimal playing around to get the hang of it. Secondly, while few high-end systems have a user-friendly way of getting at their data – relying on programmers to write applications that can interrogate them – FileMaker Pro had almost DTP-quality tools for creating attractive layouts for displaying, searching and summarising data. Thirdly, automating it has been relatively simple thanks to a point-and-click approach to development called scripting. And lastly, it has been a reliable cross-platform database, running equally well on Macs and Windows and doubling as a Web server for those without a copy or who are using a different system and need to enter or extract data.