 Filemaker Pro offers an easy-to handle, highly responsive software development platform. This relational database software has the potential to access and present information over the screen through reports and layouts. Unlike some of the competitor software such as FoxPro, Microsoft Access and Oracle’s SQL, Filemaker Pro offers a user-interface that helps in retrieval, storing and organization of data without compromising on the potential to store a great deal of information. Filemaker indeed makes room for accessible solutions and we will discuss some of the best techniques of leveraging it for Filemaker development projects. Before that, let’s explore a few of the brilliant attributes of FileMaker.
Striking Features of Filemaker
- User-friendly: A computer program is considered as user-friendly when users can leverage it irrespective of their computer literacy. In other words, both novice users as well as highly computer savvy persons can use the same without any hassle. The user-interface of Filemaker Pro is so designed that you do not need to have thorough knowledge of database development to make good use of the program. This is where Filemaker is different from other relational database formats, which can only be used by people who are trained and qualified to use the program.
- Convenient to Begin with: All relational databases are computer programs which facilitates the storage organization and recall of information. Businesses leverage databases to store information related to clients, products, expenses, employees and revenues so that the data can be analyzed at a later stage in order to take effective business decisions. Small businesses as well as other organizations, groups or individuals also need to make good use of databases. The user-interface of Filemaker enables every business, even the small ones to start their own database without much financial investment. For instance small businesses do not need to invest on costly database software or hire a developer.
- Convenient to Expand: Some relational databases invest a lot on user-interface but do not focus much on stuff like storage capacity. This is where Filemaker pro scores. It has a convenient user-interface as well as adequate capacity. This enables small businesses that have used the database to continue to leverage the same database when the business undergoes growth and development.
Best Practices for Accessible Solutions
Now we will discuss some tips that will enable businesses to develop accessible solutions using Filemaker.
Things to do in Layout Mode
- Enhancing current solutions by adding an accessible layout.
- Connecting field labels with active field using Accessibility Inspector.
- Using layout buttons in place of status toolbar for Windows OS.
- Including navigation controls and buttons in the TAB order.
- Using simple, precise naming conventions and ensuring that text labels are there for all buttons.
- Minimizing image use on layouts
- Using Accessibility inspector for defining images in container fields.
- Avoiding fancy objects that do not provide relevant information
- Checking text objects for correct spelling and ensure readability by screen reader.
- Selecting Include icon for revealing or concealing calendar.
- Choosing pop-up menu for the field’s control style rather than the drop-down list.
- Copying and Pasting existing tooltips with the Title field of the Accessibility Inspector.
Table View and List View
- Using List View Layouts in place of Table View.
- Choosing field object instead of merge text in List View.
Find mode
- Enabling field identification and reading of results for effective searching.
General
- Designing similar interface for normal as well as visually impaired people.
- Anticipating the need for custom dialogs and creating them to guide the user for the following action or to render error alerts.
- Creating custom menus and simplifying menu structure
- Generating reports that allow reading aloud
- Avoiding portals
- Refraining from use of animation or video
- Refraining from use of color coding as the only option for conveying information
- Avoiding Tab controls
- Setting up scripted imports and exports
- Partially Sighted Users
- Incorporating high-contrast themes for layouts.
- Setting greater zoom level for document window.
Testing
- Testing solutions across screen readers and platforms.
Filemaker offers a brilliant platform which when leveraged properly can prove to be immensely beneficial for businesses. These best practices enable businesses to fully utilize the powerful attributes of Filemaker.
We provide filemaker database development services. If you would like to know more about our expert filemaker developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.
This article should be of interest to you in case you need help to migrate from PowerBuilder to an alternative technology which provides much more options. Read on to know more.
It is common knowledge that PowerBuilder used to be a really dominant technology since its first appearance in the technology space in the year 1991 and its usage peaked manifold in the year 1998 with approximately 100,000 users. PB is an integrated development environment belonging to the SAP stable through its division called Sybase. PB has traditionally been used primarily to build critical business applications and is still used as an Integrated Development Environment of choice for companies operating in the financial and telecom sectors. However in recent years, Powerbuider development has seen substantial competition arise from evolved JAVA development tools and from Microsoft Visual Studio & is thus undergoing a declining mode in the growth chart.
The technology space is fast changing with newer & faster software and these often reduce the strategic value of legacy systems which have taken years to and have been associated with huge capital input to realize them. Maintenance & appropriate up-gradation is a big challenge faced by many companies today. This situation is very similar for all those companies who have built their applications on the PowerBuilder IDE. Either they have to upgrade to the newer versions of PowerBuilder (the current being PB 12.5) or they have to migrate to some other technology. There are several options to migrate to. For instance one can migrate from PowerBuilder to JAVA/J2EE, VB.Net or ASP.Net to name a few.
One may think what could be the reason companies are intent to migrate their existing PowerBuilder applications to alternative technologies. The reason is very evident. Increase in costs of maintaining existing application, decrease in number of PowerBuilder developers availability & stringent schedules for delivery are some of the prime concerns faced by the companies who had chosen PB for developing their business applications. If you are facing the problems mentioned above and would like to migrate to another technology then you would need to hire the services of a professional software development company who has expertise in helping you understand the intricacies of the existing business application that has been built on PowerBuilder IDE and should also be an expert in the alternate technologies as well for a smooth transition from one software system to another. Your software development consultant should have deep expertise in ASP.Net, VB.Net, JAVA/J2EE etc. so as to provide maintenance services after the migration process has been completed. Also you may decide to carry out the process as an in-house development project or you would like to choose an offshore software technology partner which gives you obvious cost advantage.
Mindfire Solutions is a 12 year old software technology services company who has expertise in all the technologies mentioned in this article & much more. You may take a look at our company profile if you wish to hire the services of a reliable software development company who has a reputation for providing reliable and professional services that are tailor made for our customers’ business needs. To know more about Powerbuider development Company or hire PowerBuilder Developer, Please contact us on sales[at]mindfiresolutions[dot]com or call 1-248-686-1424.
 Imagine an office with a boss who keeps asking her assistant when the next appointment is, meeting venue location, or where several of employees are, who are not in the office, since how long they are absent and where are the last performance reports. We can get all that information in the palm of your hand, on a mobile device. So you all you have to do is tap a couple of times on a screen and have your info ready. Say goodbye to the filing cabinet with instant access to all of your documents and photos. FileMaker is a cool platform where it lets everyday people like me and you create database solutions that work exactly as we want them to.
Having FileMaker also opens the door to thousands of developers that are creating specialized customized and flawless solutions for people like you. Whatever platform our businesses are on, keeping up with the latest web trend is critical to competitive viability. The strategic investments that we make today in technologies that facilitate mobility will impact the arc of our growth and profits for years to come. FileMaker is a cross-platform relational database application which can run on both PC's and Macs. They easily create and manage custom business solutions for all kinds of tablets. It is a leading platform for database solutions which is easy-to-use for business database software for teams and organizations.
The growth in business and organizations is driven by new opportunities to leverage technology recognizing the significant impact on the quality work that can benefit customers and generate more revenues. Filemaker software solutions integrates with Address Book, Mail, and iCal, helping you to create databases to organize your busy life. It allows to add robust information to images and link them to your contacts, projects, and events. One can now print mailing labels, inventory tags, name badges, and more..
FileMaker allows developers to created stand-alone runtime applications, share data that can run on a Mac or a PC. FileMaker has received high praise for being the ideal application for beginning web site administrators who want to quickly browse through the web pages and can add web database publishing capabilities to their web site or company intranet. It helps in storing and managing virtually any type of information (words, images, numbers, files and more). Creating and publishing customized forms and reports. Giving access by multiple people at the same time, connecting related information such as inventory and sales, build recurring imports from Excel.
Hire a team of FileMaker developers who derives its expertise in Filemaker application development from their experience in multiple projects which almost completes the spectrum of FileMaker in terms of varying applications and industry coverage. We provide FileMaker solutions to desktop and network multi-user FileMaker client-server database applications. Technologies used for FileMaker client-server applications include FileMaker 6, FileMaker 7, Filemaker Pro 8 Advanced, FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced, FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced, FileMaker Pro 10 Advanced, FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced, FileMaker 12, FileMaker Go 1.1, FileMaker Go 1.2, FileMaker Go 12 and FileMaker Server 7, FileMaker Server 8, FileMaker Server 9, FileMaker Server 10 and FileMaker Server 11. Mindfire has gathered truly strong expertise with different technologies in the course of delivering FileMaker projects.
Mindfire Solutions is amongst the leading providers of Software & IT services encompassing development and delivery of complex projects for enhancing business growth of its customers. Mindfire has added value to more than 200 clients in US, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia in the 12 years of its operations. The company has over 650 people, spread across 3 Advanced Development Centers (ADCs) in India which are equipped with ultra-modern facilities, and where Mindfireans strive round the clock to delight the customer.
To discuss about our Filemaker development services or to Hire Filemaker developers, please contact us at sales[at]mindfiresolutions[dot]com or call 1-248-686-1424. We will be glad to help you.
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