Is FileMaker Go the Best One for iPad and iPhone?

In February 2014, FileMaker officially announced that “its FileMaker Go for iPad and iPhone apps have surpassed 1,000,000 downloads from the iTunes App Store. The milestone confirms the continued popularity of the FileMaker Platform for creating custom business solutions that run on iPad and iPhone.” The download figure clearly indicates that FileMaker Go is being used by enterprises across the world as an effective mobile app development platform for iPhone and iPad.

The platform enables programmers to create robust iOS applications without any software development knowledge and experience. So many enterprises rely on FileMaker Go to build, deploy and update custom solutions for iPhone and iPad without hiring seasoned mobile application developers. The users can simply install the FileMaker Go app on their iOS devices, and connect to the FileMaker server that delivers the apps. Thus, the existing apps can be updated and rolled out automatically.

 

Features that Make FileMaker Go the Best Option for iPhone and iPad

 

An Integrated Platform for Developing, Deploying and Managing iOS Apps

The integrated platform provided by FileMaker makes it easier for developers to create, deploy and manage data-driven solutions for iPhone and iPad. The integrated platform also enables them to efficiently streamline a variety of business processes like sales and service route management, field data collection, event registration, warehouse inventory tracking and executive dashboard. The smart options collection, distribution and management of business data help businesses in replacing their paper-based workflow management solutions.

 

Create Custom Solutions without External Libraries and Coding

FileMaker Go further makes it easier for developers to create custom data-driven solutions for iPhone and iPad without writing additional code and using any external libraries. The platform enables them to easily accomplish several complex tasks like data validation, workflow integration, searching and sorting, and storage of images, videos and other files. The custom solution can further access the data stored on Excel sheets and other data sources.

 

Implement Role Based Security without Any Hassle

While creating data-driven solutions for iPhone and iPad, programmers often find it a daunting challenge to implement role-based security. But FileMaker enables developers to implement role-based security without writing any complex code. They can simply select specific forms, tables or fields to make them accessible only to authorized individuals and groups. The FileMaker Server can be further integrated with other widely used authentication systems to impose the access restrictions effectively.

 

Smooth Integration of iOS Solutions and Existing Business Systems

The new custom solutions need to be integrated with spreadsheets, SQL engines, ERP applications and similar business systems. FileMaker Go comes with a powerful app server with integration services that makes it easier for developers to integrate the custom iOS apps with existing business systems. The server enables developers to accomplish the integration through built-in connections to external SQL data sources and open exchange formats. Along with external Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL and similar SQL data sources, the programmers also have option to use open exchange formats XML, ODBC, JDBC and PHP. At the same time, they can further use HTML 5 to integrate the existing web browser based solutions with a FileMaker database.

 

Enhance Team’s Productivity

FileMaker Go 13 also comes with several features to help enterprises in enhancing the overall productivity of their teams. The team members can avoid using paper by using the online forms to collect, modify, search and sort data. They can even use the FileMaker Go app to deliver invoices and capture signatures for invoices on the go. The app further allows them to add photos, videos and audio directly to the custom solution just with a few taps. Also, they can access the executive dashboard summaries with impressive charts and graphs, while generating and printing forms and reports directly from their iPhones and iPads.

 

The most recent version of FileMaker Go comes with more than 50 new features. So FileMaker Go 13 makes the platform more effective in meeting the current and upcoming trends in iOS app development. At the same time, the programmers also have option to use the starter templates to accomplish a wide range of tasks including creating invoices, managing contacts and tracking assets.You can get in touch with a custom filemaker development company who can help you develop database application within allocated budgets and time schedules.

 

We provide filemaker database development services. If you would like hire filemaker expert for your database development needs, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Some Techniques to Develop Accessible Solutions in FileMaker

Most of the enterprises at present use FileMaker (FM), for creating various customized solutions for their clients as it helps them develop these solutions without much of an effort and wastage of too much of time. This particular relational database application that works on multiple platforms helps the users in updating and modifying their database by simply dragging the new elements into the screens, forms, or layout. The FM version that is being used at present by the users comes up with a string of value added features that help the data to be accessible to the users on a wide variety of mobile as well as conventional devices. However, here it should be mentioned that the programmers need to consider as well as implement a few practices that are considered best in the industry, for developing various robust as well as accessible solutions with the help of FM 13, the present version of FileMaker.

 Enhancing the Readability of the Code

One of the few drawbacks of FM is that it at present is unable to provide a comprehensive code editor that would have been pretty handy for the developers. Hence, when it comes to writing clean or structured codes, the application is seriously short of options and this is a concern for the developers. This is notwithstanding the fact that they have the option of using external editors or snippets along with a string of keyword expansion features as well as tools that come to their aid. As it is always important to write unified codes so that they can be encapsulated or reused without any problem whatsoever, they need to have an option of using grouping conventions that are strongly named. This will help them to handle all the potential errors, without inviting additional dependencies.

Improving the accessibility of the Layout Mode

The accessibility of various FM solutions is very much dependant on the design of the layout. The developers have the option of connecting the field labels with an active field with the use of Accessibility Inspector. The field labels are generally read by screen readers and hence it is imperative that buttons or navigational options are included within the tab order. Furthermore, each and every button needs to have simple as well as short text labels so that the screen reader is able to read the text label of each of the buttons and there is no need to add a title or an extra label to the text of the buttons.

Optimization of the Images

Using images during designing layouts needs to be totally avoided by the developers. Likewise, they need to avoid decorative objects in the event of absence of relevant functions or information. The Accessibility Inspector functionality provides them the option of describing the images in the respective container fields. However, there should be an option that will help them to spell each and every text object accurately, so that they can be read and understood properly by the screen reader. The presence of a pop-up menu instead of a drop down menu can also come in handy and effective.

List View Layout

This is another option that may come in handy. As the developers create FM solutions, they can choose from the List View option as well as from the Table View option of layout. However, when it comes to enhancing the solution accessibility, they can use the List View option of layout while hiding the other option. This needs to be changed and they should have the option of using field objects instead of merging texts, while they are working with the List View layout.

Now when it comes to improving the accessibility, the following things can be done in the Layout mode.

1. The current solutions can be enhanced by adding a particular layout that is designed for accessibility

2. Windows OS can be used as this will simplify the Windows, hide the status toolbar besides using various layout buttons, for providing the required controls

3. Buttons and navigation controls can be included in the tab order

4. All the buttons contain text labels along with naming conventions that are short, simple to understand and consistent.

5. Use of images on layouts needs to be minimized

6. The existing tooltips need to be copied and pasted into the Accessibility Inspector Title Field.

You can get in touch with a custom filemaker development company who can help you develop database application that are stable, scalable and secure.

We provide filemaker application development services. If you would like to hire filemaker developer for your database development needs, please contact Mindfire Solutions.