ODBC/SQL Plugin for FileMaker Pro 4.x now available

Summary: Professional Data Management and Rumora Automatisering en Advies have released a plugin for Filemaker Pro 4.x, that allows users to transparently connect their Filemaker Pro database to an ODBC datasource. The ODBC/SQL plugin (available for Windows and MacOS) supports all standard SQL-92 commands and allows users to enjoy the total benefits of the ease of use of Filemaker Pro with its scripting and layout possibilities, without the need of advanced programming techniques or knowledge of programming languages. A Filemaker Pro database can now be turned into a client to many widely used ODBC datasources, such as Oracle, Informix, Sybase, Butler and others. The ODBC/SQL plugin is available for download on a try-before-you buy basis at http://www.profdata.nl/. Prices vary from US$ 75 for a one user license to US$ 3,000 for a cross platform site license. (end of summary) -o-

Professional Data Management and Rumora Automatisering en Advies have recently released the ODBC/SQL Plugin for Filemaker Pro. Filemaker Pro, the easy to use click and drag database program for MacOS and Windows, can now be used as a front end to any ODBC database that can be addressed with SQL. A Filemaker Pro database can, with the help of the ODBC/SQL Plugin, act as a client to most RDBM’s, such as Oracle, Informix, Sybase, Butler and others.

Filemaker Pro has been a favorite of developers for many years, because of its easy setup and its accessability. However, developers have felt a disadvantage in not being able to transparently connect to ODBC datasources, usually more efficient when large networking capabilities are required for large and extremely large databases. Although Filemaker Pro’s interface and layout possibilities are quite easy to work with and manipulate, the program has not really been able to penetrate the market of the larger databases due to the advantages that ODBC datasources have in this field. With the ODBC/SQL plugin and the appropriate ODBC drivers, users can have the best of both worlds: the ease of use of Filemaker’s scripting and layout possibilities as well as the networking capabilities of ODBC datasources.

The SQL/ODBC Plugin allows users to enjoy the total benefit of the ease of use of FileMaker Pro, without the need of advanced programming techniques or knowledge of programming languages such as C/C++. Expensive and complicated development kits are no longer necessary to accomplish the same results. Extremely powerful solutions can now be built within FileMaker Pro, even by simply adjusting existing FileMaker Pro solutions. Development time is reduced by at least 80%.

The ODBC/SQL plugin, available for download at http://www.profdata.nl/, allows users to send any SQL-92 command from within their Filemaker Pro database to an ODBC datasource. In doing so, they can create, modify and delete tables and/or rows. Data can be sent to and retrieved from the ODBC datasource. The upcoming version 1.2 of the plugin even allows users to import pictures, sound and movies from an ODBC datasource into a Filemaker Pro database. It will furthermore have support for ANSI and OEM character sets. FileMaker Pro 4.0 users with knowledge of SQL commands can use calculation fields and FileMaker Pro scripts to transparently connect FileMaker Pro databases to SQL environments. The limitations are really only defined by the developers creativity.

Amongst other things, the plugin allows users to import data from an ODBC datasource. In its latest release of Filemaker Pro, version 4.1, Filemaker Inc. has added a nice graphic user interface to import data directly from ODBC datasources using “SQL query builder”. A query defined in the SQL query builder can also be used with the ODBC/SQL plugin and, even more, can be used as a base to build dynamic queries using copy-paste and calculation script steps. Users of the previous version of Filemaker Pro (version 4.0) can also import data from ODBC datasources when using the plugin, however, without the graphic user interface.

Since the release of the first version of the SQL/ODBC Plugin, the response has been overwhelming. Among current users are many large companies, who state that thanks to the plugin they are able to continue to use Filemaker Pro in combination with their large database systems.

The Windows version of the plugin is developed by Professional Data Management (PDM), the MacOS version by Rumora Automatisering en Advies (RAA). The close collaboration between the two companies has resulted in the fact that there are hardly any differences in the use of both versions.

The plugin can also be used by Filemaker Pro users in Japan, China, etc., since it supports double-byte code. Apart from that, a special Japanese version with Japanese manuals and examples will be available for Japanese users in early October 1998.

The SQL/ODBC Plugin version 1.1 is available on a “try before you buy” basis. The plugin can be downloaded and tried out to see if it suits the needs of the user. After registration users can keep the original version; reinstallation is not necessary. Prices vary from US$ 75 for a one user license to US$ 3,000 for a cross-platform site license.

Other plugins currently under development by PDM and RAA include a cross-platform Toolbox plugin that will allow users to call a script when manipulating or exiting a field or at a scheduled time and a Serial Plugin that will allow users to send and receive data from serial ports. A beta version of the Serial Plugin for MacOS is already available for download at http://www.xs4all.nl/~bane. (end of press release)

For more information:
Please contact Barbara Rumora-Scheltema, Rumora Automatisering en Advies, tel. (+3120) 4940804, fax (+3120) 4940805, e-mail: lanara@euronet.nl

Websites:
http://www.profdata.nl/
http://www.xs4all.nl/~bane