FileMaker solicits most of its opinions from developers not end users, for a variety of reasons. I'm certain, but couldn't say directly, that one would be that most users have no idea the difference between FileMaker's limitations, features, and functionality, versus what was provided to them via the developed solution they use or the templates provided.
I can't say the number of times I've had "power users" of a solution tell me that FileMaker can't do something, because they can't do it in the solution they have. But if you make any effort to connect to any of the various FileMaker developer resources, FileMaker sends a number of requests and provides ample opportunity. Of course the biggest is DevCon, but I can honestly say, I've never been and still feel as FileMaker reaches out to me continuously. But I do pay the $99 per year to stay part of TechNet. Since I serve nonprofit organizations, I find it the most affordable way to keep up to date, get invitations to 'developer only' sessions and more. Alnisa On Sat, Feb 7, 2009 at 1:50 PM, Richard S. Russell <[email protected]> wrote: > > On 2009 Feb 7, at 13:30, John Weinshel wrote: > > Devcon, the FMI proprietary lists (BizTalk/Techtalk), posts from FMI > > employees, writing as individuals, like Dave McKee and Jimmy Jones, on those > > lists as well as Experts, RealTech, and other lists (can't recall who is on > > Dartmouth), meetings at the Wedge, FMPug local meetings where FMI SE's make > > presentations, as Alexei Folger did just last week at our Seattle chapter. > > Really, I am not making this up: they want to hear from us, just as we want > > to hear from our clients when our solutions aren't working properly. > > > OK, you obviously are plugged into lots more forums than I am, so I totally > believe this is what you're hearing. > But I've been a registered user of FMP since 1992 or thereabouts, and they > have my e-mail address, snail-mail address, and phone number. I've submitted > many ideas to their suggestion box and made use of tech support. It's not as > if I'm a stranger. And they've never made any effort to contact me > soliciting feedback. > Also, I provide service for about a dozen non-profit clients, all of whom > I've talked into buying (or upgrading) FMP products, and they're far more > typical of end users than I am. None of them has been approached with this > supposed enthusiasm for feedback, either. > Nor have I seen any come-ons for it in the product documentation. > I'll give FMI credit for one thing, however. The "Send Us Your Feedback" > feature under the "Help" menu works just fine — for anyone who notices it's > there. So they've made at least that much effort. I suppose it may fall to > me to alert my clients to it, so they can help assuage this purported > appetite for user input. -- ...................... Alnisa Allgood Executive Director Nonprofit Tech t. 608.241.3616 e. [email protected]
