You're right, of course, Jonathan. I always enjoy watching discussions about new features people would like. There are always a few really good feature requests that I never would have thought of.
-- Paul Spafford FileMaker Database Superhero, Spafford Data Solutions Tel: 613 838 9956 www.paulspafford.com www.ottawafilemakerdeveloper.com www.fmlayoutmode.com On Jan 25, 2011, at 11:32 PM, Jonathan Fletcher wrote: > Totally agree with you, Paul. I'm sorry to be a stick in the mud. > > I would never go back to where I started with FM4, and I'm REALLY liking 11 a > lot more lately. But it's not done. > > In a glass-half-empty sort of way it's frustrating to see where FileMaker is > NOT. Looking from that perspective can't help but skew one's thinking and > reinforce the negative. > > When you have to restart one of your several servers every few days because > it just wants to take the afternoon off you get an attitude. (I have a client > that has a boatload of SQL and FMP and the SQL guys just shake their heads > and chuckle.) > > When you have to manually update layout elements all over a large solution to > reflect one tiny little change, you dream of better tools. > > When your users are griping at you that the solution that was built to > accommodate THEIR convoluted way of working is running so slowly they have to > plan it around their lunch hours, you are stuck between a rock and a > FileMaker. (Don't talk to me about bad design: it's been optimized by some FM > gurus waaaay smarter than me.) > > When you have to spend 30+ grand on a super fast server so your critical data > can be backed up in a timely fashion throughout a high-data-volume day and > not shut the place down every time you think you should grab a snapshot... > > I know it's easy to be a grumbler. The goods really do outweigh the bads. > That's why I'm still here. I KNOW we have it good. > > That does not mean we cannot wish (and pray to the gods of Santa Clara) for > something even better. > > Or at least bug-fixes. > > j. > > > > On Jan 25, 2011, at 11:04 PM, [email protected] wrote: > >> Seriously? I'm of the exact opposite opinion, Jonathan. There have been some >> amazing features for developers since v6! Think of how much faster you can >> develop now than you could back then. >> >> 7 offered the ability to have multiple tables -- and external tables -- in >> one file which (along with the addition of script parameters) made scripting >> easier. >> >> 8 gave us tabs, which totally reduced the number of layouts needed -- and >> the time to create them -- as well as the data viewer (which is HUGE for >> debugging and for writing new calculations). We also got custom menus, which >> helped to clean up our layouts even more. >> >> 9 gave us conditional formatting and auto-resizing, to make our layouts >> cooler and faster to create, as well as non-modal scripting windows (which >> is just the coolest!). >> >> 10 had the ability to insert objects into the tab order (huge time-saver), >> and script triggers, which gives us more control over the interface, and >> just about every other little thing. >> >> 11 has the Inspector (I like it!). It also has charts, portal filters and >> quickfinds: things that we've been creating for years, but are now native. >> >> When clients ask me if they should upgrade, I always tell them about the >> cool new stuff I can offer them. But the biggest thing the most recent >> versions have to offer is that the clients won't have to pay for so many >> hours to get things done. >> >> Paul >> >> >> >> -- >> Paul Spafford >> FileMaker Database Superhero, >> Spafford Data Solutions >> >> Tel: 613 838 9956 >> www.paulspafford.com >> www.ottawafilemakerdeveloper.com >> www.fmlayoutmode.com >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Jan 25, 2011, at 6:48 PM, Jonathan Fletcher wrote: >> >>> That's all you asked for? >>> >>> What about better management of memory variables? >>> What about a server console that doesn't lose its connection with the >>> server frequently? >>> What about script control of layout objects? >>> What about scripting in a text editor? >>> What about script control of schema modifications? >>> What about syncing between an FMGo app and the server for intermittent >>> connections? >>> What about better scalability of Server? >>> >>> I could go on and on... >>> >>> Honestly, FM12 will be loaded with surprises, and--if history is any >>> guide--it'll be chock full of stuff for the users and not so much for us >>> developers. >>> >>> j. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jan 25, 2011, at 6:18 PM, Richard S. Russell wrote: >>> >>>> On 2011 Jan 25, at 15:57, Lee wrote: >>>> >>>>> Any idea when the next version will be released ? >>>> >>>> >>>> A good guess would be right ... >>>> >>>> ... abbbouuuuttt ... >>>> >>>> ... ouuuttttt ... >>>> >>>> NOW. >>>> >>>> No, FMI is famously tight-lipped about when they'll release upgrades, or >>>> what those upgrades will entail, but they've been pretty good about giving >>>> you something worth getting right around January or February of each year, >>>> and that's where I'd be putting my money this time, too. >>>> >>>> While we wait, we can always engage in the parlor game of speculating >>>> about what feature we'd most like to see. I've got 3 things I've dropped >>>> into the FMI suggestion box several times the last year, and I'm hoping we >>>> get them both: >>>> • Bring back the "Tools" floating toolbar (tho now it'd be called an >>>> "inspector"). >>>> • Give us 1-click vertical-alignment buttons right next to the >>>> horizontal-alignment buttons. (Note that they've already done this for >>>> formatting container fields.) >>>> • Stop auto-scrolling the "Manage Scripts" window so the most recently >>>> worked-on script is always at the bottom. >>>> >>>> Then there's the one that I've been suggesting for most of the last >>>> decade, applying only to the Windows version: >>>> • Why CAN'T I drag something out of the printable area when "Show Page >>>> Margins" is turned on? >>> >>> -- >>> Jonathan Fletcher >>> FileMaker 9 & 10 Certified Developer >>> >>> Fletcher Data Consulting >>> [email protected] >>> http://www.fletcherdata.com >>> 502-509-7137 >>> >>> Kentuckiana's FileMaker Users Group >>> Next meeting: February 17, 12:00 pm to 3:00-ish >>> Special Location! >>> Info & RSVP: http://fmpug.com/scheduleMeetings.php >>> Listserv signup: http://fmpug.com/mailman/listinfo/louisville_fmpug.com >>> Blog: http://www.kyfmp.com > > -- > Jonathan Fletcher > FileMaker 9 & 10 Certified Developer > > Fletcher Data Consulting > [email protected] > http://www.fletcherdata.com > 502-509-7137 > > Kentuckiana's FileMaker Users Group > Next meeting: February 17, 12:00 pm to 3:00-ish > Special Location! > Info & RSVP: http://fmpug.com/scheduleMeetings.php > Listserv signup: http://fmpug.com/mailman/listinfo/louisville_fmpug.com > Blog: http://www.kyfmp.com
