I would really like to see some new server functionality, like offline 
database syncing, server mirroring, etc.  FileMaker really needs this to 
be competitive with other datasources going forward.

	- John


On 1/26/11 8:31 AM, [log in to unmask] wrote:
> 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, [log in to unmask] 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
>>>>


-- 

-------------------------------------------------------------------
John May : President                   http://www.pointinspace.com/
Point In Space Internet Solutions             [log in to unmask]

              Twitter: http://twitter.com/pointinspace/
            Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PointInSpace/

         Professional FileMaker Pro, MySQL, PHP & Lasso Hosting
           on shared, virtual and hardware dedicated servers