Introducing Claris FileMaker Pro 2024 New Features - What You Need To Know

[@tchurchill]

I haven't purchased 2024 yet ... but this video uncovered items I wasn't aware of! GetLiveText as JSON!?! Certainly the platform is evolving! I'm still stuck in the year 2007 when the rewrite happened as waiting for some sort of 'Library' item that can make my life managing layouts easier. i.e. a typical button set with beautiful icons and actions. I can create a functional dynamic menu that I can control through scripts, etc. but if I want to add a new button, then I seem to return to editing each layout again. When managing Desktop and Mobile layouts it just seems a bit much that these computers should be doing for me :)

[@wbullard59]

I've seen several videos about the new FileMaker release and this is the best one by far. Thanks Mark!

[@ProductiveComputing]

@wbullard59 Wow, thanks Will! We appreciate that. (We have too much fun putting these videos out). 👍

[@MrOktony]

I used to use Filemaker pro in the past, really enjoyed. It's come along way since! I'm deciding to buy an individual licence. A big investment and new learning! Do we know if Claris FileMaker Pro 2024 works locally with Ollama, rather than going to Chat GPT?

[@ProductiveComputing]

@MrOktony Thanks for your question. As of 7/22/2024, FileMaker is not directly compatible with Ollama. However, you may be able to use traditional API calls (from FileMaker's "Insert from URL") to call a given API and trigger a request/response from an installed set of models. It all depends on how they are published. Using shell script calls from a FileMaker script may also be possible to trigger and gather information from a local model. We don't have working experience integrating Ollama at the moment, but in theory, it should be possible to integrate it using traditional FileMaker tools. However, the integration could be advanced, requiring various techniques working together to pull it off.

[@MrOktony]

@@ProductiveComputing Thanks for your reply. I managed to download a 45 day trail. Already learning that the trial version is the older version (21:01.53). Unfortunately, you can't update the trial version to the latest version (20.3.1)! if I was able to update, I believe the semantic search is hidden in file, Manage Database, click on the **Schema** tab, where there is a section that says "Search" or has an icon representing a magnifying glass preference!! Anyways, I can just about wrap my head around building a database. Is there any books or videos you could recommend for novice ? I really want to get up to speed. Can't seem to find anyone on KZbin that goes through the step by step process of building a simple database, alongside some of the AI functions. .

[@ProductiveComputing]

@MrOktony I think you meant to say that the trial version was 20.3.1 and that the latest version is 21.01.53 right? In any case, the semantic search functionality does require FileMaker 2024 (AKA FileMaker 21.0.1 +). Regarding your question about resources. I would recommend Productive Computing University in the coming weeks... In mid-August, we'll release our free course called "JSON Fundamentals for FileMaker Developers," which sets the groundwork for working with APIs and advanced AI. Right after that, we'll have our course underway called "AI Essentials," which will demonstrate how to work with OpenAI directly via the traditional API and the new FileMaker script steps/functions. However, you have a good idea which is to create a beginner's video for working with Semantic search and use a very basic database for that. Claris has put on a couple of recent webinars to go over the basics - you can find them on their site. In addition (and perhaps even more relevant) are downloadable examples here on this post that will work with version 20: community.claris.com/en/s/question/0D5Vy000003SjMiKAK/aidriven-filemaker-examples-from-claris-engage-2024

[@MrOktony]

@@ProductiveComputing sorry, yes I meant 21.01.53. I've now purchased the software! I'm a total beginner to the software, so just building databases for now, getting savvy with the basics! I understand semantic search does not work natively until you do the plumbing! This is where I would eventually need help with. Ideally get it working locally with LLM. As you said, "a beginner's video for working with Semantic search that uses a very basic database" would really help out beginners, and most likely increase demand for the application. Thank you for the links - will now go through. I will look out for the courses!

[@mcadamss4817]

Wow

[@alfredomarquez5856]

Agradezco tu explicación, pero definitivamente NO TE ENTENDI ABSOLUTAMENTE NADA¡ te lo comento con todo mi respeto, definitivamente los creadores de Filemaker se olvidaron de su principal principio el cual decia " En filemaker no es necesario que sepas o tengas que saber programar, en filemaker es muy fácil hacerlo o desarrollarlo" Palabras mas, palabras menos. eso decian, tal parece que cambiaron de parecer, en fin, me quedo con la version anterior.

[@ProductiveComputing]

@alfredomarquez5856 *En Español:* Hola Alfredo, ¡Gracias por tu comentario reflexivo! Entiendo tu frustración y aprecio que compartas tu opinión. Tienes razón en que FileMaker comenzó como una herramienta que no requería conocimientos de programación, facilitando el desarrollo para muchos usuarios. Sin embargo, incluso con las versiones más recientes, FileMaker aún mantiene sus principios fundamentales de ser fácil de usar sin requerir habilidades de programación. Proporciona una plataforma sencilla para crear aplicaciones sin la necesidad de escribir código. Al mismo tiempo, FileMaker ahora ofrece acceso a funciones avanzadas como la manipulación de JSON y la capacidad de interactuar con APIs de terceros a través de WebViewer y el paso de script Insertar desde URL. Estas herramientas avanzadas están disponibles si las necesitas, pero no interfieren con la simplicidad que FileMaker ofrece a los usuarios que prefieren apegarse a lo básico. También existe una presión creciente del mercado para mantenerse relevante. Ofrecer estas capacidades avanzadas permite a FileMaker enfrentar el desafío cuando una organización requiere un escenario de integración moderno y avanzado, como trabajar con IA o APIs de terceros avanzadas. Afortunadamente, incluso con las versiones más recientes de FileMaker, creo que el producto atiende tanto a principiantes como a usuarios avanzados. Hoy en día, aún comenzamos con tablas simples, campos, diseños y guiones como los bloques de construcción principales para todo lo que creamos en FileMaker. Como desarrollador de FileMaker desde 1991, comprendo y aprecio completamente los cambios masivos que el producto está experimentando, pero creo que la misma base inicial todavía está ahí. Dicho esto, un área que siento que necesita abordarse es el hecho de que no hay una “versión gratuita” para que los creadores emergentes experimenten con FileMaker a largo plazo. Eso es lo que los desarrolladores de hoy esperan porque otras plataformas ofrecen una forma de comenzar sin tener que hacer una inversión financiera primero para explorar las capacidades de una plataforma. *English* Hello Alfredo, Thank you for your thoughtful comment! I understand your frustration and appreciate you sharing your opinion. You’re right that FileMaker started as a tool that didn’t require programming knowledge, making development easier for many users. Yet, even with the latest versions, FileMaker still maintains its foundational principles of being easy to use without requiring programming skills. It provides a straightforward platform for creating applications without the need to write code. At the same time, FileMaker now offers access to advanced features like JSON manipulation and the ability to interact with third-party APIs through WebViewer and the Insert From URL script step. These advanced tools are available if you need them, but they don’t interfere with the simplicity that FileMaker offers to users who prefer to stick with the basics. Mounting pressure from the marketplace to remain relevant also exists. Offering these advanced capabilities allows FileMaker to meet the challenge when an organization requires a modern and advanced integration scenario, such as working with AI or advanced third-party APIs. Luckily, even with the latest versions of FileMaker, I believe the product caters to both beginners and advanced users. Today, we still start with simple tables, fields, layouts, and scripts as the primary building blocks for everything we create in FileMaker. As a FileMaker developer since 1991, I completely understand and appreciate the massive changes the product is undergoing, but I believe that the same starting foundation is still there. With that said, one area that I feel needs to be addressed is the fact that there is no “free version” for up-and-coming creators to experiment with FileMaker long-term. That’s the one thing today’s developers expect because other platforms offer a way to get started without first having to make a financial investment to explore a platform’s capabilities.