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FileMaker Pro features by version

This topic lists the features introduced in previous versions of FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Pro Advanced starting from version 8.0. For details about each feature, download the product documentation at http://www.filemaker.com/downloads.

For information about when script steps, functions, and script triggers were introduced, see the individual Help topics.

For information about new features in the current version, see New features in FileMaker Pro 13.

FileMaker Pro 8.0

•	Import data from another file into a new table in the current file. This allows you to consolidate data previously stored in separate databases.

•	Save data in Adobe PDF and Microsoft Excel format.

•	Export data in Excel format (.xls).

•	Export records in Microsoft Excel format using the Export Records script step.

•	New command to send email, File menu > Send > Mail.

•	New Tab Control tool for creating and managing tabbed panels on layouts.

•	New Field/Control Setup dialog box makes it easier to create and edit checkbox sets and other controls that display data from a value list.

•	New scroll wheel support for Windows and the Mac OS.

•	Add text notes to tables in the relationships graph.

•	Support for variables in file paths.

•	By default, fields on the current layout are listed first when you sort records, replace field contents, export records, or send email.

•	Improved database templates, Starter Solutions.

•	Improved Instant Web Publishing. For example, create and use your own home page instead of the default Database Homepage.

•	New menu commands to navigate through records and layouts.

•	Perform finds in Browse mode using shortcut menus.

•	New tools to align objects in Layout mode and in the relationships graph.

•	New auto-complete capability for text fields.

•	Visual spell checking.

•	New drop-down calendar style for data entry.

•	Set a variable to a specified value in a script or calculation expression.

•	Enhancements to the Go to Related Record script step.

•	Restrict the Windows script step selections to the windows in the current file.

FileMaker Pro 8.0 Advanced

•	Copy and import tables across files or within the same file.

•	Copy scripts, script steps, or fields.

•	Add tooltips.

•	Create custom menus.

•	Monitor fields, variables, and calculations using the Data Viewer.

•	View sub-scripts as you step through scripts.

•	Disable script steps.

•	Enhanced Database Design Report.

FileMaker Pro 8.5

•	Use web viewers to access websites such as FedEx® or GoogleTM from a layout.

•	Web Viewer Example database with sample records and data to show you how you can use web viewers. You must have an internet connection to use this database.

•	Web page with resources for web viewers.

•	Assign names to layout objects (such as buttons, portals, and tabs in a tab panel) using the Info palette (formerly known as the Size palette).

•	Enhancements to the RelationInfo function.

•	Re-sort indexed values based on the sort order for a specified language.

FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced

•	Enhanced Database Design Report, including properties for new features in FileMaker Pro 8.5.

•	Updated example plug-in and API for XCode 2.2 that work on either PowerPC-based or Intel-based Macintosh computers.

FileMaker Pro 9.0

•	Support for external SQL (ODBC) data sources – Display, access, and use data from SQL tables.

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Supplemental fields – Add unstored calculation fields and summary fields to SQL (ODBC) data source tables within FileMaker Pro. Then use these fields in FileMaker Pro layouts, scripts, finds, sorts, joins, and exports without changing data from an external table. This feature lets you extend SQL tables.

•	Email links to shared databases – Choose the new File menu > Send Link menu item to send an email with URL links to FileMaker Pro shared databases. Use this feature with shared peer-to-peer or FileMaker Server hosted databases.

•	Increased number of peer-to-peer file sharing users – Share files with up to nine concurrent users with FileMaker Pro Network Sharing.

•	Conditional formatting – Set formatting rules based on conditions you specify with the new Format menu > Conditional menu item, and apply conditional formats to data in fields, layouts, or text-based buttons.

•	Append to PDF – Append new data to an existing PDF file with this new script step option.

•	Updated label support – Use new and updated Avery label sizes in the New Layout/Report assistant, including new, popular shipping labels.

•	FileMaker Pro Quick Start Screen – Provides a central place where for creating files, opening existing files located on your computer or on remote networked computers, and accessing electronic FileMaker Pro documentation.

•	Online update notification – Receive notification when software updates are available over the Internet.

•	Auto-resize layout objects – Specify how layout objects dynamically adjust to window resizing. As you resize windows, data contracts or expands on a form, in Preview mode, and in printing.

•	Enhanced tab panel control – Use new tab control setup features to set the default tab and tab width on a form.

•	Improved web viewer – View and set options for status and messages in the new progress bar area.

•	Learn buttons – Link directly to context-sensitive Help topics from these dialog boxes to learn more about using them: Web Viewer Setup, Button Setup, Specify Calculation, and Create Layout/Report.

•	Enhanced Help menu – Access product documentation, register or activate FileMaker Pro, transfer activation to another computer, send FileMaker your feedback, and more from the Help menu.

•	Revised File menu – The File menu > Define command is now File menu > Manage, and the new Manage dialog boxes replace the Define dialog boxes.

•	Improved Undo/Redo – Undo or redo editing multiple times in the active field or layout text object.

•	Improved spell checking – Control visual spell checking for individual fields.

•	Enhanced toolbar – Use new and improved buttons on the toolbar, including Alignment (Layout mode), Save Records as Excel, and Save Records as PDF.

•	Multiple script editing windows – Open multiple edit script windows at one time.

•	Script organization features – Create groups and filters to manage numerous scripts and search for scripts.

•	Copy and paste scripts – Copy entire scripts and script steps from one file and paste them into the same or a different file.

FileMaker Pro 9.0 Advanced

•	Enhanced Script Debugger – Debug restricted-access scripts upon login and authentication from within the Script Debugger, select multiple script steps, view last script error results, and link directly to Help for more information with the Script Debugger.

•	Enhanced Data Viewer – Use the new Current tab to view field or variable data in the current script, and view restricted data in Data Viewer upon login and authentication.

•	PHP Site Assistant link – Choose Tools menu > Launch PHP Assistant to link directly to PHP Site Assistant.

•	Enhanced Database Design Report – Document your database solution, including new features such as script groups, external SQL data source tables, new functions, and more.

FileMaker Pro 10.0

•	Status toolbar – Use the redesigned status area, which now appears as a toolbar at the top of the FileMaker Pro window, to perform most tasks.

•	Saved finds – Save complex find requests for use in future FileMaker Pro sessions and access recent finds using buttons on the status toolbar.

•	Improved Find mode – A badge indicates the fields you can use to search your database.

•	Layout object tooltips – Use FileMaker Pro to add descriptive text that appears when users move the pointer over layout objects in Browse or Find modes.

•	FileMaker Quick Start Screen – Create a FileMaker Pro database from an Excel or Bento 2 (or a later supported version) file. Access instructional materials, such as videos and the FileMaker Tutorial, from the Learn More panel.

•	Improved Starter Solutions – Create a database from an updated Starter Solution template to take advantage of the new FileMaker Pro features.

•	Advanced recovery options – Perform a consistency check on files you suspect might be damaged, select specific file components to be recovered, and view information about the file’s status. View a detailed file recovery log both during and after the file recovery process.

•	Dynamic subsummary reports – See recalculated summary values in real time in Browse mode when data changes.

•	More layout themes – Choose new layout themes in the New Layout/ Report assistant to enhance your reports.

•	Sort order – See new records appear in sorted order when you add records to a found set.

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Additional support for ODBC data sources (also known as external SQL sources or ESS) – Display, access, and use data from SQL tables in Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Oracle 11g, and MySQL 5.1 Community Edition. Define value lists using fields in ODBC data source tables. Use Windows authentication (single sign-on) to access ODBC data from Microsoft SQL Server. Accurately access SQL-supported timestamp data from ODBC data sources.

•	Microsoft Excel 2007/2008 – Import data from and export data to Excel 2007/2008 format files.

•	Better support for importing data from Bento 2 (Mac OS) – Use standard import procedures in FileMaker Pro to transfer information from a Bento 2 (or a later supported version) data source to a FileMaker Pro file.

•	SMTP-direct email support – Choose File menu > Send Mail or use a script to send email directly from FileMaker Pro files without using email client software.

•	Script triggers – Specify that a script runs when a specific event occurs, such as when a user or script enters, changes, or exits a field; when a key is pressed; when a field is modified; or when a record is committed.

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Scripting user interface improvements – Use the Manage Scripts feature (formerly ScriptMaker) to display a default script you can use as a starting point for writing your own scripts, see whether individual script steps are supported in web publishing or in FileMaker Server schedules, and more. The Manage Scripts dialog box no longer opens in a maximized state when the FileMaker Pro window is maximized.

•	Error reporting improvements – Control script steps no longer clear the last error condition reported by FileMaker Pro.

FileMaker Pro 11.0

•	FileMaker charts – Compare and contrast data graphically in bar, line, area, and pie charts using an integrated charting tool.

•	Layout folders – Create folders to group layouts; rename, duplicate, and delete layouts; and choose to display layouts and folders in the Layout pop-up menu — all in the Manage Layouts dialog box.

•	Default layout view – Set the default view (Form, List, Table) that you want to appear when you first open a layout.

•	Enhanced New Layout/Report assistant – Offers a more streamlined approach for grouping data and creating summary reports.

•	Recurring import – Automatically import data from Microsoft Excel or other data sources, such as Tab and CSV, into FileMaker Pro 11. Updates in the source file are reflected in the FileMaker Pro table.

•	Enhanced support for Bento data import (Mac OS) – Import Bento date and timestamp formats into FileMaker Pro and then reformat the data as a FileMaker Pro date or timestamp. Import encrypted and simple list fields from a Bento data source.

•	Instant Web Publishing – Databases published on the web through Instant Web Publishing include a status toolbar similar to the one you use when you work with databases in FileMaker Pro. FileMaker charts can be published using Instant Web Publishing.

•	Work with data in a spreadsheet-like format – Add fields and records in Table View using a familiar, spreadsheet-like format. Sort, delete, and hide fields; change a field’s data type; and set field options. Create a quick report by adding a leading or trailing group by field, all from Table View.

•	Quick find – Search across all the fields on a layout in Browse mode.

•	Inspector – Most editing tasks that you do in Layout mode can be done with the Inspector, which allows you to view and modify object settings in one convenient place.

•	Portal filtering – Add a filter to a portal to specify the related records that are shown in a portal.

•	Clear recent files – Clear the names of files recently opened using File menu > Clear Recent Files.

•	Snapshot link – Capture and preserve a found set of record IDs — including the layout, view, and sort order — exactly as it was when you performed the original find request, and email it to another person.

•	Text highlight – Apply a highlight to easily identify key text in your layouts.

•	Enhanced Quick Start Screen – Quickly create, convert, open, and manage local, remote, and favorite files. Access tutorials and other helpful resources, such as the FileMaker Forum.

•	Refined security – Control whether other FileMaker Pro files are permitted to access the schema (including the tables, layouts, scripts, and value lists) in a file in your secured solution, and prevent versions of FileMaker Pro earlier than version 11 from opening the file.

•	Use variables in scripted find requests – Include local and global variables in scripted find requests that you create or edit.

•	Merge variables on layouts – Create a merge variable that displays values from local or global variables. Use merge variables for some tasks in place of global fields or unstored calculation fields.

•	TLS (Transport Layer Security) support for sending mail via SMTP – When you send email via SMTP, you can choose TLS encryption to allow both secure and nonsecure connections over the same port.

•	Script selection and editing improvements:

•	The Specify Script dialog box has buttons for adding, editing, duplicating, and deleting scripts.

•	In Windows, move the scripting windows outside the FileMaker Pro application window. Menus inside these scripting windows allow you to manage and edit your scripts.

•	Origination information in Help – Each script step, script trigger, and function description includes the version of FileMaker Pro in which it was created.

•	Function and script trigger name changes:

•	Get(PrivilegeSetName) function changed to Get(CurrentPrivilegeSetName).

•	Get(ExtendedPrivileges) function changed to Get(CurrentExtendedPrivileges).

•	Get(PortalRowNumber) function changed to Get(ActivePortalRowNumber).

•	OnLayoutLoad script trigger changed to OnLayoutEnter.

•	Enhanced user interface (Mac OS) – The appearance and behavior of Mac OS dialog boxes have changed in order to better reflect Mac OS X standards.

•	“Available menu commands” setting in default privilege set – To further refine security, the setting for “Available menu commands” in the default privilege set (used when creating a new privilege set) is now Minimum.

FileMaker Pro 11.0 Advanced

•	Custom menu user interface improvements – The user interface was enhanced in order to make creating and managing custom menus and custom menu sets easier and more intuitive.

•	Custom function copy/paste/import – Copy, paste, and import custom functions in the custom functions list; and copy, paste, and import custom functions between files.

•	Enhanced Script Debugger – Debug scripts called by buttons and custom menu items.

FileMaker Pro 12.0

•	FileMaker Pro themes – The FileMaker Pro architecture has been redesigned to support rich, beautiful layout themes. You can easily change the theme by choosing from the Layouts menu in Layout mode.

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Layout object formatting – FileMaker Pro provides greater control over object formatting with features such as gradient fills, image fills (including scaling and slicing), transparency, object states, and rounded corners. Rather than setting default object formatting with no objects selected, use themes to set object formatting. You can remove styles from selected objects and control changing themes with multiple undo.

•	New layout assistance tools – In Layout mode, dynamic alignment guides, guidelines that drag out from rulers, and control over the grid give you visual cues to help you design new layouts and modify existing ones. Multiple undo and redo let you experiment and refine with ease.

•	Screen stencils – In Layout mode, you can click to display guides that help you design layouts optimally for iPad, iPhone, and common desktop resolutions, or set custom dimensions.

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Improved accessibility – FileMaker Pro supports assistive technology and the ability to access the FileMaker Pro document window and objects on layouts using the keyboard and screen readers. With the new Accessibility inspector, you can add accessibility labels to layout objects, which are then interpreted (for example, read aloud) by users’ software screen readers. Also, you can create accessible runtime solutions (with FileMaker Pro Advanced).

•	Updated Starter Solutions – FileMaker Pro Starter Solutions have been updated to a modern appearance with more options for customization. Some Starter Solutions contain layouts designed for FileMaker Go.

•	New file format – The FileMaker Pro file format has been changed to support the new features.

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Enhanced container fields – You can now store container data outside of the database file in managed storage. Storing container data externally facilitates sharing multi-user databases and improves backups. Container data that's stored externally in secure storage is by default encrypted and can be read by FileMaker Pro using secure storage. Enhancements also let you render images faster with thumbnails; drag and drop files; and work interactively with audio, video, and PDF files in container fields.

•	Plug-in updating – Store plug-in files in solution files, then use scripts and calculations to ensure users always have the correct version of required plug-ins installed.

•	Define window styles – Control user interaction with your solution by specifying that layouts opened by a script or button display as standard document windows, floating document windows, or modal dialog windows, and by choosing the controls that appear in the windows.

•	Enhanced tab control – Modify tab behavior so that the active tab is retained when switching to Layout mode. You can set up conditional formatting of individual tab panels and tab labels.

•	Record sorting – You can control whether record sorting is persistent or temporary. Records added or edited after being sorted are by default integrated into the sort order. Deselect Keep records in sorted order to change this behavior.

•	New badges in Layout mode:

•	A badge in the lower-right corner on a layout indicates that script triggers are associated with the layout.

•	A badge that appears on a layout indicates that the object on which the badge appears is a button.

•	Layout variable symbols – New layout variables display the status of a file, elements in the file, or an action being performed. Also, variable symbols for date, time, user name, page number, and record number have changed.

•	Working with shared files – You can now run a script in a remote file using a URL.

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FileMaker charts – Create quick charts in Table View, with the option to summarize data and print charts without changing the database schema. You can modify charts using a new Chart inspector. New chart types include stacked column or bar, positive/negative column, scatter, and bubble. (You can also create quick charts by right-clicking a field in Form View or List View.)

•	Table View refinements – Column headers in Table View provide more options for grouping, sorting, and summarizing, and make it easier to customize the appearance of the table so your data and calculations are clear.

•	OS X: Enhanced support for Bento data import – Import Bento Location fields as [Fieldname](Longitude) and [Fieldname](Latitude).

•	Support for FileMaker Go – FileMaker Pro includes new script steps, functions, and extended privileges, as well as layout themes optimized for touch screens on the iPad and iPhone, and includes changes to custom menus that support the use of FileMaker Go.

•	Improved integration with external SQL sources (ESS) – If one or more table names have changed in an ODBC data source, you can update links between a FileMaker Pro file and the source. You can also force-commit changes when optimistic locking otherwise prevents the commit action.

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Compatibility information in script steps – In Help and the Edit Script dialog box, the compatibility section has been refined to include FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Server scheduled script, FileMaker Go, Custom Web Publishing, and Instant Web Publishing. Help also includes whether a script step is supported in runtime solutions.

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Insert File script step – You can now specify advanced options for the Insert File dialog, which appears when you choose a file to insert into a container field. These options include whether content can be inserted by reference, whether content can be compressed, and which formats are allowed in the field.

•	New Window script step – Creates a new window based on the foreground window. You can create a document window, a floating document window, or a dialog window.

•	Changed script steps, functions, and script triggers:

•	Allow Toolbars script step is now Allow Formatting Bar.

•	Show/Hide Status Area script step is now Show/Hide Toolbars.

•	Get(AllowToolbarState) function is now Get(AllowFormattingBarState).

•	OnFileClose script trigger is now OnLastWindowClose.

•	OnFileOpen script trigger is now OnFirstWindowOpen.

•	Enhancements to script triggers – Four windows script triggers are available in a new Script Triggers tab in the File Options dialog box: OnWindowOpen, OnWindowClose, OnFirstWindowOpen, and OnLastWindowClose.

•	Changed features:

•	Plug-in updating – Plug-in updating has been simplified. You now store plug-ins in solution files and install updates from container fields. The Auto Update plug-in has been removed from FileMaker Pro.

•	Table View sorting – Instead of clicking a column heading to sort data, you now choose from the shortcut menu for the column. This makes sorting more predictable and allows for selection of one or more column headers in order to perform additional actions on the associated fields.

•	Importing data from FileMaker Pro databases – Import order has been improved. The addition or deletion of fields after field mapping no longer affects the sort order in import target files.

•	Extended privilege sets – The fmmobile and fmxslt extended privileges have been removed. A new extended privilege, fmreauthenticate10, has been added for FileMaker Go. Also, brackets have been removed from all default extended privileges for consistency and to enable editing.

•	You can now specify which buttons in the Specify Custom dialog box commit data to a database.

•	Mac OS X Lion: Export to .xls requires Rosetta, which is not available on OS X Lion.

•	Removed features:

•	Mac OS X: Support for importing photos from a digital camera or device – Script steps and menu commands that support importing photos from a digital camera or device (also known as Image Capture) have been removed from FileMaker Pro.

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Windows: Support for OLE – You can no longer insert or work with OLE objects from earlier versions of FileMaker Pro. Because of this change, the Insert Object and Update Link script steps, menu items related to OLE objects, and the Update all links before printing option in the Print dialog box have been removed. However, you can activate OLE objects in container fields and on layouts and save them to their original formats.

•	Windows: The Flash menubar on misspelled words option has been removed from the Spelling tab in the File Options dialog box.

FileMaker Pro 12 Advanced

•	Improved custom menus:

•	To support FileMaker Pro files created for devices such as the iPad and iPhone, default custom menus and menu sets are no longer created when you create a file. You can add custom menus and menu sets to files manually, if you want to use them in your solution files.

•	If you don’t specify a menu item name, FileMaker Pro installs a blank item in the menu. Choosing it executes the settings defined for the item.

•	Specify calculations that determine when custom menus or menu items are installed.

•	Enhanced Script Debugger – You can now temporarily disable or enable script triggers while you work in the Script Debugger.

•	Database Design Report – The Database Design Report now identifies the tab controls or portals in which objects are located.

•	Close window button in runtime solutions – The close window button in runtime solution windows now works as it does in FileMaker Pro windows. If you want to prevent users from closing a runtime window, use custom menus, script triggers, or window styles.