[476] in winnt
IS announces availability of FileMaker 5 software
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Kevin M. Cunningham)
Mon Feb 14 17:13:05 2000
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Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 16:53:03 -0500
To: macpartners@mit.edu, ntpartners@mit.edu, infosys@mit.edu,
aac-aoquery@mit.edu
From: "Kevin M. Cunningham" <kcunning@MIT.EDU>
*** Product Availability Announcement -- FileMaker Pro 5 and FileMaker Server 5 ***
ANNOUNCEMENT
14 February 2000 -- MIT Information Systems (IS) announces the availability of FileMaker Pro 5 database software (both Windows and Macintosh versions) for immediate distribution to MIT administrative offices and academic departments. The software is being made available free for use at MIT through an IS-sponsored purchase made last summer under Filemaker Inc.'s Volume License Program.
Version 5 of FileMaker Pro introduces a variety of new features, including user interface enhancements, scripting/design improvements, and sophisticated new web publishing features. (See http://www.filemaker.com/products/fm_features.html.)
Also available in limited quantities is FileMaker Server 5, specialized server software optimized for sharing heavily-used databases among groups of users.
ISSUES TO CONSIDER BEFORE UPGRADING
Although it will be appropriate for most current FileMaker users to upgrade to version 5, there are certain issues that groups will need to address BEFORE taking the upgrade -- in a few cases, it will be appropriate for a group to delay (perhaps indefinitely) the upgrade to version 5:
* FileMaker 5 is NOT backwards-compatible, so ALL users of shared databases will need
to be upgraded in a coordinated way in more or less the same time frame (or they'll
all need to remain at earlier versions of FileMaker). Because of a redesign of the basic
database file structure, FileMaker 5 databases are accessible only from version 5
software -- and that software cannot open databases created in earlier versions of
FileMaker (except to convert them to version 5). Upgrading is thus a group decision.
* With FileMaker 5, if you intend to publish databases via the web and expect more than
20 hits a day, you will need to purchase FileMaker Unlimited, an expensive new product
($850 AFTER academic discount at NECX) not covered under MIT's volume license. (This
is a change from FileMaker 4, where you had unlimited connections using the base
product.) You will thus need to decide whether it is economically appropriate to upgrade.
Keep in mind that, if you don't upgrade but you share your databases, all OTHER users
of those databases will need to remain with earlier FileMaker versions as well.
For more details on these and other upgrade-related issues, see http://web.mit.edu/is/products/vsls/mitfmpro/issues.html.
HOW TO GET THE SOFTWARE
Because of the issues outlined above (and to enforce the requirements of the volume license), IS is making the software available primarily through DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES rather than directly to individual users. (Individual users should check within their department to determine who is handling FileMaker installations for their group.)
If you are an IT Partner or other person responsible for computing in your area, or if you are someone who can take on responsibility for coordinating the distribution of FileMaker software to other users within your group, you can REGISTER with IS by using the web form available from http://web.mit.edu/is/products/vsls/mitfmpro/. Once you submit your information, the IS Volume License Coordinator can:
* allocate for you the number of licenses you will need for your group
* send you an installation CD you can use to install FileMaker on machines in your area.
SUPPORT STATUS
Information Systems is still ramping up its support for FileMaker 5 on campus:
* The Computing Help Desk is still learning about the new product but can answer
questions. To initiate a case log with the Help Desk, enter your question at
http://casetracker.mit.edu/ or send e-mail to computing-help@mit.edu.
* The IS Training group is revising its course offerings to reflect FileMaker 5 features.
Currently scheduled courses will still use FileMaker 4, but later training will shift
toward FileMaker 5. The first of several "FileMaker 5 New Features" quick starts
will be held on March 21. See http://web.mit.edu/is/training/ for course information.
* The FileMaker User Group has been recently revived in anticipation of FileMaker 5.
See http://web.mit.edu/is/help/filemaker/fmug/.
FILEMAKER AND SECURITY
FileMaker products -- both version 5 and earlier -- allow you to share data over the network and via the web. It is very important, therefore, that FileMaker developers make sure their solutions meet minimal security requirements for shared data sources at MIT. Most importantly, be sure to protect your data through the use of passwords; for additional guidelines, see http://web.mit.edu/is/help/filemaker/security.html.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
All of the above links, plus others, are available from the new "FileMaker at MIT" web pages:
http://web.mit.edu/is/help/filemaker/
This release has been made possible with help from Peggy Conant, Angela Blossom, and members of the IS Software Release Team.
--Kevin Cunningham,
Product Release Coordinator for FileMaker at MIT
