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[MTrollope]

Is filemaker 8.0 ODBC compatible? I have not used this software before. How difficult is it to convert data from Access or Oracle to filemaker? My boss wants me to build a reporting application that holds clinical hospital data for different departments. Part of which, will require a lot of graphical statistical reports. He stated that he has used filemaker before to create reports and found it very user friendly. Also, what is the pros and cons of Filemaker? How does it compare to Access? Are there any good articles out there on this subject?

Thanks,

Madge

 

[JeanW]

>>Is filemaker 8.0 ODBC compatible?

Yes, no problem. ODBC and JDBC.
You can use FileMaker Pro as a data source, sharing your database files with other applications on the same computer using ODBC and JDBC (Windows only). For example, you can create charts, analyze numbers, and generate reports using FileMaker Pro data in other applications.

And use as an ODBC client application, interacting with data sources on the same computer or over a network (Windows and Mac OS). For example, you can import data from a Microsoft Access or Oracle database into FileMaker Pro.

>>How difficult is it to convert data from Access or Oracle to filemaker?
The underlying file can be converted to FM with drag and drop.

>>Part of which, will require a lot of graphical statistical reports.
Is a little tricky part for a beginner, but can be done.

>>and found it very user friendly.
It is, sometimes too....

>>Also, what is the pros and cons of Filemaker? How does it compare to Access?
See :

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=923690

, it's maybe an 'old' one, but is still valid.

>>Are there any good articles out there on this subject?

See an article from Wim Decorte about this, an many other articles on the FileMaker site:

http://www.filemaker.com/downloads/pdf/fm_vs_access_overview.pdf

HTH

 

[TStriker]

JeanW,

Nice job of relating FM to Access. I hadn't read that thread before. I agree completely.

MTrollope,

For some reason I get the impression that you intend to continue to keep your data in MS Access but use Filemaker as a reporting tool. If this is the case then I would probably not use FM. On the other hand if you intend to MOVE the data to FM and ditch Access then that is another story altogether.


-Striker

 

[JeanW]

Hi Striker, thanks.

Maybe I have to rewrite it, with the new techniques/features in FM 7 and 8, and now today the new 8.5.....

It's going fast...or I'm too old....