FileMaker 6 Gets Graphic

More than any competing database product, FileMaker's FileMaker is suitable for end users who need simple data storage and retrieval, as well as for people who have the scripting skills needed to automate more-complex processes. I looked at a beta version of the new FileMaker 6, which incorporates its predecessor's outstanding usability, multiplatform capabilities, and superior graphics handling.

Version 6 lets you effectively manage graphics; for example, it permits you to import an entire set of images at once from digital cameras or folders. It also has Windows XP compatibility and can write and read XML streams, so users can integrate the product with other enterprise databases. That feature alone makes buying or upgrading to this version worthwhile for businesses that are adopting a data-interchange model. An organization's support staff could set up the beginning users -- who analyze or interact with database-stored information -- and give them a FileMaker window into Microsoft Access, an enterprise resource-planning data source, or SQL.