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ICT for education

Primary and secondary teachers

SUMMARY: There are some minor gripes, but bemoaning something as trivial as the lack of tool-tips on the toolbar items just seems churlish in the light of such an accomplished overall package.

The real power of database software is not in the ability to store and sort data - just about any program can do that - but rather its ability to query and present that data in a way that is clear, comprehensive and, hopefully, easy to produce. In all of these areas, Filemaker Pro 8.5 Advanced excels (if you'll excuse the pun).

It is almost like two programs in one - on one hand, a simple, novice-friendly application, where building a complex database can be done with a few dragdrop/click operations. On the other hand, there is a fully featured developer platform, where one has control over everything from query scripting to customising menu items.

Within the program, you work in one of four Modes: Browse, Find, Layout and Preview, which, respectively, allow you to create and edit records, search your records, edit the look and positioning of elements in input screens, reports and queries, and see how printed reports will appear.

Using the standard templates, developing a database is a no-brainer, but if you want to start from scratch, you can still be up and running in minutes. Data can be inputted manually or imported from external files, including direct importing from Excel files, with no need for CSV (comma-separated values) conversion. At every step your actions and options are quite clear and there are few, if any, 'what the...' moments.

Form design is well implemented: adding new fields to your forms is as simple as dragging from the tool palette into the work area and choosing parameters from available choices in a pop-up window. Elements can then be sized and positioned by clicking and dragging - it doesn't get much simpler.

There are some remarkable options for your final output, such the Web Viewer feature, which can place dynamic web content into your databases - think live FTSE figures and route maps to school visitors - all driven by your data. The end results can be polished and professional, even for the inexperienced, and it can all be exported directly into a large choice of formats, including XLS, HTML and PDF, at the click of a button.

Reviewer: Matt Williams, school ICT technician

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