Productivity solutions guide
http://www.macworld.co.uk/filemaker

10 things you can do better with FileMaker

Organization is the name of the game, and that’s what FileMaker offers. From simple tasks that just replace a contact book, to complex catalogue-publishing and Web-commerce, FileMaker is ready for anything. Here are our favourite ten things FileMaker can help you do better.

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1. Access client and contact details

Tracks complete contact information on clients, vendors, employees, patients or students. Instantly find phone numbers, addresses, driving directions and more. You can even see pictures of each person.

2. Manage a mailing list

Because FileMaker easily tracks contacts, you already have all the information at your fingertips when it’s time to print personalized letters, invitations, envelopes, and mailing labels.

 

3. Organize media

FileMaker stores images, movies and sound files right within a database so you can organize and access what you need instantly. Easily create product catalogues, digital asset libraries, playlists and more.

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4. Publish to the Web

If you’re still printing and mailing product catalogues to customers, get ready to save a lot of time and money. With FileMaker, it’s as easy as creating a record for each of your products with pricing information, descriptions, pictures and any other information you want. Then, click a single button to publish the database to the Web for easy access by customers, vendors and partners.

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5. Manage photos

Store images, names and places, dates and camera settings that document the details of each picture. FileMaker gives you a one-stop organizational tool that not only tracks images for specific jobs but can also link them to the overall invoicing and job-tracking process.

 

6. Track jobs and project status

Organize, manage and track jobs and projects—and all their associated details. Create a master schedule and store everything in one place, including estimates, proposals, client information, billable hours, document revisions, traffic instructions, and more—from conception to completion.

7. Track billable time and produce invoices

FileMaker allows you to calculate results between multiple fields—such as hours spent and hourly rate. What’s more, you can produce invoices directly from this data—so there’s no re-keying of information.

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8. Share information

Information stored in FileMaker Pro or hosted by FileMaker Server can be shared and accessed by both Windows PCs and Macs simultaneously. Remote users can even view information over the Web via their browser.

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9. Search and sort spreadsheet information

Convert Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to FileMaker databases in just a few clicks for easier searching, sorting, analysis and reporting. FileMaker detects Excel rows and columns to automatically populate a database with all your information readily accessible.

 

10. Synchronize devices with one database

FileMaker Mobile 7 is a simplified version of FileMaker Pro designed specifically for Palm OS and Pocket PC handhelds—so you can easily extend FileMaker solutions beyond your desktop to mobile individuals and workgroups. With its ability to transfer just the data you want to one or more handhelds from a single desktop, FileMaker Mobile provides the information you and your road warriors need.

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