You may have noticed a name change with the new FileMaker Pro Advanced 17 release. FileMaker, Inc, used to provide two varieties of their desktop app: FileMaker Pro which retailed for about $329, and FileMaker Advanced which retailed for about $500. The Advanced version has always included additional developer tools like the script debugger, and the tools to create runtimes, plus several other tools.
Now, FileMaker, Inc, has combined these two products into one great choice (for $540). This will eliminate the confusion over the two products which has in the past occurred. It will also allow you to turn on the advanced tools for your power users in your company while keeping them hidden from other users. It really is the best of both worlds now.
To turn it on, go to FileMaker Preferences, and simply select the checkbox for ‘Use advanced tools’. Then reboot FileMaker, and the advanced tools will be visible under the “Tools” menu.
FileMaker Pro Advanced 17 includes the Debugger, which allows you to step through your scripts to find errors;
The Data Viewer – to view the status of any field or variable
Custom Menu’s – to create your own specialized menu sets based on user privileges
Database Design Report – which exports an HTML or XML representation of your entire database file
Developer Utilities – for creating ‘runtime’ versions of FileMaker, which can run without needing to purchase a full copy of FileMaker software.
These are good tools, which are now available for anyone who owns FileMaker.