FileMaker Pro, Popular Easy-to-Use Relational Database Software, Now Available in Simplified Chinese

FileMaker Pro, Popular Easy-to-Use Relational Database Software, Now Available in Simplified Chinese

August 31, 2006

    BEIJING, Aug. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- FileMaker Pro,
one of the world's most popular and easiest to use
relational database software applications for both Windows
and Macintosh computer users for over twenty years, is now
available in Simplified Chinese, it was announced by
FileMaker, Inc.  With nearly 12 million units of FileMaker
Pro sold worldwide and industry awards from every major
computer magazine around the globe, FileMaker is used
throughout the private and public sector by individual
users within large multinational corporations, medium and
small businesses, schools, universities and not for profit
organizations.

    FileMaker Pro 8.5, which has been localized into
Simplified Chinese, helps computer users manage, track and
share information of all types including numerical data,
text, photos, video and even music files easily and
effortlessly over local area networks (LANs) and the
Internet -- without requiring any database programming
expertise. To keep pace with rich-media management and
other sophisticated solutions, FileMaker Pro offers a data
capacity up to 8 terabytes per file.

    "We are very excited to offer FileMaker Pro to the
Chinese market and to our multinational customers with
offices and partners throughout China," said FileMaker
president Dominique Goupil.

    Easy data exchange using FileMaker Pro

    Users can import and export data between FileMaker Pro
8.5 Chinese Simplified and other language versions of
FileMaker Pro 8.5, which include Dutch, English, French,
German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.  In addition,
FileMaker Pro can easily convert data directly from
Microsoft Excel to create a FileMaker file in just a few
mouse clicks.  Additionally, information can be collected,
saved and sent directly from FileMaker Pro as a Microsoft
Excel file. 

    FileMaker Pro Supports Unicode

    FileMaker Pro is a Unicode aware software application.
Users can enter and display text in any language supported
by the operating system, including languages not supported
by FileMaker. For example, a user can create fields
containing data with names in Japanese or Greek text if
their operating system supports input and display of these
languages.

    Users can display multiple languages in the same field
by selecting Unicode fonts that support all languages to be
displayed. For example, a database could have a single
address field that contained addresses in Russian, Korean
and Japanese.  If support for these languages is installed
on their computer, they will be able to view all of the
addresses simultaneously.

    Powerful yet easy to use information management
features

    In addition to importing and export Microsoft Excel
files, FileMaker Pro can also import, store and export
PDFs, Microsoft Word documents, PowerPoint files, digital
images, video, music and more -- within Container fields.
Users can also open multiple windows in the same database
for fast, simultaneous access to different views of their
information. FileMaker Pro for Microsoft Windows XP and
2000 and Mac OS X, uses a modern, streamlined relational
database architecture, which enables users to simplify
information management by storing multiple tables within a
single file. The Relationships Graph in FileMaker Pro
presents a visual "map" of the database and lets
users create and modify relationships with a simple click
and drag tool. 

    Version 8.5 brings live web browser into FileMaker Pro
databases

    With the recent introduction of FileMaker Pro 8.5,
FileMaker Pro users can now add a live Web browser to their
database record.

    As easy as it is to bookmark a web page, a live web
page can now be added to a record in a database using the
new Web Viewer Control in FileMaker Pro 8.5. Data in
specified record fields, such as customer's address or
product name, will drive the URL in the Web Viewer. Set it
up once and there will be a live web link for every record
in the database. Possibilities include street maps based on
a customer address field, shipping status based on a
shipment tracking number and stock performance charts based
on a stock symbol.

    Specific new features introduced in FileMaker Pro 8.5
include:

    FileMaker Web Viewer Control -- This new layout object
allows users to easily connect databases with the critical,
up-to-date Web data. Links are easy to establish: simply
enter the web address or point to a field containing the
web address. FileMaker Pro 8.5 also includes ready-to-use
built-in links for many popular web sites, so that users
can add web sites within their FileMaker Pro 8.5 records.
Users can also create links that will search through web
sites and display information based on data in a database.
FileMaker Pro 8.5 offers several ways to learn how to use
the new functions:  A Web Viewer Sample Database is
included in the product to demonstrate how to use much of
the content listed above. 

    Web Viewer Gallery (
http://www.filemaker.com/products/fmp/wvg ) where users can
learn more about ways to integrate Web Viewers into their
own solutions from examples created by FileMaker and
leading third-party FileMaker database developers. In
addition to linking to public web sites, the FileMaker Web
Viewer can be used to interact with web-enabled commercial
and custom solutions from within their FileMaker database
solution. For example, a database of sales information
could be connected with an internal web-based solution that
displays shipment information. 

    Beyond adding URLs, users can view virtually any type
of content in the Web Viewer that can be viewed in a Web
browser including: 

    -- HTML
    -- PDF
    -- QuickTime
    -- Java applets
    -- Flash
    -- SVG Charts
    -- PHP Charting Classes
    -- Fillable Forms
    -- Word or Excel files (on Windows)

    Universal Application -- FileMaker Pro 8.5 is a
Universal application, with native support for next
generation Intel-based Macs delivering from up to 91%
faster performance for FileMaker Pro 8.5 compared to
running on Mac Power PCs (For FileMaker Pro 8.5, go to
http://filemaker.com/products/fmp/universal_app.html and
for FileMaker Server 8.0v4 go to
http://www.filemaker.com/products/fms/benchmark.html ).

    New Object Functions and Scripts -- Developers will be
more productive in creating intuitive solutions with new
functions, such as Layout Object Names, Go to Object script
steps, Layout Object calculations, Set Web Viewer script
step and List function.

    Availability, Pricing and System Requirements

    FileMaker Pro 8.5 is immediately available through
authorized FileMaker resellers. FileMaker Pro 8.5 has the
following system requirements: On Macintosh computers:
PowerPC G3, G4, G5 processor or Intel processor; 256MB of
RAM; CD or DVD drive and hard disk drive; Mac OS X 10.3.9
for PowerPC-based Macs or Mac OS X 10.4.5 for Intel-based
Macs.  On Windows:  Pentium III 500MHz or higher; 256MB of
RAM; CD or DVD drive and hard disk drive; SVGA (800 x 600)
or higher resolution video adapter and display; Windows
2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP (Service Pack 2).

    About FileMaker, Inc. 

    FileMaker Pro is used by millions of individuals and
workgroups around the world to be more productive and
efficient. Business, education and government customers
rely on FileMaker to manage people, projects, images,
assets and other information. FileMaker, Inc. is a
subsidiary of Apple Computer, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL). 

    NOTE: All rights reserved. FileMaker is a trademark of
FileMaker, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other
countries. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.

    For more information, please contact:

     Lucy Chen
     FileMaker, Inc.
     Tel: [phone]
     Web: http://www.filemaker.com.cn 

SOURCE  FileMaker, Inc.