FileMaker Pro 11 makes charts and reports easier

FileMaker Pro 11 makes it easier for users to visualise data

FileMaker has introduced the latest release of its namesake database tool, adding new features to help users generate reports and charts from their data. The software also includes a new Starter Solution to help businesses get up and running with an invoice system.

Available immediately, FileMaker Pro 11 includes a number of enhancements, chiefly in data visualisation and reporting, according to Ryan Rosenberg, vice president of marketing and services at FileMaker.

"It's kind of back to basics with this version because reporting, sharing and finding information are the reasons why people start using a database in the first place," he said.

Better visualisation and reporting tools are something customers have wanted for years, according to Rosenberg, but supporting these is tricky because charts are "very different in a database than a spreadsheet".

To address this, FileMaker Pro 11 features wizard-like Assistants that allow users to generate a report or chart by selecting fields from a table, or from search results.

Other improvements include a new Invoicing addition to the collection of Starter Solutions designed to let a small business get up and running quickly. These are ready-made database templates that customers can start using or customise to meet their exact needs.

The Invoicing Starter Solution contains tables for customers, products and prices, and can generate invoices as PDFs or emails. The layout and design of the invoices can also be customised with splashes of colour and by adding company logos, Rosenberg said.