Replacing FileMaker with Free Software?

jhealy1024 asks: "I'm looking for a way to replace our FileMaker DB solution with an open-source RDBMS. Problem is, FileMaker's GUI and report design tools are pretty darn good, and I can't find a suitable replacement. Anybody out there have a solution that doesn't require me to take a year off to hand-code a replacement solution?" "I'm the netadmin for a small private school. Since we're Mac-based, we've grown up storing all our data in FileMaker, including student information, grades, class assignments, gifts, inventory tracking, and just about anything else you can think of.

FileMaker is coming out with version 7, which is going to require us to tear all our databases to pieces and build them up again from scratch. While the new FileMaker is an improvement, it's still a toy as far as "real" databases go. (The latest update just introduced relational tables, for example). Also, data lock-in is becoming a problem; I'd like to have access to all our data from non-FileMaker interfaces (to populate our LDAP directory, for example). While we can work an export from FileMaker, it would be much better if the data were available in an open, standard database instead.

I figure, so long as we're rebuilding everything from scratch for version 7, why not use a "real" RDBMS (no flames about which, please). Problem is, FileMaker does two things very well:

1. Rapid development of front-end data entry screens (using a GUI for layout)
2. Ability to create printable layouts for reporting (mail merges, report cards, etc)

I can program data entry screens myself if I had to (either on the web or on the clients directly), but the printable layouts would kill me. Does anybody know of any package that will allow me to replicate FileMaker's easy interface for use with a RDBMS package such as PostgreSQL or MySQL?

Thus far, the only solution I've found is to use some kind of SQL access plug-in for FileMaker. This way, I get to keep the FileMaker interface but ditch its lousy relational model. Unfortunately, I'd still have to pay for FileMaker, and the SQL plug-in requires tons of extra coding to pass the data from FileMaker to SQL and back again.

I know other people have had to move from small, proprietary systems (FileMaker, Access, etc) before; what have you done to keep the simple user interface alive?"

Comments

Knoda

[mpieters]

I think Knoda sounds like an exact match. Feature list:

* define and delete databases;
* create, alter and delete tables and indices;
* add, change and delete data in tables;
* define, execute and store sql queries;
* define, execute and store queries with a "query by example" GUI;
* import and export CSV data;
* define and use forms;
* define and print reports; and
* write your own extensions using the integrated Python interpreter as scripting language

This is the Open Source equivalent of MS Access and Filemaker, except that it can use any database backend (native MySQL, PostgreSQL and SQLite support, plus ODBC). The report and form designers are full WYSIWYG GUIs, like the commercial counterparts.

Possible disadvantage? It requires KDE3, so it does require quite some extra bagage you don't normally find on a Mac OS X system, but it *should* work.

Re:take a year off vs. pay for FM7 ?!?!

[Anonymous Coward]

I use Filemaker a lot - have several hundred databases that I have set up using FM and I use them several hours a day. Been using FM since it was a Nashoba product in 1986 and have databases that I set up 15 years ago that I still keep up to date.

I started out with Filemaker 1, upgraded to Filemaker 2, and finally settled on Filemaker 4.

Every time Apple comes out with a new version, I look at the features, try out the demo, and ask myself Question 1 "Do I need to upgrade at all?"

So far the answer has been no and I'm still using Filemaker 4.

Re:also looking for easy, open src forms layout to

[Daytona955i]

Not if you go to a java type solution like oracle did with their Application Server. Very nice and very fast. Not free but there might be something out there like Oracle Forms?