Mobile Companion Brings FileMaker Database to Palms
FileMaker Inc.’s new FileMaker Mobile Companion for the Palm OS delivers what appears to be an industry first--the power of a relational database on the Palm platform. Although rival Microsoft Corp. makes a pocket version of its Access software, that program is only for hand-helds such as Hewlett-Packard’s Jornada 720, and not for Pocket PC devices such as Compaq’s iPaq.
The FileMaker Mobile Companion, which sells for $49, not only brings connectivity with a major desktop database program, FileMaker Pro, to hand-helds but it also works on Macintosh systems as well as PCs. FileMaker Pro is a widely used favorite--from the Los Alamos nuclear labs to my cat’s veterinarian.
Although earlier versions of FileMaker Pro have worked with Apple Computer’s ill-fated Newton MessagePad 2000, the FileMaker Mobile Companion for the Palm OS is the company’s first attempt to bridge the gap between the database and hand-held devices.
The Mobile Companion lets users download records and display the contents of a FileMaker database on the Palm. Information entered on the Palm can then be uploaded to the desktop database during synchronization.
How does the Mobile Companion work? After installing the FileMaker Pro version 5.03 database software--which must reside on the desktop computer--I loaded the separate Mobile Companion software. The software acts as a special conduit that allows the desktop database to exchange data with the Palm.
When working in a FileMaker database, users specify a sharing option for Mobile Companion, and then select which fields in a record they want on the hand-held and in which order. I tested the software with a 246-record database of corporate contacts. Each record had 20 different fields that could be used, and I selected most of these.
On the portable, users can view either a list of the database records or one record at a time. In the list view, users scroll across the screen to view each of the fields. In both views, the up and down buttons of the Palm advance within and between records.
Enter data on the Palm, and they’re transferred to the desktop database at the next synchronization. The same process works in reverse when the desktop file is updated. Since the FileMaker Pro database supports pictures, users should be able to display these on the hand-held. But be warned: Individual records of more than 2 kilobytes won’t transfer to the hand-held.
Users new to the Palm--or to FileMaker--will want to follow instructions very carefully to make sure a database is properly configured for synchronization. Once configured, the operation is automatic and seamless. It’s a major step forward for hand-held computer users, and another achievement for FileMaker.
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Mark A. Kellner is editor at large for Government Computer News and hosts “Mark Kellner on Computers” at https://www.adrenalineradio.com between 5 and 6 p.m. Thursdays.
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The Skinny
FileMaker Mobile Companion for the Palm OS
What it does: Relational database for Palm OS hand-held devices
Price: $49
Publisher: FileMaker Inc.
The good: Robust database applications
The bad: Not much
Bottom line: An achievement
