SummaryĪs a developer, it is easy to get excited about the new Master-Detail layouts, FileMaker 17 Server changes, multiple e-mail attachments and the many other development improvements that can make our lives easier and apps more exciting.

The Sample apps are designed with their own themes and layouts and are more intended for inspiration rather than solution starting. The Starter apps are different from the Sample apps which remain from FileMaker 16.

The Universal Touch design can be modified to match an organizations color scheme, branding, or whatever is needed to make the starter solution their own. These solutions, based on a new template called Universal Touch are designed to be a true starting point for a new app. Note the change in iconography for the Starter solutions. In the window, you can clearly see a new set of files made available by FileMaker as a true starting point for use by any user/organization. Finally, new to 17, there is the Learn Center that has some basic tutorials for creating apps and for working with their starter and sample apps. A user can convert an Excel document or other related files into a FileMaker 17 database. This Create window allows the user to create an app “Blank” with one table and a default set of fields (also new in FileMaker 17). When you do so a small pop-over will appear with two options To add a new app simply click on Add app. All recently opened apps will show in the Recent tab which is a nice list view showing the app name and its location in descending order starting with the most recently opened app. Please keep in mind that simply opening an app, either local or remote, will NOT add it to the My Apps screen. If the user has certain apps they access frequently, then it is best to have them add the applications to the My Apps screen and now those apps will be displayed in the above window and from the My Apps menu shown below. The My Apps “tab”, is also accessible from the updated File menu shown in the section below, and is equivalent to the “favorites” section of the old Launch Center but is much easier, and I believe more intuitive for your end-user. In FileMaker Pro Advanced 17, the My Apps window will open anytime FileMaker Pro Advanced is launched.

Filemaker pro 17