07/26/2010 - When the Apple iPhone was released to the world in 2007, we FileMaker developers immediately saw an ideal platform for FileMaker Pro. A third-party solution was released that allowed users to put their databases on the iPhone, but the solution wasn't simple for use, and had limitations that discouraged me from recommending it to my clients or implementing in any solutions.
07/25/2010 - My son Steven and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Europe. We were in London for 5 days, during which we took a day trip down to see Stonehenge, Glastonbury (where legends say that King Arthur lived), and Avebury. From London we took the high-speed train under the English Channel to Paris, where we stayed another 5 days, during which we took a day trip to Normandy to see the D-Day landing beaches and surrounding area. All in all, it was a great trip and a wonderful experience for my son and me.
This was also my first extended trip with my Apple iPad; I’ve taken some short business trips, but nothing this long or challenging fo Internet connections. I learned some valuable lessons about international travel with the iPad and iPhone, which I will share here.
07/03/2010 - Recently I had occasion to look for an air-conditioning installer, and was faced with the challenge of finding the perfect combination of price, reliability, reputation, and speed.
I've been using the same company for about 6 years; they have lots of trucks, a squad of repairmen and installers, but I know that I pay a large premium for the availability. I consider their expertise, my experiences with them to this point, and I now question whether the extra money I've paid has actually been worth it.
I've been giving some thought lately to what clients really want from consultants. As an extension to this line of thought, I've also come up with a list of what experience has taught me to be the most important qualifications to a successful developer.
04/24/2010 - I recently tried out Tony White's excellent ScriptBuildingBlocks tool for FileMaker, and was immediately hooked on the new abilities it offers to FileMaker developers who work on the Mac platform.
ScriptBuildingBlocks is a tool that allows its users to instantly insert sets of script steps into the script editor. The utility comes with 14 prebuilt templates, but I quickly learned how to add my own and edit the existing templates. Included in the SBB set are shortcuts for creating script steps for common structures like IF-ELSE IF-ELSE-END IF, LOOP-END LOOP, LOOP PORTAL-END LOOP, set variable to get(scriptParameter), and many more. There are also some shortcuts for adding comments, a date-stamped comment, and others.
04/15/2010 - Friends and clients know that for the past 6 months I’ve been frantically building a database solution for a new museum attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The second of their museums, Titanic Pigeon Forge is a wonderful tourist destination for families; as a longtime fan of Titanic lore, I found it intriguing and captivating.
