FlexFM is a newly created library that offers developers greater control and flexibility in using FileMaker® Server as a data back-end for Adobe® Flex-based applications. We at Soliant Consulting developed FlexFM for a specific purpose: to provide an additional, compelling alternative for Custom Web Publishing options available through FileMaker Server.
Indisputably, FileMaker Pro is a great tool for building highly customized LAN-based workgroup applications. Its relational database allows companies (large or small) to deliver rapidly created business tools that can stand alone or complement high-transactional systems written with Oracle, SAP, Microsoft® SQL Server, and the like. For years, we have used the CWP API provided with FileMaker Server to build hybrid applications for many of our clients who have large and complex database systems built in FileMaker Pro and who subsequently need to expose some portion of their systems to the Web.
Flex is a great option for extending a FileMaker application to the Web. It removes browser compatibility issues, delivers rich interfaces similar to what users are accustomed to seeing in desktop applications, and it allows us to stay focused on rapid development cycles with tools like Adobe’s Flex Builder. Flex also offers integrated tools for presenting visual data: charts, data-interactive images, drag-and-drop, greater tightly-controlled printing, and more. With FlexFM, both worlds are well served.
Feel free to browse through these pages to learn more about how FlexFM can bring FileMaker and Flex together. The FlexFM library, written in ActionScript 3, is being released as an open source project under a Creative Commons license.
On a personal note, I have a strong background in both FileMaker and Macromedia (now Adobe) technologies, and as a database developer, I have kept a close eye on the evolution of Flash. It’s always been clear to the folks at Adobe that it was more than an animation tool, and I’m thrilled to see the direction in which they’re taking Flex.
We hope you find FlexFM useful.
Scott Love, Soliant Consulting
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Posted by Scott Love on July 13, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Great project! The development of Flex4Filemaker has not continued as I had originally planned and I’m glad that FlexFM is far superior with big plans for continued development! I will redirect all Flex4Filemaker inquiries to FlexFM.
http://deepthoughts.orsomethinglikethat.com/2007/08/22/flexfm/
Luke