That said, I have used both Microsoft Access and FileMaker Pro, and find the latter the far more elegant program. FileMaker, like many products from the Apple Computer campus, is also a lot of fun. After designing the actual database, you actually *enjoy* doing things like creating buttons which run scripts for the end users, streamlining their experience of powerful program functions. It's scripting works incredibly well, and it was Internet ready almost two years ago with the release of FileMaker Pro 4.0.

So I went to list expecting a lot. I found a lot. In this newsgroup you'll find esoteric scripting tips from experienced FileMaker pros, as well as questions from people new to the software.

There's a Web based archive, so that you can sample the newsgroup before deciding to subscribe. Here's a part of a posting from a new FileMaker jockey which I found on the site in late March:

"...I am developing a FileMaker Pro solution for my company that involves sharing some data via the intranet using FMP 4.1's built Web companion and my own customized Web pages. This system will need to be available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. The problem is that every morning when I come in and try to access the database via the Web I get an "Error 500 Internal Error" in my browser window. On the server FMP seems to be running correctly and there are no unusual entries in the FMP Web log. Restarting the computer with the database on it fixes the problem until the next morning..."

The developer goes on to talk about what model of Mac he is running the software on, server configurations, and other software he has installed. He's looking for the source of a potential conflict. This newsgroup is very much about problem solving and not for everyone.

But if you are a FileMaker jock and like to get into the inner workings of databases and deploying them on the Internet or a company intranet, this is a list you'll visit daily.