When Mac users need to make a database , they become to FileMaker Pro more often than not . But for less complex task — catalogue the media you own , managing contacts , or keep lozenge on a project — an individual drug user firing up FileMaker is a fleck like grabbing a hammer when you need a swatter . It ’s overkill .
FileMaker seems to pick out that dilemma . So it ’s created a database program in the nervure of Apple ’s own iWork productivity suite ( which , in itself , is hardly a surprising twist of events since FileMaker is an Apple subsidiary ) . The newly unveil Bento is a lightweight personal database covering that , at its substance , is about micturate database approachable and easy for the casual utilization — you might call it FileMaker Lite , though that ’s in no way intend to slight the telling amount of functionality built in .
Bento is available as afree public previewin advance of its planned January 2008 release . I ’ve had a chance to spend some sentence with FileMaker ’s late database program , and here ’s what you may expect if you download the preview .
What Bento is
The developers at FileMaker gain that many casual users have like penury and desires when it come to creating database , so they ’ve provided more than 20 pre - construct templates for information like Home Inventory , Digital Media , Classes , and more .
Bento offer a number of pre - build templet to help you get a jump start on building your personal database .
Getting started is as gentle as pick a guide or , if none of the include ones meet your motive , cut an exist template to your liking or creating one from shekels . FileMaker touts one - clack customization in Bento , which lets you adjust everything from text size to blending and alignment .
Bento ’s look , inspired by the the likes of of iTunes and iPhoto , will be conversant to most Mac user . The main windowpane is divided into three columns : the left over mitt is a generator inclination that harbour your database , which Bento calls “ library , ” and their “ collections , ” the Bento equivalent of playlist . Bento can link up mechanically into OS X ’s Address Book and iCal , letting you easily pull information from those source to use in your other subroutine library ; that data is also alive , meaning that changes you make there will be reflected in Address Book and iCal . you may also produce smart assembling , consanguineal to iTunes ’ smart playlists , which select a solidifying of record base on touchstone that you destine .
The middle column is Bento ’s main canvas , where you put to work with the cognitive content itself . At the top , a toolbar lets you toggle between different views : every library has a table view , which lets you look at your data in a spreadsheet - similar mode , and a pattern survey , which lets you view , enter , and edit out details about a picky record . you could make multiple form views for a library via a simple pull - and - driblet interface , in display case there are different ways in which you want to interact with the data .
In the proper - hand column are the fields for the current program library : for example , a database of contacts would include fields for name , address , e - mail service , telephone number , and so on . you may make new fields from any of 19 different include type , such as checkboxes , cast down menus , and text box seat . tot a new field to a mannequin view is as simple as dragging - and - drop it . Bento even allows you to embed media like images , phone , and TV into a disc , though there is no direct integration with your iLife media .
The shape view in Bento lets you see and spay details for an single entranceway — in this case , a depository library I create to keep tabs on media asset .
What Bento isn’t
While Bento assign a friendly boldness on databases , it comes at the sacrifice of some of the mellow - end functionality . It ’s not an app for those want to do complex SQL queries or share a database over a internet with multiple user .
Bento also stash away its database in its own proprietary data formatting , and while you’re able to export to a plaintext Comma Separated Values format , you wo n’t see any other mean of exchanging entropy with common database programs like Microsoft Access , mySQL , or even FileMaker Pro .
Pricing and availability
One major vantage Bento holds over its full-grown brother FileMaker Pro is price — the current version of the revered database platform go for $ 299 while a single copy of Bento will set you back just $ 49 . A family pack of five licenses cost $ 99 .
Because Bento leverage some of Leopard ’s new feature — specifically Core Animation , live link to iCal data , Time Machine substitute , and other Leopard - specific capabilities — it only works on Mac OS X 10.5 . That ’s dead on target of the currently available preview , as well as the final exit slate for January .
Macworldwill have a full revue of Bento once the final version make it .
[ Associate editor in chief Dan Moren is also Colorado - editor program of theMacUser blog . ]
