Author Topic: SOFTWARE: Filemaker?  (Read 4049 times)

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Adam807

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SOFTWARE: Filemaker?
« on: Nov 07, 2005, 11:37 am »
The thread on electronic calling scripts inspired this question, but I thought I'd start a new thread...

Do any of you use Filemaker for reports or anything else?  I'm really impressed by what Filemaker can do when I've seen other SMs' systems, but a) it seems really hard to learn, and b) I find its design limitations frustrating -- my reports tend to be very detailed and often go over one page.

I currently use Word for pretty much everything, as it lets me indulge my graphic design jones easily, and .doc files are easily shared across platforms.

Ideas?  Suggestions?
« Last Edit: Jun 08, 2009, 10:39 pm by PSMKay »

linka

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my $.02
« Reply #1 on: Nov 07, 2005, 03:01 pm »
what version are you using? There are drawing tools and you can insert and cut/paste graphics like you would on word. I use it to make contact sheets every so often. Once in awihle, to track attendance and/or props and then export everything on over to excel. It's a handy database tool to have.

Mac Calder

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Filemaker?
« Reply #2 on: Nov 07, 2005, 03:56 pm »
I use adobe PDF forms for a lot of the forms the cast has to send in (like medical) as they open almost anywhere, and print out really nicely. I also use them at auditions to fill in all the auditionee details (or for an ASM to fill it in). One of my fav. directors likes to see a headshot taken right then and there before she auditions them (She is excentric, and I love it!). It makes the whole process more complex, but infinatly more fun for me to design. I dont have a license for filemaker, but I have been meaning to look into it as it is a nice program to use.

gridkot

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Filemaker
« Reply #3 on: Nov 07, 2005, 11:13 pm »
My Company Manager uses it and she hates it because it doesn't allow her the flexibility that she desires, but she has to use it because the company has "decreed it must be so."

My world would be lost without Excel and .pdf's  I find Excel as flexible as Word and I do my calling script in Excel so that the ques all line up.  I have a rockin' calling script for Starlight Express and Chicago the Musical in Excel and once transfered into a .pdf...no one can screw with it...even your meanie master electricians who like to play practical jokes on you!  :wink:

But Filemaker...I don't think it's universal enough...and I'm on a Mac...so Word/Excel is my preference for ease of distribution and "everyone's got it!".
Yo Grid!