Claris clarifies product strategy and roadmap for FileMaker

Ben Fletcher • 8 September 2023

Reflecting on Claris Platform's Roadmap: What's Next in 2023 and Beyond

In September 2023, Claris introduced its third and latest product, Claris Studio, to an already robust platform portfolio that includes Claris Connect and Claris FileMaker. This addition marked a significant pivot for the company as Claris Studio emphasizes a novel approach to building unified, cloud-native, hybrid apps. The new offering complements the desktop-optimized nature of FileMaker, effectively broadening the platform to better harness the capabilities of cloud and mobile technology at an accelerated pace.


The Strategic Decision to Fork the Platform

To expedite the deployment of Claris Studio to developers, Claris decided to create a streamlined version of the FileMaker platform, including only the essential features that would ensure seamless integration with Claris Studio. This strategic move led to the release of three spin-off products: Claris Pro, Claris Go, and Claris Server—essentially, leaner versions of FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go, and FileMaker Server. To understand the impact of these new releases on your current setup, we invite you to read our in-depth analysis in a previous blog post here.


A Customer-Focused Solution

In response to customer feedback, Claris announced in August 2023 that they plan to merge the functionalities of Claris Pro, Go, and Server back into the future releases of Claris FileMaker. This announcement serves as a pragmatic, customer-centric move that aims to eliminate confusion and address concerns.


What This Means for You

The good news is that existing FileMaker customers can anticipate the integration of Claris Studio features in upcoming releases. Conversely, newcomers to the Claris Platform will benefit from the integration of legacy FileMaker features that were initially absent in Claris Pro, Go, and Server.


Ready to Upgrade or Need assistance?

If you have not yet upgraded to Claris FileMaker 2023, or if you require expert guidance to optimize your application or build a new digital solution, please feel free to reach out to our team today for a complimentary 2-hour consultation.

Claris FileMaker 2024 (21.1 Nov 2024)

by Ben Fletcher • 8 November 2024
The Claris FileMaker 2024 (version 21.1) Platform release for Nov 2024 is now available

Planning your upgrade to Claris FileMaker 2024 platform

by Ben Fletcher • 25 June 2024
Claris FileMaker 2024 is the ultimate platform for custom app creation, now with powerful new native features for leveraging Artificial Intelligence by integrating Large Language Models (LLMs). Given its advanced features and capabilities, it's the platform of choice for those seeking to start fresh building a new custom business app. However, if you're thinking about upgrading from an older Claris FileMaker version, preparation is key, and that's where we come in. This brief guide outlines the major points of consideration when upgrading. However, don't worry if these technicalities overwhelm you - our expert consulting team is just a click away, ready to guide you through any concerns. The Upgrade Process: Claris FileMaker v12-v2023 (.fmp12 format) The good news: versions 12-2023 share the same file format as the 2024 version, making upgrades a breeze. However, certain interface changes might require user adaptation if build prior to FileMaker 16. For example, if your users utilize the footer bar for zoom control, view mode changes, or status bar display, they'll have to adjust to using the upper status bar and application menus. If that's a challenge, our consultants can assist with incorporating zoom control into your interface layouts. One caveat is that while it's possible to use legacy versions of Claris FileMaker Pro to connect to Claris FileMaker Server 2024, we advise against it. Mixing client versions can prevent you from leveraging the full benefits of the Claris FileMaker 2024 feature set. For maximum security and optimal performance, make sure both the server and all users are on the latest software version and patch. Claris have compiled a handy checklist of deprecated features in Claris FileMaker 2024, so make sure to verify if these impact your usage: https://support.claris.com/s/article/Deprecated-and-removed-features-in-Claris-FileMaker-Pro-2024?language=en_US Revamping Your Legacy Systems: Claris FileMaker v11-6 (.fp7 & .fp5 format) or earlier Older versions of FileMaker are a testament to the platform's longevity. However, they do come with unique challenges, including the impossibility of direct conversion using Claris FileMaker 2024. Don't worry, we're equipped to handle these issues and are ready to bring your vintage database files into the present. We also recommend considering a fresh start. The latest Claris FileMaker boasts myriad features that can significantly boost your business operations. Remember: upgrading isn't merely about maintaining the status quo—it's about embracing innovation and driving your business forward. If you want to do the minimum possible work to convert your files into the v2024 format then look at our previous guide for FileMaker Pro 19: https://www.datatherapy.com/news/2020/6/5/planning-your-upgrade-to-claris-filemaker-19-platform General Upgrade Considerations: Let's Get Practical No matter your current version, our team can assist you through the upgrade process, even if your app involves complex dependencies, such as integrations with legacy software or plugins. Note that most plugins will require updates (sometimes paid) to ensure compatibility with Claris FileMaker 2024. We encourage you to consider the future-proofing benefits of a 'cloud-first' mindset. Older systems may not have been built with this in mind, but the modern FileMaker platform has been designed to seamlessly integrate with other cloud solutions. Likewise, modern FileMaker now leans heavily on being able to more easily integrate directly with other web services such as LLM (Large Language Model) based Artificial Intelligence like OpenAI's ChatGPT service. Ultimately, we believe that your software should work for you, not the other way around. That's why we're committed to ensuring your upgrade is more than a simple technical exercise—it's a strategic move that aligns with your business' evolution. If you're ready to harness the power of the modern, interconnected, and dynamic Claris FileMaker 2024, get in touch with us today . We're here to help you achieve your business goals.

Claris FileMaker 2024 (version 21.0) Release

by Ben Fletcher • 7 June 2024
New Features in Claris release FileMaker 2024 (21.0) embraces AI support

Claris FileMaker 2023 (version 20.3) Release

by Ben Fletcher • 17 November 2023
New Features in Claris FileMaker 2023 (version 20.3) Release

Planning your upgrade to Claris FileMaker 2023 platform

by Ben Fletcher • 6 June 2023
The Claris FileMaker 2023 is the ultimate platform for custom app creation. Given its advanced features and capabilities, it's the platform of choice for those seeking to start fresh building a new custom business app. However, if you're thinking about upgrading from an older Claris FileMaker version, preparation is key, and that's where we come in . . .

Claris FileMaker 2023 Release

by Ben Fletcher • 27 April 2023
New Features in Claris FileMaker 2023 Release

Claris Update - Jan 2023

by Ben Fletcher • 1 February 2023
Free tier access to the Claris Platform is coming!

Claris FileMaker 19.6 Release

by Ben Fletcher • 1 December 2022
New Features in Claris FileMaker 19.6 Release

Claris Server managed private cloud hosting now available

by Ben Fletcher • 28 November 2022
Claris Server managed private cloud hosting now available from datatherapy.host

Are you ready for the new Claris Platform?

by Ben Fletcher • 24 November 2022
The new Claris Platform represents the latest evolution of the venerable Claris FileMaker Platform. While the FileMaker Platform is a powerful and flexible toolset, it was originally launched in 1985 and conceived to solve the data problems of that era - predating much of the modern internet staples that we are familiar with today like pervasive broadband, mobile computing and cloud services. While an impressive number of new features have been added to the FileMaker platform to modernise it over the years, there were always going to be some areas where it was not an optimal solution given the need to maintain compatibility with previous releases. The new Claris Platform focuses on offering a new approach to building unified, hybrid apps with a more cloud native approach. Central to this new offering is Claris Studio, a web-based tool for building online web forms, dynamic charts, dashboards and task trackers (see https://www.claris.com/studio/ ). Historically, these are all areas that the FileMaker platform has served poorly out of the box, or has required substantial developer effort utilising 3rd party plugins or integration with other apps and cloud services to work around. The new Claris Platform bundle therefore significantly extents what would be possible with FileMaker alone. I t is well worth looking at these Claris Youtube videos exploring the new platform https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkvKnBkQSCeTE1hT4FJkCJ_foOOq_DBIe However, Claris Studio does not integrate with classic FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Server - instead it works with Claris Pro and Claris Server. In order to get Claris Studio to market and in the hands of developers as quickly as possible, Claris have had to make some compromises and so narrowed their initial platform support and features. This means that while Claris Pro and Claris Server have most of the core features of FileMaker Pro and FileMaker Server there are some important differences - while the new Claris platform is an excellent fit for most new development projects, it is not yet a 'no-brainer' upgrade for existing FileMaker customers that are reliant on some of the older features which are not yet present in the new platform. Two deciding limitations for many existing FileMaker customers are that: 1) Claris Server only currently runs on the Linux platform - there is no support for running on macOS or Windows servers currently. 2) By design the new Claris Platform needs internet access in order to integrate with Claris Studio and so cannot be 'LAN locked' which may be the case for certain FileMaker solutions due to strict security as can be found in healthcare environments or with very high performance solutions such as video environments. If you don't have expertise in deploying Linux servers or moving from a LAN to cloud environment then this can be mitigated as it is perfectly possible to get a 3rd party managed private cloud hosting. This is exactly the service that DataTherapy can provide - see https://datatherapy.host/pricing for more details. Contact our team if you are interested in a demo of the new Claris Platform offering and a FREE initial consultation about how to migrate from from your existing FileMaker based solution in order to take advantage of the new Claris Studio features.
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