In the center of the screen is a focus on a selected library. On the left side of the window, you have a master list of “libraries,” which are synonymous with FileMaker tables (in versions 7 through 9) or databases (in earlier versions). Safety net properly established, let’s see what’s in all those little compartments.Īn iLife Approach to Data - Bento provides an all-in-one window, where you can see all of your databases in much the same way that iTunes groups all of your media. In iCal, you can still use File > Back Up iCal. This is a newly nested menu item in Leopard.
So let’s make another backup.) In Address Book, go to File > Export > Address Book Archive and save your contacts. (And yes, Virginia, Time Machine may be backing up your stuff, but it doesn’t have a long track record yet either. So before you fire up Bento, make a backup. If there’s a bug anywhere in Bento, man, are we in for a world of hurt. Put another way, this beta software is touching some of the most crucial data you store on your computer. This might then cause the same dawning sense of horror that I had when Bento, by default, immediately populates your initial database with all of your contacts and events from Address Book and iCal. So you might think, as I did, “Aw, heck, let’s just grab it and fire it up.”
All you need is a copy of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard the hardware requirements for Bento are exactly the same.
Poor First Impressions - Bento is currently a free download that gives you a full version of the software which won’t expire until 14-Feb-08. First, what can’t I do with it, and are these limitations that my clients would also notice? Second, does it work well enough with what it can do that I would recommend it on those merits?
I am a database programmer, so I took a look at the preview release of Bento with two questions in mind. clearly had one of these executive meetings sometime in the past year, because they’ve just released a “preview edition” of Bento – which apparently is Japanese for both “lunchbox” and “FileMaker without all of the messy bits that require programming skills.” Who knew? It’s easy to picture the staff meetings where the senior executive says, “If we can just come up with the database that lets my mother run her bridge club, and my brother run his fantasy football league, we’ll sell a bazillion copies and retire to Aruba.” For this reason, complex database software has for years come with templates that work out-of-the-box for recipes and the inevitable “project management solution.” Scratch the surface, though, and all of that complexity is still there waiting to bite you.įileMaker Inc. This drives the publishers of database software batty. Building a good database in FileMaker is like writing a good novel in Word anyone can buy and use the program, but you need skills to make the results worthwhile. FileMaker Pro has generally been the software of choice covering the middle ground between “easy to learn” and “decently powerful,” but FileMaker Pro’s ease of use is deceptive. The more complicated method is database software that enables you to build exactly what you want. You can add a middle initial to anyone in Address Book, but if you want to keep track of people who owe you money, you’re pretty much out of luck trying to calculate a grand total. Both are databases, and both are great if you need exactly what Apple provides. The simple method is to use databases that succeed by providing specialized interfaces and very limited customization options.
Mac users (and computer users in general) have generally had two options.
#1613: M2 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro, long-awaited features coming to OS, watchOS 9, TidBITS website changes, tvOS and HomePod update.#1614: 2022 OS system requirements, WWDC 2022 head-scratcher features, travel tech notes from Canada.