Intel based Macintosh Systems
Apple last month released the first of their new line of Intel based Macintosh systems. The new systems will not run Apple's Mac OS 9 Classic environment. This means that if you are still using a legacy Filemaker 3 or 4th Dimension 6.5/6.7 database in a Macintosh environment, you will need to plan for a database update if you are planning new Macintosh computer purchases.
Filemaker 8 Updates Filemaker 8 updates have been released by Filemaker Inc and are available on their web site here. These are maintenance releases that fix a variety of minor bugs. The list of bug fixes is also available at the above link by clicking on the product in which you are interested. Filemaker 8 Server Advanced started shipping in January. The advanced verison of Filemaker Server provides web database publishing capability and the ability to serve data to ODBC clients.
VIMS Update Portage Bay is pleased to announce that VIMS, the case management and billing system for vocational rehabilitation professionals, has been upgraded to 4th Dimension 2004. This upgrade brings VIMS to the latest version of 4th Dimension and will enable a number of new improvements to VIMS in the future. The first new feature we've added is the ability to use spell checking when entering case note (and other) data. This update will be sent to support program members at no charge early next month.
Current Portage Bay Projects
ECOM Upgrade ECOM is Portage Bay's Filemaker based solution that assists school districts with managing their special education data. We're currently deep into the process of upgrading ECOM to Filemaker 8. With the system comprised of nearly 60 files, this project is the most complex Filemaker 8 conversion we've done thus far. The new version of ECOM will exploit a number of new features available in Filemaker 8 such as the ability to generate email from database data and to directly generate PDF documents. Detailed information about this ECOM upgrade will be sent to special eductation directors shortly.
Interesting Technologies
If you haven't already explored Google Earth, check it out by downloading the necessary software here.
The software gives the user an amazing ability to fly through a 3D rendering (based on satellite imagery) of virtually anyplace on earth.
Many people have used Google Maps to get directions or a quick map. Many web site developers are partnering with Google to employ Google's mapping data in combination with their own data to create some very interesting sites. Check out some of the following:
