I started using Filemaker a long time ago for personal use, before I even knew what a relational database was. It was a 2D database that made it so easy to create and manage your own database.
Then Filemaker 3 came out, and it was relational, in a way. While other DB's like Access, use different tables for relational data, Filemaker 3+ uses a different database file for each table.
Anyway, Filemaker is the best product on the earth if you want to create, manage and upgrade your own database. You can create databases for your home or for a corporation.
It is very powerful and can do nearly everything.
One of the really neat features of Filemaker is the networking feature. If you want more than one computer to access a single database, all you do is click a check box in the SHARING setting. So, if you open that database on one computer, all other computers on the network can access it. Its that easy!!!!
All you do is open it up and everyone else on the network can access it as if they had the DB on their own machine. And the data gets updated only on the original database. This is done over the network and requires absolutely no knowledge of networking.
I created a complete business management program for my workplace. It does contact management, quotes, purchase orders, invoicing, packing slips, billing, account management, etc, etc. I add on new features every month.
I run it on one computer and I access it for any of 8 computers in the office, depending on where Im working.
If you want a really fast networked database for a large company, you can purchase Filemaker Pro Server. That can host lots of users and lots of files,very quickly.
Another great feature of this program is that there is a version for PC and for Mac. And the database files are the same for either platform, so there is no conversion needed and no incompatibility.
A great feature of the newer versions is the ability to host the database over the internet. This means that you can use the internet to access or host the database like you do your office network. To access the database over the internet you need to enter the IP address of the computer thats hosting it. The program uses TCP/IP for networking. Previous editions also used AppleTalk but I think this has been discontinued as Mac and PC use TCP/IP.
Filemaker Pro 5.5 also has the ability to host database data using web pages. I mean that Filemaker can generate active web pages using the data from a database. Or you can use the scripting language to insert data into your own web pages. But the easist way is to just let Filemaker Pro turn your database into web pages so people can access the DB with a web browser. That way you or they wont need to run Filemaker to see the data. Standard version of Filemaker Pro 5.5 allows 10 web connections over a 24hr period (based on IP addresses). But you can get Filemaker Pro Unlimited which places no limits on web access.
This edition of Filemaker adds design tools and templates which make it easy to create appealing designs for your databases. It also makes it easy to maintain a consistent theme on all your different layouts.
If you need a database to do anything, and dont mind learning a little, I highly recommend Filemaker 5.5.

Recommended: Yes