Starting a new application, on any platform, can be very overwhelming. Luckily FileMaker comes with 20 Starter Solutions (templates) that make starting a new application easier and to customize to fit to your needs. The main perk of the Starter Solutions is having a template to hit the ground running that is visually appealing.

Getting Started

If you don’t already own FileMaker, you can download a free FileMaker Trial to give the Starter Solutions a try.

Once FileMaker is installed, to build a new application with a Starter Solution simply open FileMaker Pro 15 and the Launch Center will come up. From there go to Get Started. You can choose one of the four new Starter Solutions, or you can scroll down to "See Advanced Solutions" to view the other 16 templates. Or, if you already have FileMaker 15 open, you can select File > New From Starter Solution.

Difference From Past Years

FileMaker kept the same 16 solutions from the last release and deemed them 'Advanced Solutions'. They then made 4 new Starter Solutions that are more Basic. This is a great thing as we often hear of citizen developers wanting to create a new application from a Starter Solution but found the 'Advanced Solutions' to have too much going on.

Let's take a look at the four new Basic Starter Solutions.

Contacts

The Contacts Starter Solution made a few changes from version 14. The fields are the same but arranged a little differently to make navigating easier. The main difference is the photo for the contact doesn't take up as much space and has data directly under it.

Inventory

The Inventory Starter Solution, like the Contacts, only has a few minor changes. It is still the same theme, but the design looks modern with it being flatter. The fields are still the same, though, arranged differently to make it easier to navigate. Instead of having a tab between the picture of the inventory and a description, a description text box is on the left hand side making better use of space.

Content Management

This Starter Solution changed themes from Luminous to Enlightened. The layout is still the same, however, updated icons give the look and feel of a better application that is more visually appealing.

Tasks

The Tasks Starter Solution has the same layout, though it is flatter and looks more modern in design. The 'Assignees' and 'Attachments are still on the layout, just separated, which gives the ability to see everything without switching back and forth between tabs making it crisper and easier to navigate.

Conclusion

FileMaker has taken a different approach to the Starter Solutions compared to years past. With the 4 different Basic Starter Solutions, it is easier to further customize the application to fit your workflow. The Starter Solutions still look great and easy to use and navigate. If you are starting a solution from scratch, this is still the easiest and best way to get started and create a customized solution for your needs.

If you, however, need a more fined tuned CRM application check out our own template, FM Quickstart. It is a free download and has been optimized to run on the latest version of FileMaker.

To learn more about the FileMaker 15 platform, read our FileMaker 15 What's New article.