Is Filemaker able to handle large installations?

[David Schenck]

Hello everybody,

I have been asked to evaluate filemaker for a large scale database
(About 100 users, and about 600,000 records in the largest table -
maybe up to 50 tables). So my question is - can filemaker (5.5 pro,
and 5.5 server - as many servers as needed) handle this kind of load?
I expect data entry to be pretty light, but there will be a lot of
cross table reporting. Am I asking for trouble or will good design
practices enable me to handle this kind of load and allow for growth?
Money for software and hardware is not really much of an issue - but
spending money on a solution that just won't work is a career limiting
move. Thanks in advance for the benefit of your experience.

David Schenck
dav...@ebrda.org

[John Weinshel]

One box with 5.5 Server should accomodate that deployment. 600K records is a
lot for Filemaker-- it can handle that many (the limit is 2 gig per file),
but how quickly it does so depends on, as you note, the quality of the
design, as well as the hardware involved. We might be able to give you more
useful answers if you describe the project a bit.

--
John Weinshel
Datagrace
Vashon Island, WA
(206) 463-1634
Associate Member, Filemaker Solutions Alliance

"David Schenck" <dav...@ebrda.org> wrote in message
news:915f2f27.0203...@posting.google.com...

[Philippe Cand]

Hi,
One of my db has crossed the Million rows and is still OK.
I have some specific things to do in order to keep it under control.
1) I have a status current file size that will warn me if the db goes above
1.5GB
2) I had carefully selected what to index or not
3) No summary fields, never.
4) Do not search neither sort on non-indexable fields, never
5) Backup is important, a repair or recover may take long, Have the user
switch to a duplicate while you repair, then import the new transactions in
the repaired file. This way, you have a minimum down time. Add Created and
modified fields in every tables...
6) Try to limit the links and calculated fields based on foreign tables as
much as you can
7) Avoid dynamic value lists, endless loops and replace scripts, disable the
preview mode.
8) sometimes you can run a routine to "compress" or "pivot" your data so you
can get a rid of a couple hundred K rows and/or decrease the db size.
9) give the maximum cache size to the app and add flush to disk steps in
most of your scripts.
10) I am investigating how I could use a MySQL or PostGresSQL db as master
db and use FileMaker as enduser transactional and reporting interface.

I guess that I have the time to figure out how before my FileMaker is
overwhelmed.
Unfortunately, I just do not like the idea to mess with Perl and a command
line driven database.
It is so much easier and faster with FileMaker.
If I can have FM loaded with the day to day data and have the "we may need
it" data on a more poweful SQL server, and communicate with this big thing
on a off hours batch process basis, it is ok.

If you have a lot of money, 50 people in your team and at least 6-12 months
to build your thing, consider a big system like SAP or Oracle.

Hope it gives you some ideas.
Philippe

"David Schenck" <dav...@ebrda.org> wrote in message
news:915f2f27.0203...@posting.google.com...

[Paul Bruneau]

Yes. With good design no problem at all. And the speed of development
and ease of use will make your head spin.

PB

[David Schenck]

Thanks everybody - I just wanted to hear a little experience before I
went head long into this thing. I have worked with earlier versions
of Filemaker some years ago, but never on anything this size. I'm
sure you will be hearing back form me with detailed questions as
developement progresses

Paul Bruneau <ethica...@mac.com> wrote in message news:<3C97DC2D...@mac.com>...

[Jezzy Becky Dee]

In article <915f2f27.0203...@posting.google.com>,
dav...@ebrda.org says...

We have about that usage and number at our company without mnay problems
;-) However, we do have a LOT or data entry going on as well. Things run
fine.

Specifically we have one FMP 5.5 server and 75 or so clients all running
FMPro 5.5. We are primarily a Mac house, but we do have 5 PCS (all
running NT, save the 2000 server.) and adise from the normal cross
platform glitches (fonts, colors, etc, et al.) experience no problems
corssing platforms.

You should be fine. ;-)

But DO take you own advice and plan well. This will make you life MUCH
easier.

- Jez.