Let's get this whole database thing in perspective: blokes like lists, the biggest lists of all are databases, and whether you realise it or not you already have some experience with databases. There's an address book in your email agent, you have a library in your MP3 player, and everytime you dig out records for a customer, no matter whether you're thumbing through a Rolodex or drilling through a huge file on your corporate server, you're accessing a database.
Although you may instinctively feel that databases are the domain of large corporations, they actually have a place in every business, and also in the home. This is where FileMaker Pro 7 comes up trumps, as it is based on a large set of templates and wizards to make it as easy as possible to get busy with the software. Mind you, the software installation process could do with some work, as you have to enter a 35 character License key, when even Microsoft finds that 25 characters is adequate, and then a separate ten character key when you register the product. The boxed version we received was FileMaker Pro 7 v2, and we were startled to discover that there was a 107MB v3 update to download from the website.
Once the software was running, we found it very easy to use. So if you fancy spending 257 (inc. VAT) to catalogue your books, CDs or DVDs, then we have absolutely no doubt that FileMaker Pro 7 will suit you superbly, but it would be the equivalent of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. At the heart of a database you have the data itself, and FileMaker has worked hard to improve facilities for your users to share data by supporting XML, XSL, ODBC and JDBC formats. The resulting database can be quite sophisticated, so you can import Excel spreadsheets quite simply and then add pictures, PDFs and audio files to as many records as you choose. Once you've done this, you can click on the database to reorder it, or you can change the view, or you can carry out a search. If you fancy, you can open a window and view the database in a number of different views simultaneously, but none of that begins to stretch the features of Pro 7 unless you use the software on a commercial basis...
From TechRadar.com