Approximately 14years ago I purchased my first Apple Computer (MAC PRO). I then bought Filemaker Pro 12 for it which I have used all these years. I have used FIlemaker Pro 12 to ceate a number of simple Databases to organize stuff. I recently purchased a Mac Studio 2023 Ultra which I totaly love. . . .except for one problem . . . . . I cannot run my 32 Bit Filemaker Pro on the new 64 Bit Mac Studio. I can't justify $600 or monthly fees for a 64 Bit version of Filemaker. What are my options? All I really need is a simple inexpensive Database Program I can use to create databases for myself. Any suggestions?
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Need a little help regarding what database to use with my new MAC Studio.
- Thread starter Oldtimer1954
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Please forgive my ignorance Mr Moose but I really don't understand what you just described. My Database experience is quite old (bBase II, various versions of MS Access, etc) using FileMaker Pro was a bit of a stretch for me. Any chance you can dumb down your recommendation?
To add to what @Arctic Moose wrote, MacOS comes with SQLite baked in. There are tools/IDEs to help in whipping things up. For example, SQLite Studio was first hit I had searching for a dev tool for Mac. Have not used any of these as I’m just reading the databases and use the command line command, sqlite3.
2021 thread covering some of the same territory.
LibreOffice (free) has a database component.
2021 thread covering some of the same territory.
LibreOffice (free) has a database component.
Here's a general description:
You will need to run it somewhere. Options are natively on your computer, hosted on for example Linode or running in a virtual machine or Docker:
- https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/
- https://www.linode.com/
- https://www.vmware.com/products/desktop-hypervisor/workstation-and-fusion
- https://www.docker.com
Regardless of where you put MySQL, or if you use SQLite as @NoBoMac suggested, you can use Sequel Pro to manage your database if you do not have the desire or capability to build (or use an existing) frontend:
Microsoft Access has never been available on Mac or in Microsoft 365, but you could quite easily run it on Windows in a virtual machine:
There are some alternatives listed here, but I have never used any of them:
Why can’t you run your FM database on your older Mac hardware and access it using remote screen sharing?
If your requirements are simple, maybe Tap Forms Organizer 5 (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tap-forms-organizer-5-database/id1081981112?mt=12) is all you need. (and there are others in the App Store)
Or, MS Access if you are already familiar with that.
Or, the database in Libre Office (I think, similar to Access)
I have no experience with sophisticated databases ("relational" and things like that).
But I have created numerous "flat-file" databases in my time.
You said above that your databases are "simple". But that's a relative term. HOW simple?
I'm going to offer some suggestions:
See if you can download and run THIS on your new Studio:
You want the latest version, 5.4.05.
(released in July 2023)
Still runs on my 2021 MacBook Pro (m1pro) running Sonoma.
I believe it also runs on my "test copy" of Sequoia (but that's running on an Intel-based 2018 Mini).
This was once a shareware app, but now has been made free (the developer retired).
It's very simple, but works great if all you need is "flat-file" database.
WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO:
You'd need to export your existing databases from Filemaker to some kind of "text file format" for "porting".
The usual way to do it with tabs or commas delimiting fields, and (usually) a carriage return to begin the next record.
I think this is called TSV (tab separated values) or CSV (comma separated values).
Then, you'd have to find out which way iData imports them.
Hmmmm....
I just opened my copy of iData, and here's the formats it says that it can import:
Once again, I suggest you download this and try it on the new Mac (it should run on the old one, too).
It may do what you need.
And... it's FREE.
But I have created numerous "flat-file" databases in my time.
You said above that your databases are "simple". But that's a relative term. HOW simple?
I'm going to offer some suggestions:
See if you can download and run THIS on your new Studio:
You want the latest version, 5.4.05.
(released in July 2023)
Still runs on my 2021 MacBook Pro (m1pro) running Sonoma.
I believe it also runs on my "test copy" of Sequoia (but that's running on an Intel-based 2018 Mini).
This was once a shareware app, but now has been made free (the developer retired).
It's very simple, but works great if all you need is "flat-file" database.
WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO:
You'd need to export your existing databases from Filemaker to some kind of "text file format" for "porting".
The usual way to do it with tabs or commas delimiting fields, and (usually) a carriage return to begin the next record.
I think this is called TSV (tab separated values) or CSV (comma separated values).
Then, you'd have to find out which way iData imports them.
Hmmmm....
I just opened my copy of iData, and here's the formats it says that it can import:
Once again, I suggest you download this and try it on the new Mac (it should run on the old one, too).
It may do what you need.
And... it's FREE.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought Sequel Pro was for MySQL only - not SQLite. And isn't Sequel Pro very old? Presumably Intel (not Apple silicon). Is it a good bet for future compatibility?
You might try ninox. The single-user standalone version is free for macOS, iPadOS, and iOS, and if you store your database in iCloud it is shareable among all three. All are available in the Apple Store. You could also get an online license using ninox’s servers on a per-user license basis but that’s probably not necessary.
ninox also has hundreds of hours of video training both at their website and the website of one of their implementation groups: www.nioxus.com. Every Thursday at noon Eastern nioxus hosts a one-hour Learning Lab that is just amazing and incredibly helpful.