FileMaker 15 arrives w/ Touch ID support, new app extensions, automation & security enhancements

Apple subsidiary FileMaker is today releasing FileMaker 15, introducing a number of notable additions for mobile device users as well as a host of other new features and enhancements for the platform.

FileMaker 15 is getting a release across its usual platforms— iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, and Web— but there are a few features specifically for iOS device and mobile users. Touch ID support is present in version 15, allowing users to use the iPhone’s fingerprint sensor to access custom apps, and 3D Touch for quick access to their FileMaker apps and features from the app’s home screen icon.

The new release also adds iBeacon support for location-based data, new app extensions for cloud file sharing and content customization – and the ability to “use a mobile phone to access FileMaker apps in a web browser” using FileMaker WebDirect.

With iBeacon support, the company notes you’ll now be able to the location data to do things like “automatically pull up information for a self-guided tour, product descriptions at the point of sale, the location of inventory in a warehouse, and more.”

Here’s a look at the app extensions:

The company also highlighted a few other key features and enhancements in its press release announcing FileMaker 15, including new tools and improvements for automation and integration, security, and performance.

Automation & Integration: Timesaving tools include in-product updates and the ability to instantly recover scripting work with multiple undo. Red highlighted text helps easily identify problem areas in the Script Workspace. The ESS Adapter connects to even more External SQL Data Sources including PostgresSQL and IBM DB2.

Security: A new concealed edit box hides sensitive information users don’t want displayed on their screen. Proactive security warnings include notifications that appear when a user tries to connect to a host or website with an invalid security certificate. FileMaker Server now supports SSL certificates from nine popular vendors and supports intermediate, subjectAltName (SAN), and wildcard certificates.

And it’s worked to improve ease of use this time around, with a new design for the status toolbar and more: “Start managing contacts, inventory, content management and tasks right away with the new basic Starter Solutions. The new web-based Help menu provides faster results when searching for needed FileMaker information and is downloadable. The newly designed status toolbar in FileMaker Pro keeps custom apps looking fresh.”

You can get all the details on FileMaker 15 and new team licensing options available on the company’s website. And the updated FileMaker Go 15 app for iOS devices is available for free on the App Store now.