Sep

29

Add Notes To Related Data

Filed Under Bento Tips | Leave a Comment

Except if you happen to look at page 93 in the Bento 3 User’s Guide (which you actually should do anyway), you’d miss this truly hidden feature:

Every Related Data field now includes a Notes section which only shows up once you drag it into view. Then it might look like this:


When you create a Related Data field, the Notes section is hidden. You have to hover the mouse over the right edge of the field until an arrow appears (pointing to the left). Then drag to the left – voila. You can add as many columns as you wish and rename the title. The data is stored with your active library, not with the source library of the related data.

Have fun finding a good use for this hidden gem… it can at least personalize your (general) related data.

Sep

29

Upgrade Rebate – Details

Filed Under Bento News | 5 Comments

I apologize that I didn’t know about the Bento rebate offer beforehand – I’m not happy with Filemaker, Inc. right now…

Here is the excerpt from the press release (notice the word “free”):

Bento 3 has a suggested list price of $49, but, for a limited time only, FileMaker is offering a $20 rebate to existing users of Bento 1 and Bento 2. Qualified customers who purchase Bento 3 through the FileMaker Store will get an instant rebate and pay just $29 for Bento 3. Qualified customers who purchase Bento 3 at an Apple store or other retailer can request a $20 rebate online.. Customers who have purchased Bento 2 between August 30, 2009 and October 14, 2009 are eligible to receive Bento 3 for free. A 30-day trial version is also available at www.bentotrial.com.

Sep

29

Review – Bento 3: A Big Upgrade

Filed Under Bento News | 49 Comments

Bento 3 is out – and it only took ten months this time. This upgrade is the best one yet, especially due to the fact that several user requests have been granted which makes us all feel good.

I’ll get to the nitty gritty right away. Three big new features:

  • iPhoto integration
  • New Grid View
  • Sharing (over your local network – user request)
    New field types:

  • Simple list (user request)
  • Encrypted (user request)
  • File List & Related Data added Grid View
  • Hidden feature: you can add notes to Related Data records
    Other notable additions:

  • Password protection for the entire database
  • Image box (user request)
  • Changeable library icons (choose from 35 icons in two sizes)
  • Copy forms within a library (user request)
  • Library folders (user request)
  • Group emailing (user request; through Mail)
  • Print blank form
    Enhancements:

  • Table view added a media field cell w/quick look – also available in Related Data fields (formerly Related Records List: field was renamed)
  • Improved theme chooser (accessible from form tools)
  • 10 additional templates and the template chooser now displays the associated icon
  • link to the new template exchange
  • Encrypted fields, Simple List fields and smart collections are also supported in Bento for iPhone
  • Field names you can’t change are displayed in italic

Read more

Sep

13

Snow Leopard Users: Download Bento 2.0v5

Filed Under Bento News | 1 Comment

Attention:
If you have upgraded your Mac OS X to Snow Leopard (which I will do today…),
you have to make sure that you are running the newest version of Bento.
Only Bento 2.0v5 will run flawlessly under Snow Leopard. Filemaker made an official announcement to that effect, and I already got reports from users about erratic behavior of Bento 2.0v4 under Snow Leopard.
Bento 2.0v5 also adds a few little fixes and enhancements.
More on the download page:
Free Bento 2.0v5 Update