Apr

10

New Free Service: iChat Screen-Sharing!

Filed Under Bento Basics, Editorial | 8 Comments 

I get many emails through our contact form at BentoUsers describing specific Bento project dreams… mostly ones where people have trouble finding existing templates for. Some new Bento users also have a problem getting started with the program. I found out that it’s much easier and faster to do personal one-on-one iChat sessions with screen-sharing to tackle their problems rather than going back and forth with emails.
That way I helped several people in recent months to get a good initial grasp of Bento and/or their projects.

So today I would publicly like to offer my bilingual iChat services (English or German). If you’re stuck with Bento or any project, just leave a comment here and I’ll email you to set up an online meeting.

Mar

17

Bento 4 Crashes Reach BentoUsers!

Filed Under Bento Bugs, Bento Issues, Bento News | 12 Comments 

For two days I was the lucky one – my initial upgrading to Bento 4 went without a glitch. But my luck ran out today. I tried to restore one of my Bento 3 database files (with different libraries in it; I’m using different sets) and Bento 4 crashed before finishing the upgrading. I get this ghastly well-known pop-up window Bento must quit, but like with Bento 3 it actually never quits, you have to do a Force Quit from the Finder. So add me to the list.
And please post a comment if you had a crash yourself.

Patrick, one of our BentoUsers contributor had told me yesterday about the world-wide Bento 4 crashes which were piling up in the forums, so it was only a matter of time until it reached me as well. Now it did.

Two things would be real nice: to fix the actual crash routine which never worked correctly; at least bow out gracefully, Bento 4! Second, a faster fix than with Bento 3. Good luck, Filemaker, Inc.

Mar

16

Finally: Bento 4 – First Review!

Filed Under Bento News | 35 Comments 

After a long wait, Bento 4 hits the (American) shelves today. It’s also available at the new Mac app-store. Previous Bento users (all versions) get a $20 instant upgrade rebate for a final price of $29 (like last time – except for the instant part, I believe). New versions (v1.1) for iPhone and iPad are available as well, and previous owners of those apps get the upgrade for free!
According to Filemaker, Inc., the main reason for this delayed upgrade is the added workload of the development for three different platforms. Actually makes sense.

First I’m giving you a list of the new features, in three categories: main feature, smaller features/improvements, and convenience features.

Sorry to burst your bubble right away, but when it comes down to it, there is really only one main feature:
Comprehensive and flexible Label Printing: you can print any kind of label (countless Avery and Dymo label sizes provided; custom sizes), from any Bento library, with images, custom text, and any font/styling/size.

Smaller features/improvements:
One new interesting field type: Location field (pin-points and maps your current location, or you set it). Note: using the Location field on the iPhone requires Bento 4 for Mac for initial syncing.
Simple List field now accepts many field types (previously just text)
Export data with templates (previously template and data files were separate)
Improved form printing (two new clean templates, hide field labels and borders)
iCal Tasks support (iPad & iPhone)
Integrated voice memos
(iPad & iPhone – can then be synced back to Bento 4 for Mac)

Convenience features:
Directly post templates to Bento Template Exchange
(Bento even creates a screenshot)
Locking/unlocking forms (to prevent accidental editing)
Four new handy date searching options (Is today, not, before, and after today)
Auto-create media fields and file lists (by dragging files onto a form)
Auto-create first record in newly created library
Auto-add newly created fields to form

Double-click to move from tables to forms
Six additional languages for iPhone/iPad
Improved overall performance (speed boost)

That’s it!

Features still sorely missed (please add your own in the comments):
Report creation of any kind
More options for Calculation field, especially IF – THEN
Styling of fonts (this should have been part of Bento 1!!)
Single-line related data (briefly appeared in Bento 3 beta version)

Reviewer’s comments:
I only got the Bento 4 review-copy yesterday, so I couldn’t do extensive testing, but I noticed one little important fix: “Check spelling while typing” now finally works as expected for the first time! I also noticed that when you quit Bento it says “saving database changes.” This seems to be another fix, because Bento 3 only completely updated the database file the next time you launched Bento. What would be nice is a “revert to saved” File Menu item, so you can undo extensive “playing around.”
Bento 4 was not able to set my location for some reason (all preferences were set correctly), so I couldn’t play with the new Location field. But I’m mostly using a desktop computer now, and the Location field makes more sense for laptops and iPhones/iPads anyway. It’s potentially a fun and very useful feature.
I’m scared of the new feature “include data with templates” on export. I still have to do extensive testing on that. The problem is Related Libraries. First I’ll test if they fixed the iCal and Address Book mess of the past (as I reported earlier), and I can’t imagine what exactly will happen if you include your iPhoto library as related data; we’ll see.

The label printing has been requested by many users and it’s a jewel. You can include up to five lines of text/fields and any image on your computer. Besides address labels, you can make any kind of label imaginable, like inventory tags, name tags, invitations, you name it. The feature is also fun to use and very intuitive.
I always liked the Simple List field, introduced in Bento 3. I’m using it a lot. And now it’s really useful, with all the different field options.

My bottom line: it’s not a sensational upgrade, but if you can put your anger aside that your own feature requests have not been granted (again), and you can find two or three of the new features really useful, you will take the (discounted) plunge. For new users, it’s always a good point in time to give Bento a whirl, especially since everyone has a free 30-day trial!

Nov

26

Bento Black-Friday Pricing!

Filed Under Bento News | 3 Comments 

Get Bento 3 for $34 at the U.S. Apple Store today only, $15 off!

Nov

3

Important Software Update – Bento 3.0.5

Filed Under Bento News | 2 Comments 

I recommend updating Bento to version 3.0.5 which has been released on November 1st.

Besides unspecified bug fixes, the update adds compatibility with the new iPhoto 11 and the new Mobile Me calendar. If you synch iCal with Mobile Me, you should read the release notes on the Filemaker website.
Otherwise, you can just update Bento from within the application.

New Addendum: the description of the Update on the Filemaker website suggests to download the update from the site and NOT from within the Bento application. I don’t know why, but I’ll try to find out.

Nov. 4: Filemaker assured me that the in-program update is a valid way; they still recommend to download the update from the website.

← Previous Page — Next Page →