Work related question today. Since I am talking about "vintage" software for Macs, I felt it only reasonable to post my query on TinkerDifferent! 
Many years ago, my employer paid a web programmer to build a mySQL database for us, such that we could put our car security related vehicle wiring data into a password protected section of our company website, for installers to access. That became a hassle because we really needed a solution where non-programmers in our company could easily modify database fields (add new ones, delete old ones, etc.), change entire page layouts, add new layouts, add new records, etc. For that reason, we ditched the custom mySQL solution for FileMaker Pro 12 Advanced, which has an insanely great feature called IWP (Instant Web Publishing). We still use it today and pay US$169.50 each for 2 databases ($339 total per year) to be hosted at MacUSA -- the lowest cost FileMaker database host provider out there (to my knowledge). Sadly, Claris killed off IWP some years back and replaced it with a horribly expensive alternative. The replacement is modern and works with recent web security protocols, but again, it's insanely priced. The cheapest plan I can find online would cost over US$1,000 annually, which is not feasible for our company. The reason is because we provide the wiring data free to our installers. We don't get paid for database access.
The problem we have now is that modern web browsers no longer support the security protocols that FileMaker IWP uses. So what we have been doing is tell our distributors and dealers in Japan to keep using an older computer so they can run and older version browser that will allow them access. This is bad for numerous reasons. And yet, we cannot afford a much more expensive alternative.
All said, I am curious if any of you with web database experience (especially FileMaker experience) might know of a suitable replacement for IWP that wouldn't cost us much more than the US$339 we pay now per year, allowing our company non-programmers to continue doing what they do now: add fields, delete fields, add/delete records, etc. (End users don't edit the database at all. They just search through and browse existing records.) Of course, that new solution needs to support modern web security protocols. Database accesses are very low at only about 20 per week. The number of records is under 900, currently, and growing slowly. The database contains both text and graphics. You can see an example record in PDF form here.
It's possible that none of you have any idea, but one thing I've found in life is that if I don't ask, I don't receive! It never hurts to ask.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Thank you!
Many years ago, my employer paid a web programmer to build a mySQL database for us, such that we could put our car security related vehicle wiring data into a password protected section of our company website, for installers to access. That became a hassle because we really needed a solution where non-programmers in our company could easily modify database fields (add new ones, delete old ones, etc.), change entire page layouts, add new layouts, add new records, etc. For that reason, we ditched the custom mySQL solution for FileMaker Pro 12 Advanced, which has an insanely great feature called IWP (Instant Web Publishing). We still use it today and pay US$169.50 each for 2 databases ($339 total per year) to be hosted at MacUSA -- the lowest cost FileMaker database host provider out there (to my knowledge). Sadly, Claris killed off IWP some years back and replaced it with a horribly expensive alternative. The replacement is modern and works with recent web security protocols, but again, it's insanely priced. The cheapest plan I can find online would cost over US$1,000 annually, which is not feasible for our company. The reason is because we provide the wiring data free to our installers. We don't get paid for database access.
The problem we have now is that modern web browsers no longer support the security protocols that FileMaker IWP uses. So what we have been doing is tell our distributors and dealers in Japan to keep using an older computer so they can run and older version browser that will allow them access. This is bad for numerous reasons. And yet, we cannot afford a much more expensive alternative.
All said, I am curious if any of you with web database experience (especially FileMaker experience) might know of a suitable replacement for IWP that wouldn't cost us much more than the US$339 we pay now per year, allowing our company non-programmers to continue doing what they do now: add fields, delete fields, add/delete records, etc. (End users don't edit the database at all. They just search through and browse existing records.) Of course, that new solution needs to support modern web security protocols. Database accesses are very low at only about 20 per week. The number of records is under 900, currently, and growing slowly. The database contains both text and graphics. You can see an example record in PDF form here.
It's possible that none of you have any idea, but one thing I've found in life is that if I don't ask, I don't receive! It never hurts to ask.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Thank you!
