New FileMaker Pro 3.0 for Windows Set to Run on Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and Windows NT; Claris' easy-to-use relational database will ship three Windows versions — Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and Windows NT in one software box in June

Business Wire, April 23, 1996

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 23, 1996--Claris Corporation announced its plans to ship a new version of its acclaimed 32-bit relational database, FileMaker Pro 3.0 for Windows, that will soon run on Windows 3.1 16-bit operating systems.

FileMaker Pro 3.0 currently runs on Windows 95, Windows NT and Macintosh systems. Targeted at providing easy relational database solutions for all Windows users, particularly those users who have not migrated to Windows 95, the new FileMaker Pro 3.0 for Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and Windows NT will include all three Windows platform versions within a single software box.

Completely compatible with all previous Windows 95, Windows NT and Macintosh versions, the new version allows FileMaker Pro 3.0 Windows 3.1 users to seamlessly share their databases between Macintoshes and PCs and on mixed Macintosh and PC networks. No other end user database currently runs on Windows 3.1, Window 95 and Windows NT.

In addition, the company announced that it plans to ship FileMaker Pro 3.0 Solutions Distribution Kit, the runtime database engine version of FileMaker Pro 3.0, that will also run on all three Windows operating systems. The new version will provide users with a license to distribute the runtime engine of FileMaker Pro royalty free. Both products are currently scheduled to ship in June 1996.

No change in pricing is expected for FileMaker Pro 3.0 for Windows, which carries an estimated retail price of $199. The FileMaker Pro Solutions Distribution Kit is currently priced at $999 and will be sold directly from Claris Corp. to both end users and developers. Claris will also offer upgrade programs for both products upon shipment.

FileMaker Pro 3.0: The database for the majority of Windows users

"We have listened closely to our customers in the Windows user community, especially those within large corporations, small business, and even home settings in providing a version of FileMaker Pro that can be used within many Windows environments," said Claris President Guerrino DeLuca. "Now more Windows users can experience the relational power and simplicity offered by FileMaker Pro 3.0."

Alone among other end-user relational databases in its support of all Windows users, FileMaker Pro provides the power to join database files and hundreds of other valuable capabilities, including the ability to automatically convert foreign files (DBF, WKS and others) directly into FileMaker Pro files, greater scripting capabilities, OLE 2.0 support, automatic phone dialing, improved word processing capabilities and much more.

Industry Experts and Customers Herald Windows 3.1 Support Within FileMaker Pro 3.0

"The transition from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 has not been a seamless one especially for the Enterprise market," said Mary Conti-Loffredo, manager, PC Software Service International Data Corporation (IDC). "Corporations have been slow in moving to Windows 95, and, at IDC, our numbers show there is a significant installed base of Windows 3.1 customers going forward for the next one to one-and-a-half years. By releasing a Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 version of FileMaker Pro 3.0, Claris is showing its awareness that corporate customers need platform flexibility in order to maintain the most current, sophisticated software releases."

Time Magazine's Technology Manger Andrew Dyer said, "We use both Windows 3.1 and Macintosh at our magazine, but we're not ready to upgrade our Windows users to Windows 95 or Windows NT. Now that FileMaker Pro 3.0 is available for Windows 3.1, we can move forward and upgrade the server to FileMaker Pro 3.0 so everyone can take advantage of FileMaker's new relational features. Claris truly supports our ability to be cross-platform and gives us flexibility to choose which Windows environment works best for us."

"FileMaker Pro is one of the most crucial software applications for our operations," said Sharon Mathews, marketing operations director, Helena Laboratories, a manufacturer of medical products in Beaumont, Texas. "Our FileMaker Pro database holds more than 35,000 contacts that represent 8,000 medical institutions.

"With FileMaker Pro 3.0's Windows 3.1 compatibility, we will be able to easily transition our 600 employees to a more sophisticated program with relational capabilities within the familiar 3.1 environment with minimal cost and training. And, if we decide to move to Windows 95, the cross-platform capabilities of FileMaker Pro will allow us to transition smoothly and at our own pace."

FileMaker Pro 3.0 for Macintosh, Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and Windows NT: Hundreds of Powerful New Features and Capabilities

The internationally acclaimed FileMaker Pro 3.0 for Windows and Macintosh, which first shipped from Claris in January 1996, provides users with an easy approach to joining and relating data between different files together with hundreds of new features:

New Within FileMaker Pro 3.0 for Windows 3.1

o New features: FileMaker Pro will support Win32s, providing 32-bit relational database computing on 16-bit Windows 3.1 operating systems. The Windows 3.1 version of FileMaker Pro 3.0 will allow users to run FileMaker Pro on Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups.