FileMaker Pro 8.5 now available in Arabic

This release will be distributed in Middle Eastern and North African markets where the support of complex scripts like Arabic and Hebrew is essential.

WinSoft is committed to helping software publishers successfully introduce or expand their business in the Middle East offering them an end-to-end solution from software engineering and localization, to production and sales, right through to in-country marketing and distribution.

Localisation toward Middle Eastern users is an absolute necessity. The Middle East is the fastest growing market in the world and the business opportunities are obvious. WinSoft believes that this positive trend will continue to persevere; hence WinSoft commitment to this part of the world in terms of sales and marketing support is increasing. However there is also a fierce competition. Thorough localization by itself is a winning differentiator, especially in highly competitive marketplace characterized by high levels of intangibility, in terms of finished products such as our market.

Therefore WinSoft key objective is to develop or create software that support Arabic language specific requirements. As an example, WinSoft, just launched the first version of FileMaker for Arabic users. The coming months will also see the release of Adobe Creative Suite Middle-East version as well as our in house software Tasmeem. Tasmeem is an exclusive Arabic publishing system that makes InDesign Middle Eastern edition the most comprehensive Arabic typesetting and design tool in the industry.

FileMaker Pro 8.5 for Arabic and Hebrew is the latest localization made possible through a partnership between FileMaker, Inc. and WinSoft. The two companies also offer FileMaker Pro 8.5 for Central and Eastern European countries.

"We are very excited to offer FileMaker Pro to Arabic and Hebrew users who have been waiting for several years for an easy-to-use desktop database that supports their own language," said Kamel H. Gaddas, WinSoft co-founder and Engineering Vice President.

Key Benefits for Middle Eastern users include:

Arabic and Hebrew data entry, display and printing — Users can enter and display text in Arabic and Hebrew languages.

Search/Find-Sort — FileMaker Pro comes with extra languages for the sorting and search/find attributes, that allow users to sort, search and find Middle Eastern text according to Arabic and Hebrew grammatical rules.

Localized templates — FileMaker Pro provides extra sets of templates localized in Arabic and Hebrew. In addition to the English or French templates, all templates from Home & Education categories (20 templates for each language) are also available in Arabic and Hebrew.

Mirror Layout — FileMaker Pro proposes a specific feature that allows users to switch in one click, the English Layout geometry (Left To Right oriented) to an Arabic or Hebrew one (Right To Left).

New features introduced in FileMaker Pro 8.5 (Extended English and Extended French versions) include:

FileMaker Web Viewer Control — This new layout object allows users to easily connect databases with the critical, up-to-date Web data. Users can view virtually any type of content in the Web Viewer that can be viewed in a Web.

Universal Application - FileMaker Pro 8.5 is a Universal application, with native support for next generation Intel-based Macs delivering from up to 91% faster performance for FileMaker Pro 8.5 compared to running on Mac Power.

New Object Functions and Scripts — Developers will be more productive in creating intuitive solutions with new functions, such as Layout Object Names, Go to Object script steps, Layout Object calculations, Set Web Viewer script step and List function.

Availability and System Requirements

FileMaker Pro 8.5 and FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced in Extended English and Extended French are immediately available through WinSoft channel for FileMaker products: http://www.winsoft.eu/howtobuy-filemaker.php.

FileMaker Pro 8.5 has the following system requirements: On Macintosh computers: PowerPC G3, G4, G5 processor or Intel processor; 256MB of RAM; CD or DVD drive and hard disk drive; Mac OS X 10.3.9 for PowerPC-based Macs or Mac OS X 10.4.5 for Intel-based Macs. On Windows: Pentium III 500MHz or higher; 256MB of RAM; CD or DVD drive and hard disk drive; SVGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution video adapter and display; Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP (Service Pack 2).

WinSoft will be exhibiting at GITEX - Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai, U.A.E. 8th - 12th September