Thoughts on Design, FileMaker, DevCon, Pause on Error, ROI (Return on Investment), and anything else related to what The Alchemy Group does on a daily basis. We care, so we share whatever we can with you. We are a full-featured FileMaker Pro development shop, with years of experience building systems for businesses, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations exactly like yours. Your unique processes will be exactly mirrored by the custom software we write for you, whether it’s for mobile or desktop.
Cloudy with Clarity
Turning Point Every company reaches one or more turning points as it strives for success. For example, in 1996 Steve Jobs returned to Apple and revolutionized the company and its product line — again. Apple went on to introduce the iPod, iMac, iPhone, and iPad –...
FileMaker 18: Workplace Innovation Platform
FileMaker 18 continues to dominate as the best Workplace Innovation Platform. Unparalleled power. Great interface tools and reporting capability. Native iOS app creation. This is our platform of choice! https://www.filemaker.com/products/whats-new.html
New on ShockeyUX: Grids
A new post on ShockeyUX.com, in which Bob Shockey outlines the nuts & bolts of designing in FileMaker with a grid! https://shockeyux.com/traffic-control-designing-with-a-grid/
A Clever Article on the Squint Test
This is one of those articles that not only introduces a good beginning design technique, but subtly introduces the concepts of data hierarchy and keeping close to the original problem being solved – all wrapped up in a very accessible stream of consciousness. Nice!...
Self-Critique and Internal Software Testing
Years ago, I attended a well-known SoCal art college. I had decided to pursue my love of painting and drawing, and see where it might take me. I had been given high praise by friends and family for the sketches I had done, and I was convinced that I was a skilled...
Why Use FileMaker To Build Your Custom Built Software
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: off-the-shelf software cannot fit the needs of unique businesses. Instead, businesses need a custom solution that functions in specific ways tailored to their operations. However, amongst all the growth and chaos associated...
How to Choose the Best Software Consulting Group
Many businesses are as unique as any two fingerprints, and the reality is, off-the-shelf software will not likely fit their needs. These type of businesses need solutions for how they get things accomplished — how they track their work, manage their inventory, pay...
Time Flies When You’re Having Fun: 20 years and counting!
When I started Alchemy Consulting Group, I had no idea how long it would last, or how rewarding solving business problems with custom software could be. Twenty years later, we are still going strong.
Join or Die – The New Age of Custom Business Software
Norman Vincent Peale said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” This is something every business owner knows, because being able to change and adapt is a necessary survival skill for any business —and it begins in the CEO’s mind. Back when Prince was...
Name Your Style
Themes and styles are several years old now, and are baked pretty thoroughly into FileMaker's Workplace Innovation Platform. They are extremely useful, allowing FileMaker developers to attain greater consistency, and also to create much more lightweight solutions that...