Bento (database)

Bento was only compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 or later due to its reliance on features not available in previous versions of the operating system. Certain actions, such as switching templates, used Core Animation to animate the transition. It also included integration with Time Machine for backing up and required iCal 3.0 (later renamed Calendar) for live data editing.{{cite web|url=http://www.bentotrial.com/preview/learn-more.aspx|title=Meet Bento – FileMaker Inc.|publisher=FileMaker Inc.|access-date=2007-11-14|archive-date=2012-04-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415043825/http://www.bentotrial.com/preview/learn-more.aspx|url-status=dead}}

A public preview was made available alongside the initial product announcement on November 13, 2007,{{cite web|date=November 13, 2007|title=First Look: FileMaker's Bento database for Leopard|url=http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/11/13/bento.database.for.leopard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114165515/http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/11/13/bento.database.for.leopard/|archive-date=November 14, 2007|publisher=MacNN}} with the first final version released on January 8, 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/131457/2008/01/bento.html|title=FileMaker ships Bento personal database|work=Macworld|publisher=Macworld|first=Jim|last=Dalrymple|date=January 8, 2008|access-date=January 9, 2008}}

A Bento template was a pre-made library with all the forms necessary to catalog items within a certain context. With the release of Bento 2 on October 14, 2008, Bento users could import, export and share their templates. On June 16, 2009, FileMaker launched its own template-sharing site{{cite web|url=http://www.filemaker.com/company/newsroom/releases/bento_template_exchange_showcases_real_world_uses_and_downloadable_templates.html|title=Meet Bento Bento Template Exchange Showcases Real-World Uses and Downloadable Templates|publisher=FileMaker Inc.|date=June 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806071008/http://www.filemaker.com/company/newsroom/releases/bento_template_exchange_showcases_real_world_uses_and_downloadable_templates.html|archive-date=August 6, 2009|url-status=dead}} where users could download a variety of templates as well as share their own.

On October 14, 2008, FileMaker released Bento 2.0 with bug fixes and new features, including integration with Apple's Mail. The new version did not offer upgrade pricing and cost the same as version 1. Many customers expressed their disappointment at the official Bento user forums,{{cite web|url=http://forums.filemaker.com/fmbnto/board/message?board.id=contsugother&thread.id=1425|title=Bento User Forums|access-date=February 15, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} where FileMaker responded that they were using the "same pricing model" as other companies' products such as Apple's iWork and iLife suites.

Additionally, on November 25, FileMaker provided an official statement{{cite web|url=http://forums.filemaker.com/fmbnto/board/message?board.id=contsugother&thread.id=1425|title=Official response to upgrade pricing and Bento 1 update questions - Bento User Forums|access-date=February 15, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=June 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} indicating that they would discontinue revisions and bug fixes for the version 1 product.

Given interest in a revision, this was neither a quick, nor an easy decision to come to.

Bento 1 received extensive beta testing, but like every software product, issues were discovered after shipment. We followed up with Bento 1.0.2 to address critical issues that had been discovered.

In addressing product issues discovered after 1.0.2 for the 2.0 release, we reworked the product in significant, and sometimes, architectural ways. Simply put, this means that there is no way to easily migrate the fixes in 2.0 backwards to 1.0. We would have to reengineer 1.0 until it effectively became 2.0. Doing so would have strongly delayed the 2.0.3 version of Bento, which we will be releasing as a free update for Bento 2.0.1/2.0.2 this week, and continued development of the Bento product line.

As of May 20, 2012, the price for Bento 4 was $49 for a single license, or $99 for a "Family Pack" of five licenses.{{cite web|url=http://store.filemaker.com/US/ENG/RTL/product/view/group/BN4 |publisher=Filemaker|title=Bento pricing|date=May 20, 2012|access-date=May 20, 2012}}

FileMaker announced on July 31, 2013, that it would completely discontinue the Bento product line on September 30, 2013, with technical support for Bento products finally ending on July 30, 2014.

• FileMaker Pro (formerly Claris FileMaker)

• Alpha Five
• Dabitat
• Borland Paradox
• DataEase
• dBase
• Foxpro (later acquired by Microsoft)
• Helix Rade
• Kexi
• Tap Forms
• Lotus Approach
• Microsoft Access
• NeoOffice
• Omnis Studio
• OpenOffice.org Base
• SQLite
• Sun StarBase
• Sybase PowerBuilder

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.bentousers.com Bento Users] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728092910/http://www.bentousers.com/ |date=2015-07-28 }} – unofficial Bento users' site

{{Apple software}}

{{Apple}}

Category:Proprietary database management systems

Category:IOS software

Category:MacOS database-related software