SuperContainer

A Better Container Field

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Current Version: 2.54 (7/3/2009): What's New?

Own a license? Download the current version.

Video: Installation

SuperContainer is extremely easy to set up and integrate into your FileMaker solution - watch this movie demonstrating how to set up SuperContainer in less than 2 minutes - 1:37.

Video: Uploading

Watch a movie showing how to upload files to FileMaker in a web browser - 1:08

Video: Speed comparison

Watch a movie showing the speed difference between SuperContainer and regular container fields - 1:23

Video: Optional plugin

For an example of what the SuperContainer Companion Plugin can do, watch this short movie showing how to migrate existing container fields into SuperContainer.

What is SuperContainer?

SuperContainer lets you do document management and digital asset management using the Web Viewer feature in FileMaker Pro 8.5, instead of container fields. You can upload, download, view, and resize images and documents using FileMaker Pro client software or with your web browser and Instant Web Publishing. It is the perfect solution for storing scanned images, digital photos, PDF documents, and any other document or file without the the problems associated with embedded or referenced container fields: slow speed, large files and cumbersome backups, cross-platform path issues, lack of browser uploads, and share drive IT issues.

Why use SuperContainer?

SuperContainer can do everything a regular container field can do and more. It automatically creates dynamically resized thumbnails from high resolution images which load much faster than regular containers; provides better folder organization for where to store the files; is cross-platform compatible; and stores the files in regular folders on your server instead of embedding them into your FileMaker database. It is also compatible with the Instant Web Publishing (IWP), and even allows you to do web uploads straight from your web browser into FileMaker. It is good for any solution that needs document and image storage in a FileMaker database, but it is particularly well-suited to document management and digital asset management with large images or many files with high disk space and file size requirements in a multi-user environment.

Who needs SuperContainer?

• Legal firms: Store all of your legal documents and Microsoft Office files, using the revision control feature to keep a copy of every version.
• Photography studios, creative agencies, and marketing departments: Finally achieve web-accessible, neatly organized storage for all of your clients and projects, with no size limitations. Let SuperContainer automatically generate web-optimized thumbnails from the hi-res files for web access, instead of creating thumbnail versions yourself.
• Printing companies and web developers: Use the web upload feature of SuperContainer to let your clients upload files to your site.
• GIS, cartographers, architects, and scientific researchers: Store terabytes of digital images, maps, floorplans, and data samples without bogging down FileMaker.
• Anyone that needs to store large documents and images in a multi-user environment.

How does SuperContainer work?

SuperContainer is a Java servlet which allows you to upload, view, and download images and files from a web server. By using the Web Viewer layout object in FileMaker, it can be embedded directly into your FileMaker layouts and the Web Publishing Engine (WPE), giving the appearence and behavior of a container field. Installation couldn't be easier - just download and double-click, and your SuperContainer server is running.

Is it a plugin?

SuperContainer is an application that you run on the server, not a plugin. You do not need to install plugins on your users computers to use SuperContainer; it uses the Web Viewer feature built into FileMaker 8.5. However, we do include an optional plugin to allow you to access the contents of SuperContainer data in your calculations and scripts. For an example of what the plugin can do, watch this short movie showing how to migrate existing container fields into SuperContainer - 1:28.

SuperContainer was demonstrated at the keynote speech and on the show floor of the 2006 Developer Conference, and also by Richard Carlton Consulting at DevCon 2008. Version 2 has been overhauled to add many new features, an optional administrative plugin, and an extremely simple installation and configuration process - double click and you're running!

What does the FileMaker community think of SuperContainer?

Richard Carlton, CEO of RC consulting Inc., states that "Super Container is an absolute mission critical tool for just about every FileMaker project my company completes for a client. Deploying document management capabilities within a FileMaker database is difficult to implement and generally results in the users refusing to use the database because it is slow. Painfully slow. SuperContainer solves these problems, and now I have happy customers."

Geoff Coffey at Six Fried Rice had this to say: "It is really slick. It is fast, easy, and you get total control over where your images are stored. I love it."

Paul Dacanay from Productive Computing told us that "I really appreciate the level of customer service you've offered on your products. Your Supercontainer and Plastic plug-ins work great, and they're easy to configure/deploy. We always strive to go the 'extra mile' for our clients, so it's really refreshing to be on the receiving end of sterling customer service."

This case study shows how Pool Pro Office, Inc. solved their backup problems and realized speed gains of 500% with SuperContainer

John Sindelar of SeedCode said in his newsletter article about managing files associated with records in FileMaker, "The best answer to all this is a third party product called SuperContainer which will store your assets on a server of your choice, but present them in FileMaker as if they were IN your FileMaker database. This is something I can heartily recommend. And the guys at 360Works who make SuperContainer are great with their support."

"I downloaded the [SuperContainer] demo yesterday and it's fantastic. Should have looked at it sooner." —Anne Adams, Wellspring Data

"SuperContainer is an excellent solution for allowing our clients to centrally locate their externally stored files, while retaining the ability to share their solution over the internet. We have had nothing but great experiences with 360Works' support of their product as well." —John May, Point In Space

"My suggestion is that you investigate SuperContainer by 360Works... it is quite a compelling solution for making images available to FMP clients as well as web users without worrying about bloating your file size or cross-platform paths or having your images locked away in container fields." —Corn Walker, Proof Group

"THANK YOU! This works. It is also noticeably faster when loading the images. Our design department will be VERY happy." —Jerremy Jones, Creatacor Exhibits and Displays, Inc.

"My client and I love SuperContainer. No problems, simple, works as advertised." —Scott Koontz

"SuperContainer has been awesome! Thanks for a great product!" —Steven Rubenstein

"I have to say I'm really impressed with the speed and flexibility of SuperContainer." —Brian Bevel, Lindbergh School District

"I have no programming experience and was surprised/impressed how easy it was to implement SuperContainer" —Mike Williams, Eco3 Inc.

"I was expecting to have to do a lot to integrate it with the client's solution—from a past history with other third party products—but the SuperContainer portion of the setup only took a few minutes. My client is very happy with the result, and so am I. SuperContainer just works." —Paul Spafford, Spafford Data Solutions

Requirements: Works on Mac (intel, ppc) and Windows.
FileMaker Server not required.