Ode to FMI
FMI stands for FileMaker International, a software company, which is so successful that they completely ignore all the valid and good suggestions from the Developer community on the basis that we don’t know what we are talking about!
FMI, why don’t you listen to us
We’re not trying to make a fuss
We work with FM all day long
We’re not alone; we’re a throng
Working in the real world
With eyes open and unfurled.
We see what doesn’t work quite right
And bring it to your sight
But you don’t want to hear what we say
You just throw the notes away.
We have many good ideas for you
And we’ve thought them through
We spend all of our time
On the front line
What we ask is small indeed
But we do know what we need
And yet we are regarded as a quirk
Our thoughts as unnecessary work.
What is it you think we do
Do you think we hinder you
And your efforts? How absurd;
We are the ones that spread the word.
We don’t sit around and mope
Every day we push the envelope
Promoting FM to the world at large
And for our time we charge
But if, instead of acting remote,
You acted on what we promote
We’re pretty sure that sales would rise
Maybe to the skies.
What we suggest to you
Will make it easier for all to do;
Your engineers are great
But they don’t seem to relate
To the real world in which we reside.
They’d rather code and hide
Without thinking of situations
That affect companies and nations.
Because of these attitudes
You resort to platitudes
You say “It’s on the list”
But how come it’s not been fixed?
Not to be unkind
But tab orders are a bind
And have been for years.
We’ve shed countless tears
Re-ordering time and time again;
It’s an enormous pain!
How difficult would it be
For you to listen to our plea
And allow for a decimal point?
Would it put your nose out of joint
To make this little change
So that we can add fields and rearrange
Without tearing our hair out
Or wanting to scream and shout!
FM is now very, very cool
But it’s not really an amateurs tool.
Sure they can do amazing things with it
And can make complicated stuff fit
But they don’t have the skill or the time
To do the things that will make their business flow
That’s what we do; we help them grow!
So please, FMI, listen to our pleas
We’re not trying to tease
We want FM to be the best
So that we can torment the rest!
© Michael Rochard, July 25, 2007
“http://rochard.wordpress.com”
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