A special page has been set up for MacTech readers on the omnis.net web site. You need to download two items from this page: the OmnisStudio33.hqx file (which is Omnis Studio version 3.3) and the OmnisStudio333patch.hqx file (which is a patch to the first file required by an issue with the OpenBase DAM). Follow normal operating procedures for unpacking and installing these files. There should be no surprises.
While on this page, you must also click the link and fill out a registration form for a special evaluation serial number to help you follow along with this series of articles. (Both download and registration form links are provided on this page as well.) As part of this process, you will need to provide a special magazine code that was supposed to be found associated with the article in the March 2005 issue of MacTech. This is to prove you are a reader of that issue. (They don't offer these special deals to just anyone!) Unfortunately, the editors sort of dropped the ball on this and no introduction or sidebar was provided (probably because my article was too long already!). So here is the code you need:
Unlike their normal Standard Edition evaluation copy, you will be able to get a Web Edition (top of the line) evaluation copy through these links (and by providing the magazine code). This is due to the enterprise-level examples we will be exploring in this series of articles in MacTech, which requires the more advanced technologies in their Enterprise and Web Editions. The evaluation product you receive is version 3.3.3, but notice that this MacTech Readers web page also contains a generous, but time-limited offer on the currently shipping 4.0.2 version. Such an offer has not been given before, to my knowledge, and may only be given again if the company sees that aligning itself with a magazine in this way is beneficial - and there is no guarantee of that...
(My advice: get it while you can at this price! It's far more powerful and sophisticated than Filemaker Developer 7, for example, and easier to use once you've learned it. It runs on more platforms - including Linux and Solaris. And you can use your development serial number once on each platform!! ...And it makes 4D look like 2D ...But that's just my take on it. You have until the end of June 2005 to see whether you agree with me. ...And no, I don't get a commission. I'm trying to prove to them they have to get the word out more about their fantastic product!!)
Once you have registered, you license string should arrive by email in a few hours. When you launch an unlicensed copy of Omnis Studio, you will be prompted for a serial number. (You can use the software without that number, but only in a very restricted way.) Now we just have to get this copy of Omnis Studio ready to work with OpenBase and FrontBase.