Welcome to our community, full of great ideas on developing your FileMaker solutions effectively,
for peer-to-peer support of the FileMaker Platform and related products and services.
FileMaker offers many different options for charting, but if you need a chart that is not available in FileMaker, you should consider using Google Charts. Google Charts is a free Javascript framework that can be used in conjunction with web viewers in FileMaker to extend your charting capabilities: https://dbservices.com/articles/google-charts-in-filemaker/
dbservices.com
The FileMaker Script Debugger is powerful. Its features are often overlooked. In this post we examine the buttons that control stepping through a script.
The post Like a Boss: Using the Script Debugger to its Full Potential appeared first on Geist Interactive.
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Michael Layne from Gearbox Solutions presents on FileMaker’s new JSON functions. He does a deep dive into FileMaker’s new JSON functions and demos several examples of how they are using JSON for passing parameters, populating form data, validation and rollback, managing session info such as value lists as global. Michael also demos REST client and REST server with new data API.
The post FileMaker JSON, REST, and the Data API appeared first on Blue Feather - FileMaker Developer, Android, We
[ Edit: 3/16/2016 - With the help of some other people, we have been able to recover, or recreate some of the original images from original thread. ]
Security is always a big topic when it involves data, or people, or possessions. Recently, over on the FileMaker Community, there was a very beneficial discussion regarding security. Unfortunately, that discussion was the victim of a necessary action...and was deleted. It was deleted, because the discussion was tied to a video that, as was det
Hacking Your Own FileMaker Platform Solutions
Should FileMaker Platform developers mount hacking attacks on their own solutions? At first glance, this may seem an odd question. But I believe that the answer is “Yes, we should.”
Consider this. As developers we see our solutions from a totally different perspective than Threat Agents see them. Without practicing our own hacking skills, we can become blind to the vulnerabilities a Threat Agent can exploit to compromise the Confidentiality
Longtime FileMaker developers have often used the database itself to store values for various user interface settings. This is valid, because, where else would you store them? A common approach is individual fields. However, there are a few problems with this.
First, it adds "noise" to your data structure, making it harder to distinguish between actual data fields and those used for other purposes. For example, you might ask, "Is this an actual data field or is it used for something else?"
Sec
Vessel Service Solutions (VSS) is a custom-built mobile solution created specifically for TowBoatU.S. operators and marine towing companies. It simplifies dispatching, boat maintenance, fuel logs, invoicing, and payroll. Everything runs from a centralized, cloud-based system and connects with iPads used in the field.
VSS replaces manual BoatU.S. paperwork with a digital workflow and pulls dispatches directly from the BoatU.S. system. This means faster, more accurate tracking of your towing a
Upgrade your FileMaker solution with a Twilio integration to send out text messages directly from FileMaker! Twilio can be used to send out messages for anything your business needs: order confirmation, shipping notifications, and more. Includes video and demo file. Claris FileMaker Twilio Integration for MMS
dbservices.com
FileMaker developers who use editors like VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, BBEdit, or even VIM are very familiar with the modern conveniences expected from a code editor: linters, code completion, formatting, syntax highlighting, and more. In FileMaker, however, we've been stuck in the 90s for quite a while.
One of my favorite tools is Typinator, which offers extensive text manipulation capabilities. Recently, a new tool for Mac developers was released that addresses the lack of a full-fledged editor. F
To ensure your business runs smoothly, it’s vital to keep your software up to date. From bug fixes to security concerns, there’s a host of reasons to keep your applications recent. On Thursday, May 29th, join Rick Kalman and Rosemary Tietge as they take a deep dive into how, why, and when to update your […]
The post Upcoming Community Live: Hidden Dangers of Running Outdated Claris FileMaker appeared first on Proof+Geist.
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This article documents behavior in the current shipping version of the product, i.e., FM 21 (a.k.a. FM 2024). Demo file: transaction_test.zip (requires FM 21 or later) This is a follow-up to last month’s article on Modal Transactional Card Windows to address a very specific question. Given that transactions are scoped to a window, does a… Continue reading Closing Windows During TransactionsView the full article
When it comes to doing the same thing over and over again, you really can't beat a loop. It's the wet side of DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself), where the "Don't" turns into a very big "Please, yes, DO."
The trick with loops, especially when you're processing a lot of data like JSON, is that you often have to manage multiple iterators, counts, and all the little bits and pieces needed for a successful outcome.
One of the wonderful things about many other languages, like Python, PHP, JavaScript, and
Testing is a crucial part of building reliable FileMaker solutions, whether you're a freelancer or a citizen developer. This guide explores smart testing strategies, from applying the "Zero, One, Many" rule to leveraging FileMaker’s Script Debugger for efficient troubleshooting. Learn how to think like a user, anticipate errors, and implement best practices that will make your applications more robust, user-friendly, and scalable. Includes demo file and video. Testing Your Work in Claris FileMak
Breaking down complex logic into manageable chunks of code is the smartest thing you can do when it comes to conditional formatting. Especially when it needs to account for an increasingly wider number of conditions.
This week's video deals with what seems like a simple solution to solve, yet it comes with all kinds of complex little pieces to make the solution provide the end result desired.
If you enjoy the type of video which is a bit of a solution walk-thru, where I discuss how things are
A big thanks to Richard Carlton for hosting multiple members of the Proof+Geist team on his FMTV podcast during Claris Engage 2025. Check out the conversations and the short demos surrounding multiple free-to-try or fully free tools for FileMaker development. FMLayoutLens and FMPerception with Dave Ramsey In this conversation, Dave Ramsey discusses FMLayoutLens and FMPerception. […]
The post Proof+Geist Talks with Richard Carlton appeared first on Proof+Geist.
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Every solution starts out like an infant. It knows very little and works hard to manage your solution's data as it becomes a productive citizen of your digital society. As it grows, your solution will need to offer a variety of options. User A prefers things one way, while User B another.
Your job, as the developer, is to accommodate those whims and preferences, or settings as we’ll call them, in the most efficient way possible. As is somewhat typical, you may be halfway through development whe
Using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini can significantly streamline your development process and enhance problem-solving capabilities. But to effectively leverage AI, it’s important to understand foundational AI terminology.
This blog introduces you to the essential terminology you’ll need to make sense of how AI works and how it can improve your FileMaker development efforts.
AI terms you should know
Machine Learning (ML): A subset of AI that
Demo file: transactional-card-window.zip (requires FM 20 or newer) Resources Card windows — Windowing in FM 16: First Impressions Transactions — A Practical Guide to Transactions in FileMaker (ClickWorks) Introduction Recently a colleague and I were discussing ways one might go about having a card window be both modal and transactional. By default card windows are… Continue reading Modal Transactional Card WindowView the full article
I arrived in Austin excited to see some familiar faces and show off all the cool stuff we’ve been working on at Proof+Geist. I left Claris Engage feeling grateful for the people, the conversations, and the chance to be part of something that keeps evolving. Winning as a team Claris recognized Proof+Geist with an Excellence […]
The post Claris Engage 2025: Energy, innovation, and community appeared first on Proof+Geist.
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One of the greatest joys of working in technology is that you never really have to stop learning - although you certainly can. Everything also moves so fast that it often feels like you can’t keep up. The great thing about FileMaker is that you're not stuck in the '80s or '90s when the software first started - you get to explore as widely as you like. FileMaker can literally reach into almost all aspects of technology.
You can learn about relational structure, SQL, REST, web APIs, and whatever
Even to this day, after providing FileMaker-related technical education for many years, I still see solutions with less-than-optimal structure and storage. When it comes to graphics, “all things add up.” The cumulative cost of data or technical debt often comes back to bite you when you’re trying to refactor an old solution to meet modern standards.
This video showcases what I know about storing and using graphics within your FileMaker layouts. If you’re unaware of how large images impact perfo
Expedite your FileMaker finds with saved searches. This article showcases a dynamic search builder that allows a user to construct Find Mode queries and save them for later use. Follow along with the free demo file and video. Dynamic Saved Searching in Claris FileMaker >>
dbservices.com
FileMaker Pro Audit Trail “Revisited”
By Doug West
Nearly ten years have passed since our Easy-Bake Audit Trail made its Internet debut! The same principles are still going strong, and now we’ve refined the approach based on user feedback.
The steps to implement this revised technique in your solution are as easy as:
Copy the one custom function from this demo file and paste it into each file of your app.
Copy the _audit field and paste it into each table of your app.
(Optional) Add exclu
Proof+Geist is once again proud to receive the Claris Innovation Excellence Award (2024) for OttoFMS. Claris FileMaker developers deserve world-class DevOps tools. OttoFMS brings seamless integrations, powerful automations, customizable interfaces, and effortless deployments to the FileMaker community. Our team needed a tool we could rely on, so we built one to share. We were honored […]
The post Breaking News: Proof+Geist Wins Claris Innovation Excellence Award (2024) for OttoFMS. appeared fi
When tackling the task of updating a UI/UX look and feel, it can quickly become overwhelming — especially if you have hundreds of layouts and countless individual styles, some in use and others deprecated.
While designing a new solution from scratch allows you to take advantage of modern best practices, many existing solutions have simply relied on the Default style and applied it across numerous layouts.
The goal of this video is to demonstrate how you can achieve an updated look without disr
After the joy of seeing so many friends and colleagues last year, we are excited to be premier sponsors again for this year’s Claris Engage 2025. Come just us from March 25-27th on the Apple Campus in Austin, Texas. Where Can You Find Us? We’ll have one booth on the main expo floor— it will […]
The post Claris Engage 2025 is just around the corner! appeared first on Proof+Geist.
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Introduction If you work with large JSON structures in FileMaker, you may be aware that the current shipping version of the product (FileMaker Pro 21, a.k.a. FileMaker Pro 2024) has a single-element JSON cache, which is reset whenever JSONSetElement or JSONGetElement is called, and that you can boost performance by taking this into account. Six… Continue reading JSON Optimization in FM 21View the full article
Are you a FileMaker developer looking to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into your workflows? Productive Computing University‘s AI Essentials for FileMaker Developers course is designed to give you a solid foundation in applying artificial intelligence (AI) within your FileMaker solutions.
Why use AI?
AI is changing the way developers build solutions, automate processes, and improve workflows. As a FileMaker developer, understanding how to incorporate AI into your projects can enh
