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Author’s note: Inevitable comparisons will be drawn between the new While function and the venerable CustomList custom function, which I wrote about at length several years ago. Preliminary testing indicates that CustomList is faster under certain circumstances and While is faster under others. In my opinion, both of them belong in your developer tool kit. […]
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Hierarchical JSON Viewer / Editor
By Andy Persons & Doug West
One of the standout new features of FileMaker Pro 16 is native support for the JSON data-interchange format. In addition to providing easy integration with a host of online services, it also provides developers with the tools to create robust hierarchical structures for use entirely within FileMaker. This hierarchical JSON viewer / editor file provides some tools for visualizing, manipulating, and leveraging JSON text.
Features
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
WidgetStudio makes it easy to use, design and share powerful interface widgets, like calendars, gauges, charts, and timers. Pick from the constantly growing set of included widgets or build your own. Freely share them with your customers or friends.
The post Announcing WidgetStudio – FileMaker WebViewer Widgets appeared first on Geist Interactive.
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GoDraw3 is a FileMaker drawing tool for users. For FileMaker developers, however, it is full of customization. A developer can do with it what she wants.
The post GoDraw3: Hack the Heck Out of It appeared first on Geist Interactive.
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Learning the fundamentals of Claris FileMaker is an important first step, but many developers eventually reach a point where they’re ready to build more capable and robust business applications. That’s often when new questions begin to surface.
How do you connect FileMaker with external services? How do you automate common business processes? What’s the best way to organize a growing solution and keep it maintainable over time?
Developing these skills requires more than learning new feat
The Plain-English Guide to Technical SEO
The term “SEO” gets tossed around a lot. Maybe a vendor has pitched it to you. Maybe a competitor mentioned they were “doing SEO.” Maybe your nephew told you at Thanksgiving that your website “needs better SEO.” Everyone agrees you need SEO but few can actually eXplain what it is, especially the technical SEO, or behind-the-scenes work that helps search engines understand your website.
Let’s fix that.
SEO 101 (In Case you Need a Refresher)
SEO stan
In the video for this article I take a deep dive into FileMaker 26's new field and table metadata features, and the big picture is: Claris is prepping your databases for AI agents. I show how you can pack your field comments with structured JSON—things like enumerations ("colors must be one of: blue, orange, red")—and pull that out via the Get Table DDL function so AI tools have enough schema context to generate scripts or build equivalent tables in other databases. It builds on functionality th
What FileMaker Developers and Business Owners Need to Know
If your FileMaker solution integrates with QuickBooks Desktop, now is a good time to understand how Intuit’s evolving product lineup could affect your business.
For users of QuickBooks Desktop Pro and Premier, support will eventually come to an end. While QuickBooks Enterprise remains available for businesses that want to continue using a desktop solution, many organizations are evaluating QuickBooks Online as their next step.
HubSpot helps you convert leads and close customers, but running it alongside FileMaker often means entering the same data twice. Learn how to integrate FileMaker with HubSpot's API to sync records automatically. Includes a video and a sample file. dbservices.com
Behind the Curtain: What It’s Really Like to Build Custom Software (Without the Hidden Traps)
By Rick Middleton,
eXcelisys Solutions Consultant
If you’ve ever hired a software development firm—or even just thought about it—you probably have some scar tissue. Maybe you’ve dealt with an aggressive sales rep who promised the moon, a developer who spoke entirely in tech-jargon riddles, or a project that stalled moments before the promised launch.
We get it.
Custom software can feel like a high
Demo File: all-countries-by-region.zip Introduction [Note: In this article I use the term “Replace” as shorthand for Replace Field Contents.] This is a follow-up to a technique we looked at a couple years ago in Replace + GetNthRecord to Fill Down. At the time I had just imported some data from Excel and now that the… Continue reading More Fun With ReplaceView the full article
Plan Before You Build
Connecting FileMaker with QuickBooks can reduce duplicate entry, improve access to accounting information, and give your team better visibility into the information they need to do their jobs.
Before writing scripts or exchanging data, it is worth taking time to decide what information should move between systems and which application should manage it.
The most effective integrations give each application a clear role. FileMaker manages customer-facing and oper
If you have ever tried to bundle a hefty JavaScript library into a FileMaker solution, you already know the quiet frustration of it. You tuck the code into an insert text step or a custom function, you bump into arbitrary character limits, and you end up with the same content duplicated in places that were never really meant to hold it. The result works, but it always feels like a workaround rather than a home. FileMaker 26 finally addresses this head on, and it changes how you think about the a
Your FileMaker Solution Has Been Running for Years. Time for a Check-Up!
How to Protect, Maintain and Future-Proof Your Database Investment
We launch custom Claris FileMaker solutions all the time and enjoy watching our clients go from glum to giddy once their manual processes are automated, their data is organized into slick layouts, and the whole operation runs smoother thanks to workflows built around the way they actually work.
Then something interesting happens.
The FileMaker solution
Artificial intelligence continues to evolve rapidly, and keeping your FileMaker AI projects aligned with current technologies can be a challenge. To help you stay up to date, we’ve refreshed the AI Essentials for FileMaker Developers course with revised lessons, enhanced demo files, and support for the latest AI models from OpenAI and Google Gemini.
Whether you’re new to AI or revisiting the course to expand your skills, you’ll find practical examples and techniques that reflect today’s AI l
Let’s Look Under the Hood
Most FileMaker systems do not become difficult to maintain overnight.
They evolve over time as new features are added, business processes change, and development priorities shift. A layout created for a special project may remain in the file long after the project is finished. Scripts are modified, reports are duplicated, and old ideas are abandoned before they are completed. The system continues to work, so there is little reason to question what is happening b
Shopify vs. WordPress: Which is Best for Your Online Storefront?
By Michael Suhrbier,
eXcelisys Web App Developer
Ever ask a developer this prickly question – Shopify or WordPress?
In answering, most will discuss these online storefront platforms as if they’re standing in the power tools aisle comparing battery-powered drills vs. corded drills, arguing over performance, convenience and cost.
But our developers ask a different question – sure, we will discuss features with you but we will a
Check Out New Features, Video Overview, and Free Sample Files
Claris has officially released FileMaker 2026, introducing new capabilities designed to help you work with AI, improve solution organization, and simplify everyday development tasks.
Highlights in FileMaker 2026 include:
AI capabilities that make it easier to work with documents, external services, and modern data sources
Enhancements to improve solution organization and make development projects easier to manage ove
WordPress 7.0 Didn’t Break the Internet — And That’s the Real Story
By Shane Glover,
eXcelisys WordPress Guru
When WordPress 5.0 launched in 2018, it felt less like an update and more like a forced migration.
The Gutenberg editor completely changed how content was created inside WordPress. For developers, agencies and anyone maintaining production sites, it was chaos for a while. Themes broke. Plugins conflicted. Custom workflows stopped working overnight. Countless site owners delayed updat
[Some of the text in today’s article has been recycled from earlier articles.] Demo file: virtual-list-with-window-uuids.zip (requires FM 26 or later) Introduction As the whole world — or the whole FileMaker world at any rate — knows by now, last week saw the release of FileMaker 2026 with a number of compelling new features, as well… Continue reading FM 26: Virtual List with Window UUIDsView the full article
Cloud backup for FileMaker is finally here, and it's built right in. FileMaker Server Remote Backup makes it simple to protect your data, automate schedules, and restore files with confidence. This guide walks you through everything, from creating your first drive in the Claris console to staying audit-ready! dbservices.com
Claris FileMaker Server 2026 is loaded with features worth celebrating. From a native Remote Backup system to a brand-new Standby Server, Claris has delivered an update built on confidence and continuity. Plus, some great quality-of-life improvements round out an update that is well worth digging into. dbservices.com
Claris just released FileMaker Pro 2026, loaded with upgrades that make building faster, cleaner, and more powerful than ever. We're talking smarter AI tooling, a redesigned Layout Inspector, brand new PDF script steps, conditionally editable fields, and a whole lot more. If you build in FileMaker, this is one update you don't want to miss!
Two Platforms, One Decision: Shopify vs. WooCommerce Comparison
How to Pick the Platform that Fits Your Future, Not Just Your Launch
So you want to sell products through an eCommerce store?
Before you ship your first order, there’s one decision you must make that will shape everything that follows: Shopify or WooCommerce?
As we look at the eCommerce landscape of 2026, the two platforms have grown increasingly capable, blurring the lines that once separated them. Today, choosing between Shop
WordPress 7.0 (Codename: Armstrong) Strikes a New Chord
Some 23 years ago, WordPress arrived on the scene as a scrappy newcomer with its debut of WordPress 0.7. Now, WordPress powers a huge chunk of the web and WordPress 7.0 (released in May 2026) marks one of the biggest leaps forward since the Block Editor (aka Gutenberg) rewrote the rules in 2018.
So what’s new?
One highlight includes native AI integration, making it easier to connect your site with AI tools for quicker content creation a
Demo file: 2026-may-multipurpose-demo.zip (in addition to the above) [If you are in a hurry, or prefer learning from videos to reading, I covered this material using a pre-release version of FM Clipboard Tool a few months ago on the FM Training TV Livestream. Here’s a link to the relevant segment — https://youtu.be/M9WWT_WE4qE?si=h6ODtftNk-a2Vlxe&t=2501] For a long… Continue reading FM Clipboard Tool and FMXMLView the full article
